Apple Music Crowns Lauryn Hill’s Album as All-Time Greatest

By
JoshuaS
-
11

In a celebration of music spanning vast genres and epochs, Apple Music recently unveiled their top ten greatest albums of all time, in the climactic revelation of their inaugural countdown of the outstanding 100 albums. Occupying the prime slot, Lauryn Hill’s 1998 opus “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” secured the accolade. Beating out a pantheon of masterpieces from icons like Beyoncé, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Prince, Hill’s debut album rose to the top, illustrating its timeless impact.

Delighted, Hill responded to the honor by saying, “This is my award, but it’s a rich, deep narrative, and involves so many people, and so much sacrifice, and so much time, and so much collective love.”


Apple Music undertook a meticulous and in-depth process to make the selection, which started several months ago. It got rolling with the music company’s editorial team and music experts, including Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden. The internally formed team then submitted personal lists, with the votes weighted as per album ranking position, giving the music giant a wealth of insight into the standout albums of the past 65 years.

Contrary to public opinion, Darden was quick to assert, “This list isn’t a popularity contest.” Apple Music was keen that personal preferences not tamper with the process. The goal was to analyze the albums through a broader lens of music knowledge and influence.

The final top 10 comprised:

  1. Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” was lauded for its singer-songwriter prowess, addressing subjects like motherhood and social commentaries that were both personal and powerful.

  2. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” asserted Lowe, redefined the framework of a blockbuster album. Its standby position of second place surprised none, considering its entrenched position in popular culture.

  3. “Abbey Road” by The Beatles found its way to the third spot. Its recollection of happier times for the band, echoing the raw characteristics of the Beatles, was seen as a nostalgic fairness.

  4. The fourth position was claimed by Prince and the Revolution’s “Purple Rain.” Celebrated for being a black artist creating soulful rock and pop records, Prince’s talent continues to resonate in the public’s memory.

  5. Coming fifth was Frank Ocean with “Blond,” an album Lowe personally found a strong resonance with, owing to its appeal to such a wide audience.

  6. Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life” claimed the sixth spot, applauded for how it took listeners on an emotional journey.

  7. The seventh spot belonged to Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” admired for its narrative about the struggle of growing up surrounded by hardships and striving to see a way through.

  8. Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” found home at number eight – an album that masterfully sings about heartbreak, rejection, and unrequited love.

  9. Nirvana’s “Nevermind” placed ninth, reconnecting audiences to the painful humanness of anxiety and depression through its music, and enabling a broader discussion on mental health.

  10. Rounding out the list at tenth was Beyoncé’s “Lemonade.” This album stood out for being the first time fans got a glimpse into Beyoncé’s personal life.

This well-curated list not only pays homage to these exceptional creations but also highlights the influence they still wield, years after their release.