Lauryn Hill

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Lore & Background

Lauryn Hill's collaboration with Nas on "Nobody" marked their second musical collaboration, following their first work together on the 1996 hit single "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)". The two rappers also toured together on the Life Is Good/Black Rage tour in 2012 and again on a joint tour in 2017. While Hill sang on their previous collaboration, on "Nobody" she gave a comparatively rare rap verse. In 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," and defended 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."

In Their Own Story

When Nas released "Nobody" as part of King's Disease II in 2021, Lauryn Hill's verse immediately became the highlight of the song for most fans and critics. Writing for NME, Will Lavin called the song a "glistening, esoteric gem" and referred to Hill's rhymes as a "lyrical master class." Entertainment Weekly stated that Hill proved "she's still one of the best damn rappers alive," while Rolling Stone argued that she "manages an impossible balance of fierce memory and unbotheredness" on the song, 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." 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.

Reader's Guide

Lauryn Hill's contribution to "Nobody" earned recognition from multiple media outlets as one of the best verses of 2021, including BET, Okayplayer, and HipHopDX. Complex named it the second best verse of that year. The song itself received positive reception from music critics, with Dana Scott of HipHopDX praising Nas' flow and comparing it to his previous acclaimed work. The song began trending on social media upon its release. Former United States president Barack Obama listed "Nobody" as one of his favorite songs of 2021. The song was also nominated for Impact Track at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.

Did You Know?

• Lauryn Hill gave a comparatively rare rap verse on "Nobody", whereas she sang on their previous collaboration "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)".
• Hill's verse on "Nobody" was named the second best verse of 2021 by Complex.
• Former U.S. president Barack Obama listed "Nobody" as one of his favorite songs of 2021.
• The song was nominated for Impact Track at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.
• Hill and Nas toured together on the Life Is Good/Black Rage tour in 2012 and again on a joint tour in 2017.