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“11 Songs Focused on Diamonds” features music courtesy of Benny Blanco, Father John Misty, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, and Rihanna among others.

Cutting straight to the chase, this playlist is all about diamonds, period.  Yup, “Diamonds are totally forever” and most pertinent, totally the focal point of “11 Seconds Focused on Diamonds.” The musicians serving as the source of this ‘gem-tastic’ soundtrack includes Benny Blanco (“More/Diamond Ring”), Father John Misty (“Disappointing Diamonds are the Rarest of Them All”), YoungBoy Never Broke Again (“Diamond Teeth Samurai”), and Rihanna (“Diamonds”).

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1. Father John Misty, “Disappointing Diamonds are the Rarest of Them All”

God’s Favorite Customer • Sub Pop • 2018

Father John Misty (Josh Tillman) keeps things short on “Disappointing Diamonds are the Rarest of Them All”, the seventh track from God’s Favorite Customer.  Despite the brevity, the production is alluring, including instrumentation including piano, guitars, bass, drums, and saxophone.  Vocally, Tillman serves up a liberal amount of falsetto, which is compelling if uncharacteristic. The lyrics exemplify typical, clever Father John Misty through and through. “Like a carcass left out in the heat / This love is bursting out of me.” Goodness gracious.  The centerpiece is the chorus, where the titular lyric comes into play.  “Disappointing diamonds are the rarest of them all / And a love that lasts forever really can’t be that special…” Yup, God’s Favorite Customer.  This particular record also appeared on the playlist 11 Uniquely-Titled, Interesting Songs from 2018.

2. Lil Xan, “Diamonds”

TOTAL XANARCHY • Columbia • 2018

Polarizing to the nth degree.  That’s the best way to describe Latino Cali rapper Lil Xan, who quickly ascended in the rap game, as shocking as that is.  Who needs bars with depth when you can opt for ad-libs, sound effects, profanity, and mostly indecipherable lyrics chocked with overconfidence and meaningless sex?  Ugh, that’s what the majority of what the questionable Total Xanarchy encompasses.

If you guessed that “Diamonds” entailed Xan’s wrist, well, you’d be correct.

“Diamonds be wet on my wrist, yuh

Diamonds be wet like a bitch, yuy

Diamonds be wet like a bitch, yuh

Diamonds be wet like a bitch.”

“Diamonds” is basic AF, period. Basically, the uninspired rapper is fueled by material and of course, sex (“I hit no lick, yuh / I was fuckin’ that bitch, yuh”). Eye rolls welcome.

3. YoungBoy Never Broke Again, “Diamond Teeth Samurai”

Until Death Call My Name • Never Broke Again, LLC • 2018

“Used to be broke but now I’m rich, I’m spendin’ every penny / 2Pac Shakur, ridin’ through the North up in the Bentley / Curtis Jackson, ain’t no actin’ when I’m on a mission / Tryna assassinate my character, I ain’t say I did it.” Sigh YoungBoy Never Broke Again brings toughness on “Diamond Teeth Samurai,” a highlight from his 2018 LP, Until Death Call My Name.  A relatively brief number, YBNBA is electrifying with his sick flow and hard-nosed, unapologetic rhymes.  This is obvious at the top of the first verse as he spits, “Whole lotta killin’, Helter Skelter like I’m Charles Manson / These n***as hatin’ now keep that hammer, all these diamonds dancin’.”

The second verse maintains the toughness, referencing the shallower things in life (“I’m in the all-white Porsche wit Fee ridin’ through Hollygrove”) as well as the police (“Police hit our stash house but we ain’t closing shop / They got some n***as movin’ work who stay right up the block”).  Prior to the first verse and following each verse, the aforementioned chorus comes into play, continuing as follows:

“N***a, you got that yayo? (Well cook somethin’ n***a)

N***a, you let them Ks go? (Well bust somethin’ n***a)

Oh, you duckin’ them laws? (You better run from them n***a)

Oh, you playin’ with that raw? (Well look here, front some n***a).”

Safe to say, “Diamond Teeth Samurai” is a banger.  Great, minor-key production helps to fuel YoungBoy’s fire.

