But those words aren’t hers — or even Scott-Heron’s. They were written by the ’60s soul singer Brook Benton, and covered innumerable times since, including by Scott-Heron, whose melody Rihanna quotes. What seems like two real-life exes talking to each other in public — what is two real-life exes talking to each other in public — is also a cover of a cover of a cover. “Take Care” is pop music about pop music, unabashed exhibitionism as hitmaking.
