The Sweetest Thing (Refugee Camp All Stars song)

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"The Sweetest Thing"
Single by Refugee Camp All-Stars featuring Lauryn Hill
from the album Love Jones (soundtrack)
ReleasedMarch 1997
Recorded1996
Genre R&B, neo soul
Length4:50
Label Columbia Records
Songwriter(s) Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean
Producer(s) Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean

"The Sweetest Thing" is a 1997 single by Refugee Camp All-Stars featuring Lauryn Hill, released as part of the soundtrack for the romantic drama film Love Jones . The song credits Refugee Camp All-Stars as the primary artist, but only Hill appears on vocals, with production and songwriting by her and Wyclef Jean.

Contents

The song received critical acclaim, with several outlets deeming it a standout on the Love Jones soundtrack. [1] It gained widespread radio play, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and number one on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. [2] [3] It also peaked within the top 20 on the UK Singles Chart. [4] It was nominated at the 1998 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year. [5]

Background and release

Released during the height of Hill's success with the Fugees, the song showcased her transition into a more personal, acoustic-driven solo style, and served as a precursor to her debut solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It was originally released in 1997 as part of the soundtrack for the romantic drama film Love Jones . The track was credited to Refugee Camp All-Stars featuring Lauryn Hill, though Hill is the sole vocalist, with production and songwriting by Hill and Wyclef Jean.

A remix of the song by Salaam Remi—featuring different vocals and instrumentation—was later included on the Fugees' 2003 compilation album Greatest Hits , under the title "The Sweetest Thing (Mahogany Mix)". The remix samples "Theme from S.W.A.T." by Rhythm Heritage. [6]

Critical reception

Billboard called the song a "gorgeous acoustic mid-tempo ballad", comparing it to Hill's later solo work. [7] In a retrospective review, Revolt described it as the "crown jewel" of the Love Jones soundtrack. [8] NME praised the sample use of the track in H.E.R.'s 2021 song "Cheat Code" from her album Back of My Mind, describing the original as "a mellifluous neo-soul gem". [9]

BET , Vibe , and TheGrio have all highlighted the song as a defining moment of 1990s Black film soundtracks. [10] [11]

Legacy and cultural impact

In 2020, "The Sweetest Thing" was named one of Pandora's Most Thumbed Movie Songs of All Time, based on cumulative listener interactions. [12] The song has also appeared in curated playlists like Apple Music's Neo-Soul Essentials and is frequently cited as a favorite by artists including John Legend and Jennifer Hudson. [13] [14] The song was covered live by PJ Morton in 2023. [15]

It has been sampled by several artists, including:

Charts

Chart performance for "The Sweetest Thing"
Chart (1997)Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)2
US Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)1
UK Singles Chart 20

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Jackson, Panama (2022-06-06). "This or that! Which is better, the soundtrack or the movie: 'Love Jones'". TheGrio. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  2. ↑ devops (2013-01-24). "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  3. ↑ devops (2013-01-02). "Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  4. ↑ "THE SWEETEST THING". Official Charts. 1997-09-06. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  5. ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1998-08-15.
  6. ↑ Refugee Camp All Stars Featuring Lauryn Hill - The Sweetest Thing, 1997, retrieved 2025-03-23
  7. ↑ Unterberger, Andrew (2017-06-29). "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  8. ↑ Powell, Jon. "Soulful cinema: 21 unforgettable R&B cuts from iconic movie soundtracks". REVOLT. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  9. ↑ Levine, Nick (2021-06-18). "H.E.R. – 'Back Of My Mind' review: a victory lap after a stellar start to the year". NME. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  10. ↑ "The Score: Memorable Movie Soundtracks". BET. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  11. ↑ Cochrane, Naima (2019-02-24). "Music Sermon: The Golden Era Of Black Movie Soundtracks". VIBE.com. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  12. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (2020-07-10). "Pandora Unveils 'Most Thumbed' Movie Songs Playlist, From 'See You Again' to 'Shallow'". Variety. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  13. ↑ "Listen to JHud's Valentine's Day Playlist! | JenniferHudsonShow.com". Jennifer Hudson Show. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  14. ↑ Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (2021-02-01). "Songwriters Roundtable: Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr. and Justin Timberlake Talk Politics, Pandemic and Keeping Hope Alive". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  15. ↑ Folk, Antwane (2023-05-17). "PJ Morton Covers Ms. Lauryn Hill's 'The Sweetest Thing'". Rated R&B. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  16. ↑ Glaysher, Scott GlaysherScott (2018-04-13). "20 of the Best Hip-Hop Samples of Lauryn Hill's Music". XXL Mag. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  17. ↑ Staff, hellobeautiful (2010-09-16). "Ne-Yo & Fabolous' "Crazy Love"". Hello Beautiful - Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle and Hair Care for Black Women. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  18. ↑ "Teyana Taylor Drops 'The Album' Featuring Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill & More". OkayPlayer. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
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