"Nothin" is the lead single from American rapper N.O.R.E.'s third studio album, God's Favorite (2002). The song was produced by the Neptunes and features Neptunes member Pharrell Williams performing the song's hook. "Nothin" reached 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, surpassing N.O.R.E.'s 1998 hit "Superthug" (also produced by the Neptunes) as his biggest solo hit. At the end of 2002, "Nothin" was ranked No. 37 on the Hot 100 year-end chart. The song also charted in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.
Composition Produced by the Neptunes, "Nothin" was recorded by N.O.R.E. for his third studio album God's Favorite (2002), with songwriting being credited to N.O.R.E. and Neptunes members Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. Williams performs the song's hook. The lyrics contain a nod to Smash Mouth's 1999 song "All Star"; the song's writer, Smash Mouth guitarist Greg Camp, was later credited as an additional songwriter on "Nothin".
Remix The official remix was later released and features P. Diddy, Foxy Brown, Capone, Final Chapter, and Musaliny-n-Maze.
Legacy In 2022, Spin listed "Nothin" as the 44th best song of 2002. The same year, it was sampled on rapper Armani White's song "Billie Eilish" from his EP Road to Casablanco. White and N.O.R.E. performed a medley of both songs at the 2022 edition of the BET Hip Hop Awards.
Track listings
US 12-inch single A1. "Nothin" (album version) A2. "Nahmeanuheard Remix" (album version featuring Capone, Cam'Ron, Fat Joe, and Cassidy) B1. "Nothin" (instrumental) B2. "Nahmeanuheard Remix" (instrumental)
UK CD single "Nothin" (radio edit) – 3:57 "Nothin" (remix featuring P. Diddy, Foxy Brown, Capone, Final Chapter, and Musaliny-n-Maze—explicit) – 4:26 "Nothin" (album version—explicit) – 4:24 "Nothin" (video) – 4:06
UK 12-inch single A1. "Nothin" (radio edit) – 3:57 A2. "Nothin" (remix featuring P. Diddy, Foxy Brown, Capone, Final Chapter, and Musaliny-n-Maze—explicit) – 4:26 B1. "Nothin" (album version—explicit) – 4:24 B2. "Nothin" (instrumental) – 3:57
UK cassette single "Nothin" (album version—explicit) – 4:24 "Nothin" (remix featuring P. Diddy, Foxy Brown, Capone, Final Chapter, and Musaliny-n-Maze—explicit) – 4:26
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2002) Peakposition Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 50US Billboard Hot 100 10US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard) 2US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard) 3US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard) 6
Year-end charts Chart (2002) PositionUK Urban (Music Week)11 US Billboard Hot 100 37 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard) 10 US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard) 7 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard) 27
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesJune 3, 2002Def JamSeptember 3, 2002Contemporary hit radioUnited KingdomSeptember 9, 2002
References