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Nobody (Nas and Lauryn Hill song)

"Nobody"
Song by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill
from the album King's Disease II
ReleasedAugust 6, 2021
Genre
Length4:42
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Hit-Boy

"Nobody" is a song by American rapper Nas from his thirteenth studio album, King's Disease II (2021). The song was produced by Hit-Boy, and features additional verses from fellow American rapper Lauryn Hill. The song was written by the three aforementioned artists, along with songwriters Dustin James Corbett and Joshua Strange.

"Nobody" received positive reception from music critics, who praised Hill's verse. The song was named one of Barack Obama's favorite songs of 2021, and was nominated for Impact Track at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.

Background

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"Nobody" marked the second musical collaboration between Nas and Lauryn Hill. They first worked together on the 1996 hit single "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)".[1] The two rappers also went on the road together for the Life Is Good/Black Rage tour, in 2012, and again on a joint tour in 2017.[2][3]

While Hill sang on their previous collaboration,[4] on "Nobody" she gave a comparatively rare rap verse.[5][6]

Music and lyrics

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Nas' verse discussed his desire to escape from the media spotlight: "If Chappelle moved to Ghana to find his peace, then I'm rollin/Where the service always roamin', I'm packin' my bags and goin'." During her verse, Hill explained her absence from the music Industry, with the lyrics: "They tried to box me out while takin' what they want from me/I spent too many years living too uncomfortably," while also defending her habit of arriving late to her own concerts: "My awareness like Keanu in The Matrix/I'm savin' souls and y'all complainin' 'bout my lateness."[7]

Critical reception

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Upon its release the song began trending on social media, and received positive feedback from music critics.[8] Dana Scott of HipHopDX, praised Nas' flow, comparing it to his previous acclaimed work.[9]

Most fans and critics mentioned Hill's verse as the highlight of the song.[10] Writing for NME, Will Lavin called the song a "glistening, esoteric gem", and referred to Hill's rhymes as a "lyrical master class".[11] It was named one of the best songs released that week by Entertainment Weekly, who stated that Hill proved "she's still one of the best damn rappers alive";[12] while Will Schube of UDiscover Music, stated a similar sentiment.[13] Rolling Stone argued that she "manages an impossible balance of fierce memory and unbotheredness" on the song, before proclaiming that she "absolutely levitates above the rap game, offering the learned vantage point of someone who has reached its mountaintop after a treacherous hike up."[14]

Recognition

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Several media outlets declared Hill's contribution to "Nobody" as one of the best verses of 2021, including BET,[15] Okayplayer,[16] and HipHopDX.[17] Complex named it the second best verse of that year.[18] Former United States president Barack Obama listed "Nobody" as one of his favorite songs of 2021.[19]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Result
2021 HipHopDX Awards[20] Best Rap Verse of the Year (Lauryn Hill) Nominated
Best Hip Hop Song of the Year Nominated
2022 BET Hip Hop Awards[21] Impact Track Nominated

Chart performance

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Chart (2021) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[22] 33
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[23] 2
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] 42

References

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  1. ^ "Nas Claims Lauryn Hill Laughed At Public's Surprise About Her "King's Disease II" Feature". www.hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  2. ^ Vo, Thao (2021-08-09). "Lauryn Hill Drops Rap Verse on Nas' "Nobody"". Sheen Magazine. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  3. ^ "Nas Says Lauryn Hill Laughed At People's Reaction To Surprise 'King's Disease II' Feature". KDAY-FM. 2021-08-30. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  4. ^ "Nas, Ms. Lauryn Hill, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny: New Music Fridays". jezebel.com. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  5. ^ "Lauryn Hill Drops A New Rap Verse On Nas's 'Nobody'". www.essence.com. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  6. ^ "Lauryn Hill Returns To Music Rapping On Nas' New Track 'Nobody' — Listen". Hollywood Life. 2021-08-06. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  7. ^ Lamphier, Jason; August 06, Alex Suskind; EDT, 2021 at 03:10 PM. "The best new songs we heard this week: The Weeknd's dark disco, Nas reunites with Lauryn Hill". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-09-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Lauryn Hill trends after appearing on Nas' 'King's Disease II'". REVOLT. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  9. ^ "Best Rap Songs of 2021". HipHopDX. 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  10. ^ "L. Boogie Back: Fans Impressed With Ms. Lauryn Hill's Feature On Nas' 'King's Disease II' LP". The Latest Hip-Hop News, Music and Media | Hip-Hop Wired. 2021-08-06. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  11. ^ Lavin, Will (2021-08-06). "Nas – 'King's Disease II' review: rapper embraces his status as a genre great". NME. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  12. ^ Lamphier, Jason; August 06, Alex Suskind; EDT, 2021 at 03:10 PM. "The best new songs we heard this week: The Weeknd's dark disco, Nas reunites with Lauryn Hill". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-09-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Schube, Will (2021-08-06). "Eminem, Ms. Lauryn Hill, And EPMD Guest On Nas' 'King's Disease II'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  14. ^ "Ms. Lauryn Hill Makes a Rare Return to Rap, With Power and Perspective, on Nas' 'Nobody'". Rolling Stone. 2021-08-06. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  15. ^ "Top 10 Featured Verses of The Year Thus Far". BET. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  16. ^ "Ms. Lauryn Hill Rapping is the Highlight of Nas' 'King's Disease II'". www.okayplayer.com. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  17. ^ "Best Rap Verses of 2021". HipHopDX. 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  18. ^ "The Best Rap Verses of 2021". Complex. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  19. ^ "Barack Obama's Top Songs of 2021: Mitski, Mdou Moctar, Ms. Lauryn Hill, the War on Drugs, and More". pitchfork.com. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  20. ^ "2021 Hip Hop Awards - HipHopDX Nominees & Winners". HipHopDX. 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  21. ^ Mamo, Heran (2022-09-12). "Drake Leads 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards Nominations: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  22. ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  23. ^ "Nas Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  24. ^ "Nas Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.