K. Michelle has stated that artists who have influenced her musical style include Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, and Tammi Terrell.
Her first mixtape What's the 901?, is considered a tribute to Mary J Blige. She released her second mixtape on Christmas Eve 2010 entitled For Colored Girls (Pre-Pain Medicine). K Michelle has an upcoming album called Pain Medicine which is one of the top anticipated albums of 2011. Her two singles "Fallin" and "I Just Can't Do This" were voted on 106 and Park for over eight weeks, and another single called "How Many Times" was released in February 2011. K Michelle has worked with artists such as R. Kelly, Trina, Gucci Mane, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, and many others. She earned her first gold plaque for her contribution to R.Kelly's album Love Letter where she was featured on the track "Love Is". Another mixtape, Signed, Sealed, Delivered was released in June 2011. Recent messages on twitter from K.Michelle state that she will be releasing another mixtape entitled S.T.O.R.M - she has already released "Worst Man I Ever Had", "2Pac Back Freestyle" amoung many other tracks that are slated to be on the mixtape. On a recent youtube video that played the 2Pac Back/My Last Freestyle, it was stated that the mixtape would be released in july. However, on July 28 K. Michelle told one of her fans on tumblr that the mixtape would be dropping in August. While in college at Flordia A&M University she pledged into the Beta Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
K. Michelle released another song from her mixtape "Many Men" which she released on twitter. However, since that song was released - no info on a S.T.O.R.M release date have surfaced. K. Michelle has been working hard on her mixtape as she has been shown in pictures with famous songwriters and producers and has recently said on twitter that one of her new songs on the album will be entitled "Real Love". She also sent a message to R&B singer Monica over twitter saying there was a spot for her on one of the songs on the album. The album and the mixtape have yet to have release dates.
Build a Man Intro / Build a Man
K. Michelle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He wasn't ready
Oh so young, baggage heavy
And there was Chris
Laid in Tennessee but he fucked up and had twins on me
(Oh) oh a little piece, piece of each that's all I need
Little piece, piece of each
Build him her a fan for me
Loved to hear me sing but control me
There was this actor, had a baby not the same dude you see in a movie
Is it love, was he acting? but I missed him how did this happen?
So many men gave me a song to sing but none of them gave me a ring
A little piece, piece of each that's all I need
If only I could build me a man
Why didn't mother tell me (Tell me)
They would take the best of me
Leave the rest of me in pieces
Why didn't daddy tell me (Tell me)
That they're only selling dreams
What they do is what they mean
Oh if I could give him a heart back
Only beats me (beats me)
Always follow me
Oh give me him a set of eyes that
Only look at me (Only look at me)
If only I could build me a man
He be everything oh
If only I could build me a man
I'll make him perfect (perfect) for me (for me)
'Cause all the ones I know
They all disappoint and do whatever they want
If only I could build me a man (a man)
I'll make him perfect (perfect) for me (for me)
I wish it was as simple as a build a bear assembly
I'd have the necessary parts he be customer friendly
And smoke a little weed (weed)
Heartbreak but still a little street
Oh oooh if I could give him a part that
Only be for me
(Always follow me)
Oooh I give him a set of eyes that only look at me
(Only look at me)
If only I could build me a man
He be everything oh
If only I could build me a man
I'll make him perfect (perfect) for me (for me)
'Cause all the ones I know
They all disappoint and do whatever they want
If only I could build me a man (a man)
I'll make him perfect (perfect) for me (for me)
I'll build him up just to let me down
I'll give him some shoes so they can just walk out
A great hoe they were so they can be with her
And I'm here broken hearted
If only I could build me a man
He be everything oh
If only I could build me a man
I'll make him perfect (perfect) for me (for me)
All the ones I know
They all disappoint and do whatever they want
If only I could build me a man (a man)
I'll make him perfect (perfect) for me (for me)
Da la la da daaaaa
If only I could build me (build me)
A ohhh ohhh um
'Cause all the ones I know (know)
They'll disappoint (disappoint)
Build me a man
I'll make him perfect for me
The lyrics of K. Michelleβs βBuild a Manβ express the artistβs disillusionment with the men she has encountered in relationships. The song begins with a description of four people she has been involved with, all of whom have let her down in some way. The chorus takes on a more hopeful note as she fantasizes about building the perfect man to fill the void left by her previous partners.
