Ex-Factor
Encyclopedia
"Ex-Factor" is the third single from American recording artist Lauryn Hill
from her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
(1998). It features a sample of "Can It Be All So Simple
", a song by Wu-Tang Clan
. The song also raised some controversy, claiming that it was about former bandmate Wyclef Jean
of The Fugees
.
" performed by Wu-Tang Clan
.
covered the song on her EP
Choose to See, which was included with the purchase of her 2010 album The Magician's Private Library
.
In 2009, British R&B/Soul singer Nate James
covered the song on his album "Revivals"
Teyana Taylor sampled some parts in her 2011 song Her Room (Marvin's Room Remix).
UK CD2
Australian Single
", the song still garnered widespread success, and acclaim. This song spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100
and peaked at 21 on the week of April 10, 1999. It also charted on the 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.
Source:
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...
from her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the debut solo album by American musician Lauryn Hill, released August 25, 1998, on Columbia Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from late 1997 to June 1998, and were held primarily at Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica...
(1998). It features a sample of "Can It Be All So Simple
Can It Be All So Simple
"Can It Be All So Simple" is the third and final single on Wu-Tang Clan's critically acclaimed debut album Enter the Wu-Tang . It features production from RZA that samples Gladys Knight & the Pips' cover of "The Way We Were"...
", a song by Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
. The song also raised some controversy, claiming that it was about former bandmate Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
of The Fugees
The Fugees
Fugees were a Haitian American hip hop group who rose to fame in the mid-1990s. Their repertoire included elements of Hip hop, soul and Caribbean music, particularly reggae. The members of the group were rapper/singer/producer Wyclef Jean, rapper/singer/producer Lauryn Hill, and rapper Pras Michel...
.
Background
"Ex-Factor" was written and produced by Lauryn Hill and it features replayed elements of "Can It Be All So SimpleCan It Be All So Simple
"Can It Be All So Simple" is the third and final single on Wu-Tang Clan's critically acclaimed debut album Enter the Wu-Tang . It features production from RZA that samples Gladys Knight & the Pips' cover of "The Way We Were"...
" performed by Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
.
Cover versions
Holly MirandaHolly Miranda
Holly Miranda is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Besides being trained in piano, Holly is a self-taught guitar and trumpet player. In 2001, she recorded "High Above The City", a 20-track solo album available only at shows. In the fall of 2003, Holly met and teamed up with Alex Lipsen,...
covered the song on her EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Choose to See, which was included with the purchase of her 2010 album The Magician's Private Library
The Magician's Private Library
The Magician's Private Library is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Holly Miranda, released 23 February 2010 in the United States by XL Recordings...
.
In 2009, British R&B/Soul singer Nate James
Nate James
Nathaniel James Harold Speas, known as Nate James, is a British soul singer-songwriter. James released his debut soul album Set the Tone in 2005 which won him two MOBO Nominations for Best Newcomer and Best R&B Artist.He released on his Frofunk imprint via Independent Labels around the world and...
covered the song on his album "Revivals"
Teyana Taylor sampled some parts in her 2011 song Her Room (Marvin's Room Remix).
Track listing
UK CD1- "Ex-Factor" [Album Version] - 5:27
- "Ex-Factor" [Part II Remix] - 4:38
- "Ex-Factor" [A Simple Mix] - 4:37
UK CD2
- "Ex-Factor" [Radio Edit] - 4:38
- "Ex-Factor" [A Simple Breakdown] - 4:10
- "Lost Ones" [Remix] - 4:17
Australian Single
- "Ex-Factor" [Radio Edit] - 4:38
- "Ex-Factor" [Album Version] - 5:27
- "Ex-Factor" [Instrumental] - 5:27
- "Ex-Factor" [Callout Hook #1] - 0:10
- "Ex-Factor" [Callout Hook #2] - 0:05
Chart performance
Although not as successful as her previous single "Doo Wop (That Thing)Doo Wop (That Thing)
"Doo Wop " is the debut single from American R&B/Hip-Hop artist Lauryn Hill. The song is taken from debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Written and produced by Hill, the song was released as the album's lead single in October 1998. It was Hill's first and only Billboard Hot 100...
", the song still garnered widespread success, and acclaim. This song spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and peaked at 21 on the week of April 10, 1999. It also charted on the 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.
Charts
| Chart (1998) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
21 |
| U.S. Billboard Billboard charts The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine... Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
7 |
Personnel
- Leads and background vocals: Lauryn Hill
- Additional background: Chuck Young
- BassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
: Paul Fakhourie - Piano: Tejumold Newton
- WurlitzerWurlitzerThe Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and rhodes: James Poyser - Percussion: Rudy Byrd
- GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
: Johari Newton - Drum Programming by Vada NoblesVada NoblesVada Nobles is a record producer and songwriter. He provided production on Lauryn Hill's debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill . He co-wrote the Rihanna song "Pon de Replay" and co-wrote and co-produced two tracks on Hilary Duff's 2007 album, Dignity.-External links:...
- Recorded by Commissioner Gordon
- Mixed by Commissioner Gordon
- Assistant recording engineer: Chip Verspyck
- Assistant mix engineer: Greg Thompson
- Recorded at RPM Studios, (NYCNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
), Marley Music, Inc. (Kingston, Jamaica) and Chung King Studios (NYC) - Mixed at Hit Factory Studios and Chuing King Studios (NYC)
Source:
External links
- Lauryn Hill - "Ex-Factor" at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....