Nobody's Perfect

Album: Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011)
Charted: 61
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song features Cole reflecting on the way his life has changed for the better since signing to Jay Z's Roc Nation label. "Remember when I used to be stressed over D'wanna/ Now a nigga only texting, get stressed over Rihannas/ I'm talking 10s and better," he raps.
  • It features rapper/singer Missy Elliott singing on the hook. Cole said during a listening session for Cole World that he wrote the chorus for her after she became familiar with him through his sampling of her song "Best Friend" on his Friday Night Lights mixtape.
  • Cole told Artist Direct that the collaboration was done at the last minute for the album. He recalled: "I had four days left to turn it in, and it happened fast. She was super cool, super humble and she worked with me. We went and laid it down at the studio and I hit her back, asking her if she could try one more thing, but she had already left the studio. She actually turned around and came back."
  • The lyrics reference an Aaliyah song title. Cole told Billboard magazine: "I felt like the album needed something that you could just ride to. I ended up doing the beat and writing the raps and I'm like 'This really does sound like an old Aaliyah song,' so I was like 'Ahh, Missy!'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

dUg Pinnick of King's X

dUg Pinnick of King's XSongwriter Interviews

dUg dIgs into his King's X metal classics and his many side projects, including the one with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.

Booker T. Jones

Booker T. JonesSongwriter Interviews

The Stax legend on how he cooked up "Green Onions," the first time he and Otis Redding saw hippies, and if he'll ever play a digital organ.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.