The lyrics suggest a sense of frustration and a longing for something that seems unattainable. K. Michelle seems to be suggesting that she is tired of being hurt and disappointed by men and wants to take control over her love life by creating the ideal partner. The irony lies in the fact that the perfect man she imagines building is still a creation of her own imagination, and like all people, he is likely to have flaws and disappoint her in some way.
In essence, βBuild a Manβ is a song about unfulfilled desires and the longing for an idealized relationship. The lyrics suggest that K. Michelle is tired of settling for less and wants to create the perfect partner to fill the void in her heart.
Line by Line Meaning
There was Lance
The start of the list of men K. Michelle has been involved with.
He wasn't ready
Lance was not prepared to be in a committed relationship.
Oh so young, baggage heavy
Lance was young and had a lot of emotional baggage.
And there was Chris
The next man on the list is Chris.
Laid in Tennessee but he fucked up and had twins on me
Chris, who was living in Tennessee, betrayed K. Michelle by having twins with another woman.
(Oh) oh a little piece, piece of each that's all I need
Each man provided K. Michelle with a valuable experience, and she learned something from each of them.
Little piece, piece of each
This line repeats the idea that K. Michelle took something from each of her past relationships.
Build him her a fan for me
K. Michelle takes ownership of the idea of "building a man" for herself.
There was Kellz, he adored me
Another man named Kellz was once in love with K. Michelle.
Loved to hear me sing but control me
Kellz enjoyed K. Michelle's music, but he was also controlling in their relationship.
There was this actor, had a baby not the same dude you see in a movie
K. Michelle dated an actor who had a child, but he didn't fit her image of him based on his public persona as a performer.
Is it love, was he acting? but I missed him how did this happen?
K. Michelle questions whether she truly loved the actor and wonders how she could have missed him so much.
So many men gave me a song to sing but none of them gave me a ring
K. Michelle has been intimately involved with several men, but none of them proposed to her.
If only I could build me a man
K. Michelle wishes she could create the perfect man for herself.
Why didn't mother tell me (Tell me)
K. Michelle questions why her mother didn't warn her about the disappointments and heartbreaks of romantic relationships.
They would take the best of me
K. Michelle feels that her partners took advantage of her.
Leave the rest of me in pieces
K. Michelle feels broken and hurt by her past relationships.
Why didn't daddy tell me (Tell me)
K. Michelle also wonders why her father didn't warn her about the consequences of romance.
That they're only selling dreams
K. Michelle sees relationships as a fantasy or a mirage of happiness.
What they do is what they mean
K. Michelle thinks that actions speak louder than words in relationships.
I'll build him up just to let me down
K. Michelle worries that even if she creates the perfect man, he still might disappoint her.
I'll give him some shoes so they can just walk out
K. Michelle fears that even if she makes the perfect man, he will be able to leave her at any time.
A great hoe they were so they can be with her
K. Michelle feels that some men will choose to cheat on her with women who are not as high-maintenance as she is.
And I'm here broken hearted
K. Michelle is still grieving over the pain caused by previous relationships.
He be everything oh
K. Michelle's ideal man would embody all the qualities she wants in a partner.
All the ones I know
K. Michelle has been around men who have cheated or not lived up to her expectations.
They all disappoint and do whatever they want
K. Michelle believes that men always put their own desires first, even if it hurts their partner.
Da la la da daaaaa
This line is a repeated melody, like a chant or a wishful sigh.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BIANCA DIEANDRA ATTERBERRY, JESSYCA WILSON, KIMBERLY MICHELLE PATE, STACY BARTHE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind