The Unusual Suspects Book 2

Iris

I was sitting in the studio listening to what Araya had been working on. I have to admit she was my pleasant surprise. That girl could really blow. Like without Aries or Riek she would still be fire. Don't get me wrong, I adored how they all worked together, but it was something about her. Plus she had range! I just wish we could get her out of her lil shell that she's in though. But then again, maybe I can get play off of that. I mean who doesn't love a good 'girl next door' story? Yeah, we had to start looking into marketing strategies. We got the publicity and the attention, but we gotta roll things into action for real. I looked up and saw Charles and Tony walking into the studio.
"Baby, you gotta go hear that Paradox and Depth mash up. It's a 3 part song. It's dope." He said as he walked over and kissed me on the cheek.
"What's up sis?" Tony said as he took a seat behind the board. "What's good bro? First time coming to check it out?" I said to him.
"Yeah and this is dope. Yall doing this shit for real." he said and I nodded.
"So you said that 3-part is nice?" I said to Charles.
"Nice would be a discredit. They did that shit!" Tony said and I smiled at that. Fresh ears are always good. We become so enveloped in our artists that sometimes our opinion seems biased, but to hear someone with an objective point of view is helpful.
"Okay then, let me make it down to the booth then."
"Naw, I got it right here for you Sweets." Chuckie said as he loaded the track and started the playback. Listen...this was ingenious. Like they didn't just take a verse at a time, one started and the other finished the bar. Throughout the entire song. That was dope. It blended good and they stayed on topic really well. Man...yesss!
"That could be like our version of Trapped in the Closet." I said and we all busted out laughing.
"You fried!" Tony said trying to control his laughter and then I noticed this blood on his shoes.
"You might want to clean those up." I said and he looked down for a moment.
"Damn...Imma just get some new ones. Now I should go back and smoke his ass." Tony said as me and Chuckie laughed at him. This cat trippin.
"Bruh he already probably down for at least a few months. You won that already." Charles said.
"Hell I won when the bitch ass nigga threw the brick through my shit. But it's all good. Time for a new whip anyway." he said. At this point, I won't even ask questions. Araya walked back in the room.
"I'm sorry, was I interrupting?" she asked. "Naw, this is just my brother Tony. Tony this is Araya." Charles said as they both waved at each other.
"I was trying to get that track from you, Rodney said he has some time now." she said. I passed her the drive it was on and she went on her way.
"Damn she colder when she not all dressed up." Tony said.
"Oh God, don't tell me everybody trying to cheat." I said looking at him.
"I'm not a cheater, I just give credit where credit is due. But I don't even know where me and Toy are right now so...I don't know. Regardless I ain't been and won't be with anyone else til we figure out what we're doing." he said quickly.
"Maybe you should teach your boy the same thing." I said and he looked at Charles. "Not my Chuckie. That hardheaded ass Justin." I said.
"Wait, what?" Tony said. ""
"Yeah bruh, that party we threw last night...well let's just say we woke up to Jazz in the crib." Charles said. Tony just shook his head.
"Man...Martin gone beat his ass. And while she still in the hospital though? Damn!" Tony said as we heard a knock on the door. I waved Little Man in.
"What's good yall?" he said walking in.
"What's good Little Man? Oh my bad this my bro Tony, Tony this Little Man."
"What's up? You came to the listening party, right?" Little Man asked as they shook hands.
"Yeah, we talked on my way in." Tony said to him.
"Right, right. Good to see you bruh." Little Man said before he turned his attention to Charles. "My bad, I know I was supposed to be here a little over an hour ago. But here go the bread for that time." he said as he passed Charles a lil wad of money.
"Everything good?" I asked him. It wasn't like him to be late at all. Ever really.
"Yeah, it's all good. I just was up at the hospital." he said. We all looked around at each other and Charles passed him back his money.
"Keep that, I respect the support of your labelmate."
"You sure?" he asked.
"Boy take your money. And be careful with all that with my babycakes." I said to him. He smiled at that.
"She always in good hands when it comes to me. Which is more than I can say for Jay. How the fuck you just leave her in there like that? Especially for that bullshit ass reason he came up with." Little Man said.
"What he say?" Tony asked.
"Because he didn't know she was a lesbian prior to him. Like why do that matter? You was looking for a reason if you ask me." We all looked around at each other for a moment.
"That's why they broke up?" I said in shock for real. That's petty.
"I didn't think he was going to react like that." Tony said.
"I can't even say I'm surprised. I think the shit was too much for him. You know he wanted that baby bad as hell." Charles said.
"That's expected, you supposed to hurt. But you didn't see Riek leave Aries like that. I mean that's bullshit." I said.
"Imma go on head out cuz I don't wanna bad mouth yall homie, but best believe his loss will be my gain. Just watch." Little Man said walking out.
"I know Jay my best friend and all, but I think I like dude for her already." Tony said. Yeah...me too.