Ex-Factor

"Ex-Factor" is the second single from American recording artist Lauryn Hill from her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). The song incorporates elements of R&B, neo soul and hip hop soul. Released by Ruffhouse and Columbia Records, the song features a sample of "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan.[1]

"Ex-Factor"
One of UK cover arts
Single by Lauryn Hill
from the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
ReleasedDecember 22, 1998
RecordedDecember 1997
Studio
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)

The song also raised some controversy surrounding claims that it was about former groupmate Wyclef Jean of The Fugees.[2]

Music and lyrics

"Ex-Factor" was written and produced by Lauryn Hill and it features replayed elements of "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan,[3] which itself samples Gladys Knight & the Pips' cover of "The Way We Were".[4]

"Ex-Factor" a soul number which serves as a painful dissection of a failing relationship.[5][6] The accompaniment is driven by two-chord progressions all throughout its melodic variations.[5] Its refrain contains soaring harmonies.[7]

Samples

In 2018, rappers Drake and Cardi B sampled it in their songs "Nice for What" and "Be Careful", respectively.[4]

Chart performance

Although not as successful as her previous single "Doo Wop (That Thing)", the song still entered several international charts. It spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at 21 on the week of April 10, 1999. It also charted on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, spending 31 weeks and peaking number 7 on March 13, 1999. It reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and spent 16 weeks on the chart, it remains Hill's biggest hit in the UK.

Track listing
  • UK CD1'
  1. "Ex-Factor" [Album Version] – 5:27
  2. "Ex-Factor" [Part II Remix] – 4:38
  3. "Ex-Factor" [A Simple Mix] – 4:37
  • UK CD2
  1. "Ex-Factor" [Radio Edit] – 4:38
  2. "Ex-Factor" [A Simple Breakdown] – 4:10
  3. "Lost Ones" [Remix] – 4:17
  • Australian single
  1. "Ex-Factor" [Radio Edit] – 4:38
  2. "Ex-Factor" [Album Version] – 5:27
  3. "Ex-Factor" [Instrumental] – 5:27
  4. "Ex-Factor" [Callout Hook #1] – 0:10
  5. "Ex-Factor" [Callout Hook #2] – 0:05

Credits and personnel

Adapted from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill liner notes.[3]

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1999) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[8] 8
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[9] 18
France (SNEP)[10] 51
Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 52
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[12] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 19
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[14] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 40
Scotland (OCC)[16] 11
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 46
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 22
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 4
UK R&B (OCC)[20] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 21
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 7
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[23] 9

Year-end charts
Chart (1999) Position
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[24] 77

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[25]
sales since 2004 		Gold 400,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  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. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  3. (1998) Album notes for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill [liner notes]. Ruffhouse Records (Columbia Records).
  4. Peters, Mitchell (April 7, 2018). "The 'Ex-Factor': How Drake, Cardi B & More Sampled Lauryn Hill's 'Miseducation' Single". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  5. Bush, John. "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  6. Mulvey, John (September 23, 1998). "Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  7. Lieberman, Neil. "Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 19, 2003. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  9. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 10. March 6, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  10. "Lescharts.com – Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor" (in French). Les classement single.
  11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  12. "Íslenski Listinn (26.2–5.3. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 26, 1999. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ex-Factor". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  14. "week 16 (17 april 1999)" (in Dutch). top40.nl.
  15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  17. "Swedishcharts.com – Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor". Singles Top 100.
  18. "Swisscharts.com – Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor". Swiss Singles Chart.
  19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  20. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  21. "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  22. "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  23. "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  24. "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  25. "British single certifications – Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.