Hill has often been cited as one of the most influential entertainers of her generation.[163][164][165][166][167][168]

Many artists have been inspired by Lauryn Hill including Adele, Beyoncé, Dua Lipa,[169] Christina Aguilera,[170] Kanye West, Jay-Z,[171] Kendrick Lamar,[172] Amy Winehouse,[173] Janelle Monáe,[174] Rihanna, Britney Spears,[175][176] Childish Gambino, Erykah Badu, Lizzo,[177] Drake, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, H.E.R.,[178] Sam Smith,[179] Normani,[180] Teyana Taylor, Solange,[181] Maggie Rogers,[182][183] Pharrell Williams,[184] Tori Kelly,[185] Mabel,[186] Jess Glynne,[187] Clairo,[188] Jennie of Blackpink,[189] CL of 2NE1,[190] RM of BTS,[191] Pusha T,[192] Qveen Herby,[193] Colbie Caillat,[194] Natasha Bedingfield,[195] SZA,[196] St. Vincent,[197][198] Ella Mai, Missy Elliott,[199] Nas, Kelly Clarkson,[200] Lil' Kim,[201] Madison Beer,[202] Foxy Brown,[203] Rapsody,[204] Alicia Keys,[205] Kehlani, Jorja Smith,[206] Ariana Grande,[207] Chloe x Halle,[208] Bastille,[209] Andra Day,[210] The Weeknd,[211] Chance the Rapper,[212] Rosalía, Lecrae,[213] Lianne La Havas,[214] Ryan Destiny,[215] Freddie Gibbs,[216] Snoh Aalegra[217] P!nk,[218] Lil Wayne,[219] Chika,[220] Greentea Peng,[221] Stormzy,[222] Tierra Whack,[223] Jennifer Hudson,[224] and Bebe Rexha.[225]

Producer Savan Kotecha told Vulture that he and Ariana Grande were inspired by Lauryn Hill and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album during the recording of Grande's fourth studio album Sweetener.[226] Ella Mai,[227] Rihanna,[228] Childish Gambino,[229] H.E.R.,[230] and Adele[231] have all called the album their personal favorite album of all time, additionally rappers J. Cole[232] and Kendrick Lamar[233] have listed it as their favorite album by a female artist. In an interview with the New York Post, Erykah Badu called Hill her hero.[234] Primarily a rapper, Lizzo incorporated singing into her debut record. She stated in an interview in 2018, "I was always afraid of being a singer, but then when I heard Lauryn Hill, I was like, maybe I can do both," further adding that her debut album was inspired by The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, "rapping, singing, being political."[235] Nicki Minaj has made mention of Hill's influence on her on multiple occasions; Including on 2020 US number-one single "Say So Remix",[236] In which Minaj raps, "Spittin' like Weezy, Foxy, plus Lauryn".[237] Minaj has also referred to Hill as her idol and quoted her in her high school year book.[238] John Legend credits Hill for helping him launch a career into the music industry.[239] Multiple artist have titled projects after Hill's debut solo album including Freddie Gibbs(The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs),[240] rappers Calboy & Lil Wayne("Miseducation"),[241] and Lil' Kim("Mis-education of Lil' Kim").[242] Beyoncé was inspired by Lauryn Hill during the making of her fourth album 4.[243] R&B singer Kehlani, has a tattoo of the singer on her arm.[244] Colbie Caillat launched a music career after hearing Hill's singing in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. Rapsody[245] and Bebe Rexha[246] have referred to Hill as their biggest musical inspiration. After performing with Hill, The Weeknd described the experience as the "Most important experience of my life".[247] During her 2018 Grammy award acceptance speech, singer Rosalía thanked Hill for being an inspiration to her.

Drake sampled "Doo Wop (That Thing)", on the song "Draft Day".[248] In 2018, Hill's single "Ex-Factor" was sampled on Cardi B's "Be Careful" and Drake's "Nice for What".[249] Rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie also samples "Ex-Factor" in his song of the same name as well as in a remix of "Nice for What". Jay-Z samples Hill's vocals from the Fugees single Fu-Gee-La on the song "Moonlight", from his 4:44 album.[250] J. Cole samples Hill's "Nothing Even Matters" in his song "Cole Summer" and "To Zion" in "Can I Holla At Ya".[251] Meek Mill sampled Hill's vocal from the Fugees song "Ready or Not" in his song of the same name.[252] Kanye West's "All Falls Down" contains an interpolation of "Mystery of Iniquity" from her live album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0.[253] In 2018, A$AP Rocky and Frank Ocean released "Purity" which samples "I Gotta Find Peace of Mind".[254] Ocean also sampled Hill's "Just Like Water" on the Jazmine Sullivan-featured "Rushes", from his 2016 album Endless.[255] Method Man released "Say" as the lead single from his album 4:21... The Day After, which sampled the song "So Many Things to Say".[251] In 2020, Mariah Carey released the single "Save the Day", as the lead single from her compilation album The Rarities, featuring Hill's vocal sampled from the Fugees track "Killing me Softly".[256]