Ex-Factor

"Ex-Factor" is a song by American singer Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). Written and produced by Hill herself, it is a soul song. 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, with SPIN naming it the third best single of 1999. A commercial success, the song became a Top 40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and reaching the top five on the UK singles chart. It won the Best R&B/Soul Single - Female award at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards.

Various publications have named it one of the best R&B songs of the 1990s, while both Time and The Ringer have ranked it among the greatest breakup songs of all time. In June 2026, CBS News included the song in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years. Since its release, "Ex-Factor" has been cited as an inspiration for the writing of films like Love & Basketball (2000) and Sinners (2025). It has also been sampled numerous times, most notably on Drake's "Nice For What" and Cardi B's "Be Careful", additionally artists such as Beyoncé and Kelly Clarkson have covered the song during live performances.