Everything Is Everything (Lauryn Hill song)

"Everything Is Everything"
Single by Lauryn Hill
from the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Released May 4, 1999
Format CD single
Recorded 1998 at
Sony Music Studios
(New York)
Genre Hip hop, R&B
Length 4:57
Label Ruffhouse, Columbia
Writer(s) Lauryn Hill, Johari Newton
Producer Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill singles chronology
"Ex-Factor"
(1999)		 "Everything Is Everything"
(1999)		 "Repercussions"
(2010)

"Everything Is Everything" is the fourth single from American Hip Hop/R&B artist Lauryn Hill's debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Contents

Background

The song itself features background music by John Legend, who at the time was virtually unknown. In the album's liner notes he is credited as his birth name John Stephens. The song reached #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, #14 on the Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Chart, #18 on the Rhythmic Top 40 Chart, and #14 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2007, the song was ranked #66 in About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs.

Music Video

The Music Video for 'Everything Is Everything' was directed by Sanji who also directed many critically acclaimed videos for artists such as Macy Gray, Mary J. Blige, Seal and Jennifer Lopez. The video featured ground-breaking special effects by Method Studios depicting Lauryn on the streets of New York City which is seen as a huge vinyl record on a turntable spinning around playing the music as she tells the story of injustice and the misunderstood struggle of the black communities in Inner city/Urban America. She runs around in various scenes and stages dodging the turntable needle as it scratches back and forth through the city until the finale as she stands on the spinning record revealing her name on the label.

In 2000, 'Everything Is Everything' was nominated for a Grammy for Best Music Video/Short Film, along with a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award nomination and 3 MTV Video Music Award Nominations for Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Direction (Sanji), and Best Special Effects (Method Studios).

Tracklisting

UK CD1
  1. "Everything Is Everything" (Radio Edit) - 3:56
  2. "Ex-Factor" (Live on Radio 1) - 6:51
  3. "Everything Is Everything" (Instrumental) - 4:57
UK CD2
  1. "Everything Is Everything" (Album Version) - 4:57
  2. "Lost Ones" (Live on Radio 1) - 5:13
  3. "Tell Him" (Live on Radio 1) - 4:40
American Single
  1. "Everything Is Everything" (Album Version) - 4:57
  2. "Ex-Factor" (A Simple Mix) - 4:37
  3. "Everything Is Everything" (Radio Edit) - 3:56
  4. "Ex-Factor" (A Simple Breakdown) - 4:10
  5. "Everything Is Everything" (Instrumental) - 4:57
  6. "Ex-Factor" (A Simple Acapella) - 4:24

Chart performance

Chart (1998) Peak
Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 35
U.S. Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Chart 14
U.S. Rhythmic Top 40 Chart 18
UK Singles Chart 14

Certifications

Country Certification
(sales thresholds)		 Sales
United States Gold[1] 500,000

References

  1. ^ RIAA Certifications
Lauryn Hill
Studio Albums
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)  · TBA (2012)
Other Albums
MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 (2002)  · The Best of Lauryn Hill, Vol. 1 (2007) · Ms. Hill (2007)  · Khulami Phase (2010)
Singles
"The Sweetest Thing"  · "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"  · "Doo Wop (That Thing)"  · "Ex-Factor"  · "To Zion"  · "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"  · "Everything Is Everything"  · "Turn Your Lights Down Low"  · "Mr. Intentional"  · "Repercussions"
Concert tours
The Miseducation Tour  · MTV Unplugged Tour
Motion pictures
Related articles