The title and chorus are based on the 1968 song "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)" by The Delfonics. Lauryn Hill was steeped in soul music, which made it a great fit for her.
Wyclef Jean told the UK magazine Muzik in 1997: If you take a song like 'Ready Or Not,' then you see where we are. With the lyrics there's a lot being said for those who really know, but it's like a street message. When we do shows in Brooklyn, everybody comes, from the drug dealers to the good guys.
The underlying groove is a sample of the 1987 Enya song "Song of Boadicea." The Fugees did this without her permission, and Enya came after them hard, earning substantial royalties from the song ("this kind of blatant infringement won't be tolerated," her manager declared). The Irish singer is very particular about what samples she authorizes, and wholesome songstress did not want to be associated with a song where Hill says she'll be "defecating on your microphone." Enya did allow the godly Mario Winans to use the song on his 2004 track "I Don't Wanna Know."
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