The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, debut solo album by the former Fugees member, was certified four-times platinum in the United Kingdom on June 17.

The certification, which was issued by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), commemorated sales of more than 1.2 million copies.

The album was partly recorded at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston under the direction of engineer Errol Brown. It features an ensemble of Jamaican musicians including saxophonist Dean Fraser, guitarists Earl “Chinna” Smith, Robert Browne and Julian Marley, bass player Chris Meredith, trombonist Nambo Robinson, drummer Wilburn “Squiddly” Cole and Shelly Thunder (background vocals).

Cole, the son of veteran singer Stranger Cole, recalls working on the project.

“Working with Lauryn Hill was nostalgic. It was a different way of singing and a spiritual connection. It was after working on that album, that I got the opportunity of working on albums for other major artistes overseas,” he said.

Cole is credited on the song, When it Hurts So Bad. He said when The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill took off globally, there was a feeling of pride.

“I felt great when it became successful. It was a really good feeling just being a part of that project,” he disclosed.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was released on August 25 1998 via Ruffhouse/Columbia Records. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart with first-week sales of more than 422,000 copies. It peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart, and went Top 10 on charts in Canada, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France and Japan.

The album’s hit singles include Doo Wop (That Thing), Ex-Factor, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Everything is Everything and Lost Ones.

At the 1999 Grammy Awards, Hill earned 10 nominations. She won for Best New Artiste, Album of The Year, Best Female Vocal Performance (Doo Wop That Thing), Best R&B Album and Best R&B Song (Doo Wop That Thing).

To date, the album has sold more than 20 million copies globally.

The nephew of Tabby Diamond of The Mighty Diamonds, Cole has been a drummer since his teens. He toured with Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, playing on their Grammy-winning, gold-selling 1988 album Conscious Party.

He also played on Jimmy Cliff’s Grammy-winning Cliff Hanger album, Amy Winehouse’s 2003 album Frank, Nostradamus, the 1999 album by rapper Nas, and Joss Stone’s 2004 album, Mind Body and Soul.

Cole also worked on Turn Your Lights Down Low by Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill, which was featured on the Chant Down Babylon compilation album produced by Stephen Marley.