Nothing Even Matters
Regardless of the initial critical divergence, the song was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards (1999).
[3] Hill's perennial affinity for soul duos, such as Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, prompted her to write a duet of her own, which would eventually become "Nothing Even Matters".
[8] Hill initially invited D'Angelo to her New Jersey residence, where she played him numerous tracks and gave him a rough demo copy.
[4] Hill attributed her selection of D'Angelo as the collaborator to their "similar philosophy", adding that he helped her achieve the desired effect of a song about "what it's like when your back starts to tingle and your stomach feels funny".
[16] Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork classified "Nothing Even Matters" as a neo soul track,[13] while Victoria L. Johnson from Complex described it as "classic R&B".
[14] In his review of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill for Rolling Stone, journalist Touré described the song as a "dramatic" ballad.
[20] Interpreted as a dedication to Hill's then-partner Rohan Marley,[6] the song discussed an "effortless" love,[14] in contrast with the relationship complexities, betrayal, and heartbreak on which most of the album's lyrical content centered.
"[18] Nickson reflected on the lyricism's applicability to Hill's personal life: "The singer was in love, but she'd learned from her experiences.
"[6] Upon the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, "Nothing Even Matters" received mixed reviews from music critics.
[22] Writing for Q, Dom Phillips called the song a "schmaltzy ballad" which added a redundant "heavyweight touch" to the album.
[23] Conversely, Chris Nickson described it as a "gorgeous, sexy slow jam", and praised Hill and D'Angelo's vocal chemistry.
Nick Butler from Sputnikmusic called the song "excellent",[26] while Carma Henry of The Westside Gazette hailed Hill and D'Angelo's vocal performances as "stunning".
When a fan requested the track during her February 2017 show at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hill quickly taught it to her band on stage and performed it.
Reviewing the September 12 show at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon, Eric Diep from Billboard called the track's rendition "moving".
[4] Furthermore, Jacinta Howard credited it for becoming a "new wedding classic", likening the song to Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's cover of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "If This World Were Mine", and Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky".
[27] Touré credited "Nothing Even Matters" with broadening horizons of lyricism in hip hop, stating: "Culturally, soul music was dominant before hip-hop, and that was all about love.
She further attributed the ability to "bring the rawness of classic records to a modern generation without compromising the grit" to the song, adding that it showed how "writing authentically about simple concepts like feeling love in one moment in time can actually be incredibly complex, and create a real, tangible moment for the listener".