4. Benny Blanco, “More/Diamond Ring”

Ft. Ty Dolla $ign & 6LACK

Friends Keep Secrets • Friends Keep Secrets / Interscope • 2018

Near the tail-end of 2018, producer and songwriter Benny Blanco released a seven-song, 21-minute album entitled Friends Keep Secrets.  The project is a star-studded affair, featuring collaborations with the likes of Brendon Urie (“Roses”), and Halsey & Khalid (“Eastside”), among others.  Blanco gives us the perfect song for this diamond-centric playlist, “More/Diamond Ring,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign and 6LACK. “More/Diamond Ring” commences with a moody intro, set in a minor key and establishing the vibe of the record.

Jesse Rutherford (of The Neighbourhood) the sings the chorus, featuring some heavily processed vocals.

“You are all I need but sometimes, baby, I need more than that, mhm
Need more, mhm, said
You were all I ever wanted but sometimes I just want more
Give me more, more, it’s more, I want you.”

Following the unique refrain, Ty Dolla $ign blesses the track with his signature robust, distinct pipes. Naturally, he’s a perfect match for this record.  6LACK enters the picture on the switch-up (“Diamond Ring”) with his own one-of-a-kind vocals getting to work.

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5. Dirty Heads, “Diamonds & Pearls”

SWIM TEAM • Five Seven Music • 2017

“It’s a wonderful world, yeah / Fucking diamonds and pearls, yeah / They don’t understand what we’re living for / Make ‘em understand life is beautiful.” Alternative collective Dirty Heads add to the diamond count on this playlist with “Diamonds & Pearls.” Dirty J raps the first verse with a sick flow exhibiting incredible agility.  Safe to say, he has bars.

“Louis Armstrong in the lane

Got a bad bitch give me brain better than Etta James

I’mma do my thing, man, singing in the rain

I don’t make claims, you can put it on my name, ah.”

He goes on the sing the infectious, aforementioned chorus like a champ. Duddy B enters the picture on the second verse, adding to the collection of sick bars spit.

“Cause I got a plan and a rendezvous

And people, sometimes, they don’t understand

And these are the fuckers with attitude

And I ain’t got time for foolishness.”

In addition to the attitude and bars brought by Dirty J and Duddy B, the production work is sleek.  A hard, swagger-laden beat, warm piano (on the chorus), and top-notch synth action.

6. Freddie Gibbs, “Diamonds 2”

Ft. Irie Jane Gibbs & Cassie Jo Craig

Freddie • ESGN / EMPIRE • 2018

“Million-dollar lick like can’t nobody tell me shit, aye / Diamonds in my necklace, VVSs got me lit, aye / I just dropped a brick so big they got it off the lift, aye.” Freddie Gibbs is turned up from the start of “Diamonds 2,” the closing cut on his 2018 mixtape, Freddie.  After dropping the sick hook, Gibbs drops some equally sick bars on the verses.

At the end of both of his verses, he spits:

“Got that blow from my Dominicano

Got my whole garage on Forgiato

Wood and leather in my Eldorado

I just let them VVSs flood in my Cubano.”

Gibbs is the star of “Diamonds 2,” but Cassie Jo Craig also gets into the game towards the end (“Let me show you, let me take you there / Everything you ever wanted”).  Similarly, Irie Jane Gibbs appears on the outro.

7. Lil Uzi Vert, “Diamonds All on My Wrist”

Luv is Rage 2 • Atlantic • 2017

“Livin’ life like a dream / But I don’t get no rest / I just got a new girl / But I’m thinkin’ who next / Started off in first class / Now I’m jumpin’ off a jet / I put diamonds all on your bitch (ayy) / I put diamonds all on my wrist (ayy).” Lil Uzi Vert commences “Diamonds All on my Wrist” abruptly with the aforementioned pre-chorus, followed by the repetitive, but effective chorus (“I put diamonds all on my wrist”).  In addition to catchy, hella confident songwriting, “Diamonds All on my Wrist” features a banging beat, and stellar minimalist production is set in a minor key. Lil Uzi Vert delivers a compelling flow, brilliantly changing his vocal inflections.  Uzi Vert isn’t transcendent on “Diamonds All on my Wrist,” but he delivers an enjoyable banger.

