"Hey, it's my album! Who else can tell my story better than me?" says Lauryn Hill, chanteuse, rapper, songwriter, actress, activist, and mother. She's talking about "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" (Ruffhouse/Columbia), her solo debut album and one of the most highly anticipated records of 1998.

Produced by Lauryn herself, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" is a deeply personal album, running the gamut from affairs of the heart to sociopolitical issues, set against a sonic backdrop displaying the remarkable talent of this young native of South Orange, New Jersey.

The title, according to Hill, shouldn't be taken too literally. The doe-eyed 23-year-old, who completed her freshman year at Columbia University, explains: "… the concept of "Miseducation" is not really miseducation at all"