Diddy Demanded 100% Of The Publishing Rights For "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here" Montell Jordan Refused And Gave The Song To Deborah Cox

One of the most iconic R&B ballads of the late 1990s almost had a completely different voice behind it.

Originally penned by Montell Jordan, along with Anthony “Shep” Crawford, "Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here" was first offered to legendary vocalist Patti LaBelle. But when Patti passed on the track, the song instantly became a hot commodity within the industry. Record labels scrambled to secure it for their top-tier female artists.

One such label was Bad Boy Records, helmed by Sean “Diddy” Combs, who saw the song’s potential and requested it for Faith Evans. However, according to Montell Jordan, Diddy made a bold demand: 100% of the publishing rights in exchange for letting Faith record it. Montell refused.

Despite initial hopes of the song going to a major star, Montell changed his tune the moment he heard Deborah Cox record it. In his words, once her voice touched the track, "he was sold."

Released in 1998, "Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here" would become the defining hit of Deborah Cox’s career. The song spent a then-record-breaking 14 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and earned Cox a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The track cemented her place in R&B history and became an anthem of heartbreak and vocal brilliance.

While it’s tempting to imagine Faith Evans or even Patti LaBelle belting the powerful lyrics, it’s hard to argue with the magic Deborah Cox brought to the record. Sometimes, the right voice comes along at just the right moment—and for "Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here," that voice was undoubtedly hers.