BEST INTEREST

"BEST INTEREST" delves into the complex and emotionally charged theme of being the 'other person' in a love triangle. The song is a raw and honest confession from the perspective of someone who is romantically involved with a person already in another relationship. Tyler, the Creator candidly portrays the internal conflict, guilt, and resignation that come with being a "third wheeler" and a "homewrecker." The central message revolves around the narrator's promise to prioritize his lover's happiness and stability, even if it means sacrificing his own desires and remaining a secret. The repeated line, "I'll keep your best interest," underscores this commitment. The song explores the nuances of a forbidden relationship, acknowledging the pain and messiness while also highlighting a deep sense of care for the other person. It's a narrative about navigating love that exists outside of societal norms, filled with introspection and emotional turmoil.

The narrator finds himself in a complicated and clandestine relationship with someone who is already in a committed partnership. He openly acknowledges his role in this love triangle, referring to himself as a “third-wheeler,” a “side-better,” and a “homewrecker.” Despite the inherently messy and potentially hurtful nature of the situation, he positions himself as someone who genuinely cares for his lover's well-being, repeatedly promising to keep their “best interest” at heart. This suggests a conflict between his desires and his conscience.

He describes the secret nature of their affair, mentioning having to sneak around and the risk of being exposed, noting that paparazzi might have already captured incriminating photos. There's a sense of resignation in his tone; he understands his place is not as the primary partner and that he can't disrupt his lover's main relationship. He expresses a willingness to maintain the secrecy and not “blow your spot up.”

The narrator also seems to be aware of the precariousness and potential expiration date of their arrangement, singing the line “not for too long.” He grapples with the emotional toll of being the “other person,” balancing the joy of their moments together with the pain of the situation's limitations. He feels he is a better match for his lover than their current partner, whom he may see as “lame,” but he accepts the reality of the circumstances. The song captures the complex mix of love, guilt, self-awareness, and sacrifice involved in being the secondary figure in a romantic entanglement, ultimately prioritizing the lover's happiness and stability, even if it means his own role remains hidden and temporary.

"BEST INTEREST" is a song that was originally recorded during the sessions for Tyler, the Creator's critically acclaimed 2019 album, IGOR, but it did not make the final tracklist. Tyler stated that it was an "unfinished track" that he "didn't want to sit on a hard-drive." He first released the song and its accompanying music video on YouTube on December 23, 2019, alongside another track titled "GROUP B". The songs were later made available on streaming services on January 25, 2020. The music video has a spontaneous, homemade feel; Tyler revealed that it was filmed on a boat with a friend, and he was lip-syncing without the music playing, expressing surprise at how well it synced up. The song's production is credited to Tyler, the Creator himself. It prominently features a sample of the song "Bless You With My Love" by the soul group Heaven Sent & Ecstasy.

The rhyme and rhythm in "BEST INTEREST" are fluid and serve the song's conversational and confessional tone.

• Rhyme Scheme: The song largely utilizes a free verse structure, especially in the rap section, rather than adhering to a strict, predictable rhyme scheme. Rhymes appear more organically, such as the internal rhyme in "playin' games, you was out there with a lame." This looseness contributes to the track's stream-of-consciousness feel, as if Tyler is thinking aloud.
• Rhythm and Pacing: The song maintains a relaxed, laid-back tempo, driven by a soulful groove and jazzy drumming. This creates a contrast with the lyrical tension of the subject matter. The vocal rhythm shifts significantly between the sung choruses and the rapped verse. The sung parts are melodically smooth and flow with the music, while the rap section is more syncopated and rhythmically complex, delivered in a characteristically off-kilter but compelling flow. This interplay between the smooth musical backdrop and the more jagged vocal rhythm enhances the song's feeling of internal conflict.

"BEST INTEREST" showcases Tyler's signature blend of musical and literary styles, characteristic of the IGOR era.

• Musical Techniques: The production is built around a prominent soul sample from Heaven Sent & Ecstasy's "Bless You With My Love," which provides a warm, nostalgic, and slightly melancholic foundation. The instrumentation includes lush strings, piano, xylophone, and what's been described as "loosely jazz drumming." A key feature is Tyler's vocal delivery. He employs a high-pitched, crooning style for the main melodic parts, which contrasts sharply with the monotone, raspy rapping he switches to in the verse. This vocal duality can represent the different facets of his emotional state—the softer, more vulnerable lover and the more direct, realistic observer of the situation.
• Literary Techniques: The narrative is a first-person confession, creating a direct and intimate connection with the listener. The lyrics use stark, self-deprecating labels like "homewrecker" and "third wheeler," a form of brutal honesty or hyperbole that emphasizes his awareness of the situation's moral ambiguity. The rhyme scheme is relatively loose, following the conversational flow of the rap verse, which makes the confession feel more authentic and less performative.

Though not an official single from IGOR, "BEST INTEREST" was met with enthusiasm from fans and critics, who saw it as a high-quality extension of the album's world. Its release as a "throwaway" track highlighted the creative richness of the IGOR sessions and Tyler's artistic peak. The song quickly became popular on social media platforms like TikTok, where its soulful sound and relatable themes of complicated love resonated with a wide audience. The lo-fi, spontaneously shot music video also added to its charm and appeal. While it didn't have a major chart impact like the official singles from IGOR, its enduring popularity has cemented it as a fan-favorite within Tyler's discography. It serves as an important piece of context for the narrative of IGOR, offering a clearer glimpse into the "side piece" role that the album's protagonist, Igor, finds himself in.

The lyrics of "BEST INTEREST" are quite direct, but they employ powerful metaphors to describe the narrator's clandestine role.

• "Third-wheeler," "Side-better," "Homewrecker": These are not so much metaphors as they are stark, self-aware labels the narrator applies to himself. He isn't hiding from the reality of his position but is defining it in the clearest, most societally negative terms. This bluntness serves to highlight his internal conflict and acceptance of his complicated role.
• Playing Games: The line "I was out here playin' games, you was out there with a lame" suggests the dynamic of their relationship is a kind of strategic, unserious affair in contrast to the partner's presumably stable but unexciting primary relationship. It also points to the pretense and hiding involved, a 'game' of secrecy.
• The Boat/Swamp Setting (Music Video): The visuals of Tyler on a boat cruising through a swamp or marsh can be seen as a metaphor for navigating the murky, unclear, and potentially treacherous waters of this illicit relationship. The journey is aimless yet moving forward, mirroring the uncertain direction of the affair itself.

The most significant recurring element in "BEST INTEREST" is the lyrical phrase that forms the song's title and central theme: "I'll keep your best interest." This line is repeated multiple times, acting as a mantra and the core promise of the narrator to his lover. Its repetition emphasizes the narrator's primary justification for his role in the affair; he frames his presence not as purely selfish but as something that ultimately considers the other person's happiness and security. It highlights his acceptance of a secondary, supportive role. Another recurring set of phrases are the self-deprecating labels: "I'm a third-wheeler, I'm a side-better, I'm a homewrecker." Repeating these terms underscores his acute self-awareness and the guilt associated with his position, making his simultaneous promise to protect his lover's interests all the more complex and poignant.