Lauryn Hill & D’Angelo, Nothing Even Matters | Dazzling Duets

In the 24^th edition of Dazzling Duets (2025), Grammy-winning R&B musicians Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo collaborate on “Nothing Even Matters.”

[nx_dropcap]S[/nx_dropcap]ometimes, two is better than one! That is the case when it comes to Dazzling Duets! On Dazzling Duets, we highlight ear-catching songs performed by two artists collaborating. These duets can be from any musical style, making Dazzling Duets a flexible, versatile column on The Musical Hype. In the 24^th edition of Dazzling Duets (2025), Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo collaborate on “Nothing Even Matters”. Let the dazzle begin!

[nx_pullquote]“Now the skies could fall / Not even if my boss should call / The world, it seems so very small / ‘Cause nothing even matters at all.”[/nx_pullquote] Lauryn Hill (b. 1975) and the late 😢 D’Angelo (Michael Eugene Archer, 1974 – 2025) struck gold in 1998 with their powerful, neo-soul duet, “Nothing Even Matters”.  By this time, D’Angelo was three years removed from wowing with his own transformative album, Brown Sugar. Two years after releasing a Grammy-winning classic with Fugees (The Score), Hill released her magnum opus, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.  “Nothing Even Matters” appears as the 12^th track, following such gems as “Ex-Factor”, “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, and another terrific duet, “I Used to Love Him” featuring Mary J. Blige.  Hill penned and produced the track, which oozes with soul.

From the beginning, “Nothing Even Matters” is striking.  That is thanks to the gorgeous electric piano accompaniment and a distinct groove.  The harmonic progression is strong, showcasing a blend of gospel, jazz, and soul.  With the backdrop establishing the neo-soul, D’Angelo and Hill amplify it even more with their soulful vocal ad-libs during the intro.  From there, Hill draws first blood (excerpted earlier), showing off her smooth voice and distinct, gorgeous melisma. D’Angelo follows in the second verse, with his own pure, silky smooth, and nuanced instrument (“See I don’t need no alcohol / Your love make me feel ten-feet tall / Without it, I’d go through withdrawal”). From there, both singers alternate verses, highlighting the fact that “Nothing even matters at all” in all six.  Hill performs the third and fifth verses, with D’Angelo contributing ad-libs in the latter.  D’Angelo performs the fourth and sixth verses, with Hill contributing ad-libs in both.  Highlights include, “Now you won’t find me at no store / I have no time for manicures / With you it’s never either-or / ‘Cause nothing even matters no more” (Hill, fifth verse) and “Now my team could score / And make it to the Final Four / Just repossessed my four by four / ‘Cause nothing even matters no more” (D’Angelo, sixth verse).  The extended, in-no-rush outro finds them marvelously riffing,  trading lines. These lines tend to be fragments of the hook (appearing at the end of the verses) and non-lyrical vocals. All said and done, “Nothing Even Matters” is a once-in-a-lifetime duet. Lauryn Hill never recorded her sophomore album; she was one-and-done with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. As for D’Angelo, he lived only 51 years but left a highly influential and highly respected musical legacy. This duet is a truly unforgettable one.