The second single off Ms. Hill’s classic album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The song has been claimed to be aimed at former Fugees bandmate, Wyclef Jean. Jean was married to another woman while carrying on an affair with Hill, hence the tempestuous nature of the relationship described in the song.

The name of the song is derived from clever wordplay; “ex” as in ex-relationship, but also “x” as in x-factor i.e. special something.