Ex-Factor

"Ex-Factor"
"Ex-Factor"
Single by Lauryn Hill
from the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
B-side	"When It Hurts So Bad"; "Lost Ones"; "Can't Take My Eyes Off You";
Written	1997
Released	December 14, 1998
Recorded	1997–1998
Studio	Chung King (New York City); RPM (New York City); Tuff Gong (Kingston);
Genre	R&B; neo soul; hip hop soul;
Length	5:27
Label	Ruffhouse; Columbia;
Songwriter(s)	Lauryn Hill; Alan Bergman; Marilyn Bergman; Dennis Coles; Robert Diggs; Gary Grice; Marvin Hamlisch; Lamont Hawkins; Jason Hunter; Russell Jones; Clifford Smith; Corey Woods;
Producer(s)	Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill singles chronology

"Ex-Factor" is a song by American recording artist Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). Written and produced by Hill herself, it incorporates elements of R&B, neo soul and hip hop soul. The song features a sample of "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan, hence its songwriters are also credited. It has been claimed to be about Hill's former Fugees groupmate Wyclef Jean. The song was released as the second single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on December 14, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records.

Upon its release, "Ex-Factor" received widespread critical acclaim. The song peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Internationally, it peaked within the top five in Iceland and the United Kingdom. It won the Best R&B/Soul Single - Female award at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards. Spin named it the third best single of 1999. In 2020, The Ringer ranked it as the 18th greatest breakup song of all time. Since its release, the song has been sampled and covered by numerous artists.