Ex-Factor

For other uses, see The Ex-Factor (disambiguation). Not to be confused with The X Factor.

"Ex-Factor"
A woman crouching down with the white short-skirted dress, bracelets, and necklaces.
Single by Lauryn Hill
from the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
B-side
ReleasedDecember 14, 1998
Studio
  • RPM, Chung King (New York City)
  • Marley Music (Kingston)
Genre
Length
  • 5:27 (album version)
  • 4:38 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Lauryn Hill
Producer(s)Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill singles chronology
"Doo Wop (That Thing)"
(1998) 		"Ex-Factor"
(1998) 		"Everything Is Everything"
(1999)

"Ex-Factor" is a song by American recording artist Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). Written and produced by Hill herself, it incorporates elements of R&B, neo soul and hip hop soul. The song features a sample of "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan.[1] It has been claimed to be about Hill's former Fugees groupmate Wyclef Jean.[2] The song was released as the second single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on December 14, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records.

Upon its release, "Ex-Factor" received widespread critical acclaim.[3] The song peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Internationally, it peaked within the top five in Iceland and the United Kingdom. It won the Best R&B/Soul Single - Female award at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards.[4] Spin named it the third best single of 1999.[5] In 2020, The Ringer ranked it as the 18th greatest breakup song of all time.[6] Since its release, the song has been sampled and covered by numerous artists.

  1. ^ Tardio, Andres (April 3, 2018). "5 Takeaways From Cardi B's New Single 'Be Careful'". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  2. ^ Rush, George; Molly, Joanna; Ogunnake, Lola (July 26, 2000). "Wyclef Says 'Ex' Marks His Spot". Daily News. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  3. ^ "Billboard". Billboard. December 5, 1998.
  4. ^ "TLC Wins 2 At Soul Train Awards". www.cbsnews.com. March 5, 2000. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  5. ^ "Spin Magazine End Of Year Lists". www.rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  6. ^ Staff, The Ringer (February 14, 2020). "The 50 Greatest Breakup Songs of All Time". The Ringer. Retrieved April 12, 2021.