Rare | 3BOPS

1. Nas, “Rare”

💿 King’s Disease II • 🏷 Mass Appeal • 📅 2021

🏆 Grammy-winning rapper 🎙 Nas keeps the momentum going strong on 💿 King’s Disease II with 🎵 “Rare.”  Although King’s Disease II arrived with no singles, “Rare” arrives as a single post-release, with an accompanying music video.  Worth noting, the record is divided into two parts.

‘Part I’ is anchored by a dusty hip-hop beat and rhythmic bass line.  With no shortage of electrifying bars, the pick of the litter is, “I rock it like Lenny, thinkin’ like Jimi the first time he seen a guitar.” Woo!  ‘Part II’ features contrasting production, matching the allure and energy of the first.

“Levels of Tarantino
Curbin’ my ego, even though he knew
Empty glass of Pinot, cigars and casinos
What they especially praise is the ethos.”

The constant variable? N-A-S, who is experiencing a career resurgence long after first leaving his mark on the game.  He’s the ‘rare’ one indeed!

2. Selena Gomez, “Rare”

💿 Rare • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2020

Prior to the arrival of 💿 Rare in 2020, the last time 🎙 Selena Gomez released an album was in 2015 (Revival). I’ve rarely been able to personally connect to Gomez. The main rub? Vocals tbh. In the past, Gomez admitted that she’s not the best vocalist.  Her honesty elevates my respect level.  She gets more respect from me because her sixth album has plenty of selling points.

“It feels like you don’t care / Why don’t you recognize I’m so rare?” Title track 🎵 “Rare” successfully kicks things off, finding Gomez schooling her lover how special – how rare – that she is. Ultimately, she’s NOT going to let him bring her down:

“I’m not gonna beg for you
I’m not gonna let you make me cry.”

The percussion, with its retro sensibilities, and bass line stand out, on this production courtesy of 🎛 Sir Nolan and 🎛 Simon Says. As for Gomez, even being assertive in attitude, she’s as cool as a cucumber atop the backdrop.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 16 ‘R’ Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason

3. 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 for sure!

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 11 Uniquely-Titled, Interesting Songs from 2018
🔗 🎧 11 Songs Focused on Diamonds
🔗 🎧 14 Songs That Are Definitely Diamonds 💠