Everything Is Everything (Lauryn Hill song)

"Everything Is Everything" is the third and final single from American recording artist Lauryn Hill's debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). Released on May 4, 1999 by Ruffhouse and Columbia Records, the song was written by Hill and Johari Newton, and produced by Hill. The song contains elements of R&B, '60s soul, and hip hop influences. "Everything is Everything" garnered acclaim from critics, many of whom praised its lyrical themes and genre variance. The song marked the first commercial appearance of pianist John Legend, who was 19 years old when the song was recorded.[1] During the recording sessions, Hill wanted to write a song about injustice and struggles amongst youth communities in inner-city Urban America.

"Everything Is Everything"
Cover art for U.S. editions
Single by Lauryn Hill
from the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
ReleasedMay 4, 1999
RecordedJune 1998 at
Sony Music Studios
(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)
Audio sample
Excerpt from Everything Is Everything
  • file
  • help

"Everything Is Everything" reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, number 14 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, number 18 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart, and number 19 on the UK Singles Chart upon release. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the song Gold in shipping 500,000 units and in 2007, the song was ranked number 66 in About.com's list of the "Top 100 Rap Songs". A music video, directed by Sanji, was filmed in Los Angeles' Method Studios depicting Hill walking through New York City.

In 2000, "Everything Is Everything" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video, 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). The song is covered by The Roots and Booker T. Jones for the latter's album The Road from Memphis (2011).[2]

Background

"Everything Is Everything" marked the first commercial appearance of R&B musician John Legend, who played piano on the song and was still in his late teens at the time.[3] In the album's liner notes Legend is credited by his birth name John Stephens. The song reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 14 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, number 18 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart, and number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. In collaboration with TheLPLyrics, a remix featuring TheLPUnknown was released in 2011.

Critical reaction

In 2008, About.com ranked "Everything is Everything" number 66 on their 100 Greatest Rap Songs list.[4]

Music video

The music video for "Everything Is Everything" was directed by Sanji, who helmed critically acclaimed videos for artists such as Macy Gray, Common, Seal and Jennifer Lopez. 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.

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).

Track listing
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
Other
  1. "Everything Is Everything" (A Remix by TheLPLyrics) – 5:01

Charts

Credits

References
  1. John Legend bio. AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-19. Retrieved 2017-08-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. John Legend bio. AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
  4. Adaso, Henry. 100 Greatest Rap Songs. About.com. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  5. "Ultratop.be – Lauryn Hill – Everything Is Everything" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  6. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 29. July 17, 1999. p. 9. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Lauryn Hill" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Lauryn Hill – Everything Is Everything" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  9. "Charts.nz – Lauryn Hill – Everything Is Everything". Top 40 Singles.
  10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  12. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  13. "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  15. "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  16. RIAA Certifications Archived June 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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