8. Jeezy, “Pretty Diamonds”

Ft. Chris Brown

Trap or Die 3 • Def Jam • 2016

“Woke up to a bag I might just go and splurge today / Called this baddie up, pulled up on the ándale.” Jeezy enlisted Chris Brown for the penultimate cut, “Pretty Diamonds,” from his 2016 album, Trap or Die 3.   As always, Jeezy remains hard-nosed and tough AF – he doesn’t let the sex game take away from his gangsta status.  Following an intro, he’s comes hard on the hella catchy hook, assisted by Brown, whose clearly in his niche.

“You look better than some pretty diamonds

You look better than some pretty diamonds

You lookin’ better than some pretty diamonds

Spendin’ all my time and money

Girl, just look where you at

All of them shoes and bags

Poppin’ them tags, spendin’ money on your ass.” 

In addition to edgy bars from Jeezy, the production is on-point, matching the intensity of the southern rapper.  Chris Brown also gets his moment to shine on the third verse.  Ultimately, while the diamonds may be ‘pretty,’ they are also pretty gangsta.

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9. The Game, “Blood Diamonds”

Jesus Piece • Interscope • 2012

“Blood diamonds, look at blood diamonds… now take a look at blood diamonds….” West coast rapper The Game is definitely talking about different kind of diamond than the majority referenced on this playlist. “Blood Diamonds” serves as the closing cut from his 2012 album, Jesus Piece.  In this particular instance, it’s not the controversial cover art of the album that draws attention, but rather blood diamonds themselves.

A blood diamond is defined by Encyclopædia Brittanica as follows:

“Any diamond that is mined in areas controlled by forces opposed to the legitimate, internationally recognized government of a country and that is sold to fund military action against that government.”

Naturally, The Game plays it up, asserting on the first verse, “Twelve years old, on his shoulder, a rocket launcher… / While somewhere in Africa, Jo-Burg and Congo is goin’ to war.” Complementing the references to African and their diamond controversies, the production has an international, ‘ethnic’ sensibility that stands out.  Beyond the blood diamond references, The Game’s verses are agile and packed with a number of historical and pop cultural references, including Julius Caesar, Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, Drake, and The Weekend (“Where the fuck is the loyalty, knock these n***as fuckin’ teeth in? / In the hood singin’ like they Aubrey or The Weeknd”).

10. Rihanna, “Diamonds”

Unapologetic • Island Def Jam • 2012

“At first sight I felt energy of sun rays / I saw the life inside your eyes…” Wow… that’s so beautiful! Despite being named Unapologetic, not every song from the 2012 Rihanna album can be classified as being ‘unapologetic.’  Case in point, the precious gem “Diamonds,” which finds Rihanna asserting on the intro and outro, “Shine bright like a diamond, Shine bright like a diamond.”  In the context of Unapologetic, the Barbadian pop/R&B singer contrasts the overt “Phresh” that precedes with the tame yet potent no. 1 hit. “Diamonds” features excellent production work, as well as sound vocal production.

The refrain is simply marvelous:

“So, shine bright tonight, you and I

We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky

Eye to eye, so alive

We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky…”

11. Mac Miller, “Diamonds & Gold”

Blue Slide Park • Rostrum • 2011

Before he “first made a hundred grand” on “100 Grandkids” or collaborated with Kendrick Lamar on “God is Fair, Sexy, Nasty,” the late Mac Miller dropped his debut studio album Blue Slide Park. While songs like “Party on 5^th Ave” and “Frick Part Market” were more notable, the less heralded “Diamonds & Gold” fits the occasion for obvious reasons, much like it did on a previous playlist, Golden Songs, Vol. 1. “Diamonds & Gold” is about a girl who isn’t looking for commitment whatsoever but living wildly. Miller characterizes her as having lots of potential.  While she’s a gold digger, she doesn’t need to be.

Photo Credits: Atlantic, Columbia, Def Jam, EMPIRE, ESGN, Five Seven Music, Friends Keep Secrets, Interscope, Island Def Jam, Never Broke Again LLC, Rostrum, Sub Pop

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