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Everything Is Everything (Lauryn Hill song)

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"Everything Is Everything"
US editions cover
Single by Lauryn Hill
from the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
ReleasedMay 3, 1999
RecordedJune 1998
StudioSony (New York City)
Genre
Length4:57
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Lauryn Hill
  • Johari Newton
Producer(s)Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill singles chronology
"Ex-Factor"
(1999) 		"Everything Is Everything"
(1999) 		"Turn Your Lights Down Low"
(1999)

"Everything Is Everything" is a song recorded by American recording artist Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). It was written by Hill and Johari Newton, and produced by Hill. During the recording sessions, Hill wanted to write about injustice and struggles amongst youth communities in inner city areas of the United States. The song contains R&B, 1960s soul, and hip hop influences. It marked the first commercial appearance of singer and pianist John Legend, who was 19 years old when he played the piano on the song. The song was released as the third and final single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on May 3, 1999, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records.

"Everything Is Everything" garnered acclaim from critics, many of whom praised its lyrical themes and genre variance. The song was a top 40 hit in the United States, peaking at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, it reached the top 20 in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The song was nominated for a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award; it also received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, however it was revoked due to being released in the previous eligibility period.[1]

The accompanying music video for "Everything Is Everything" was directed by Sanji, and filmed in the Method Studios in Los Angeles. It depicted Hill walking throughout New York City. The video received three MTV Video Music Award nominations, including Best Hip Hop Video. At the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards (2000), it was nominated for Best Short Form Music Video. In 2010, Pitchfork listed it as one of the "Top 50 Music Videos of the 1990s".[2] The song was covered by The Roots and Booker T. Jones for the latter's album The Road from Memphis (2011).

Critical reception

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"Everything Is Everything" received widespread critical acclaim, both upon its release and retrospectively. In 2008, About.com ranked it at number 66 on their "100 Greatest Rap Songs" list.[3] In 2018, Complex ranked the song at number two on their list of the 20 greatest Lauryn Hill songs,[4] and in 2022, American Songwriter ranked the song at number four on their list of the ten greatest Lauryn Hill songs.[5]

Commercial performance

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"Everything Is Everything" reached number 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100, spending 18 weeks on the chart. It peaked at number 14 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, spending 24 weeks on the chart. The song also peaked at number 18 on the Rhythmic Top 40, where it charted for 14 weeks. Internationally, it peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart, also reaching the top 20 in New Zealand, where it peaked at number 15. A month after its release as a single, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of 500,000 units in the United States.[6]

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "Everything Is Everything" was directed by Sanji.[7] The video depicted Hill on the streets of New York City, which is seen as a huge vinyl record on a turntable spinning around playing the music. She runs down the street in various scenes and stages sidestepping the turntable needle as it scratches back and forth through the city until the end; Hill stands on the spinning record appearing in her name on the label.[8]

The video made its television debut on BET and VH1 during the week ending June 20, 1999.[9] The following week, the video debuted on MTV and The Box.[10] Critically acclaimed, it was nominated for Best Short Form Music Video at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards (2000). The same year, it also received a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award nomination and three MTV Video Music Award nominations–Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Direction, and Best Special Effects.[11]

Track listings and formats

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Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.[12]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Everything Is Everything"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[25] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Everything Is Everything"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 3, 1999 Urban contemporary radio
[26]
June 8, 1999 Contemporary hit radio
[27]
United Kingdom June 28, 1999
Columbia
[28]
United States June 29, 1999
  • Ruffhouse
  • Columbia
[29]
France July 5, 1999 Maxi CD Small
[30]

References

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  1. ^ Mancini, Rob. "Faith Evans Picks Up Grammy Nod As Lauryn Hill Track Found Ineligible". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  2. ^ "The Top 50 Music Videos of the 1990s". Pitchfork. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  3. ^ Adaso, Henry. 100 Greatest Rap Songs Archived 2015-04-05 at the Wayback Machine. About.com. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  4. ^ Johnson, Victoria (August 25, 2018). "The Best Lauryn Hill Songs". Complex. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Uitti, Jacob (February 10, 2022). "The Top 10 Lauryn Hill Songs". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  6. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  7. ^ Lauryn Hill: Everything Is Everything (Video 1999) - IMDb, retrieved 2021-04-17
  8. ^ Fitzgerald, Trent (August 25, 2018). "Lauryn Hill - 'Everything Is Everything': Today's Throwback Video". The Boombox. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  9. ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. July 3, 1999. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  10. ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. July 10, 1999. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Palmer, Tamara (August 24, 2018). "The Miseducation's Music Videos Showcase Lauryn Hill in Ascension". The Boombox. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Hill, Lauryn (1998). The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (CD). Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. CK 69035.
  13. ^ "Lauryn Hill – Everything Is Everything" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 29. July 17, 1999. p. 9. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Lauryn Hill" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  16. ^ "Lauryn Hill – Everything Is Everything" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  17. ^ "Lauryn Hill – Everything Is Everything". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  20. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  21. ^ "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  22. ^ "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  23. ^ "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  24. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  25. ^ "American single certifications – Lauryn Hill – Everything Is Everything". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  26. ^ "ADDvance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. April 30, 1999. p. 56. Retrieved November 1, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  27. ^ "Gavin T40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2258. June 7, 1999. p. 12.
  28. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 28 June, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. June 26, 1999. p. 25. Retrieved November 1, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  29. ^ "Everything Is Everything – Lauryn Hill". Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. June 29, 1999. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  30. ^ "Everything is everything – Lauryn Hill – CD maxi single" (in French). France: Fnac. July 5, 1999. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
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