Rebel (A Rihanna and Eazy E Love Story)

The Birth of a Track (Chapter 16)

Eric (Eazy E) POV

We was just chillin' at Kelly Park, same spot as always, where the homies get together. The sun was out, givin' the block that golden tint, we gathered in a tight circle shootin' dice, talkin' mad shit, and smokin'. I had my back leaned up against my cutlass, one leg propped up on the bumper, watchin' the game go down. The sound of dice hittin' the pavement filled the air--nothin' like the feelin' of bein' out here with the squad.

"Come on, man, roll that shit!" Lil' Spook yelled, anxious as hell, eyes locked on the homie Snake, who was sweatin' over his roll. The pot was fat as fuck, and everybody's pockets was burnin'. Snake threw the dice, and the whole circle leaned in. A few seconds of silence, then a roar of laughs and groans--dude crapped out.

"Nigga, you ain't never gon' win!" I said, laughin', takin' a drag from the blunt I just sparked.

Snake shot me a look, smilin'. "Fuck you, E! I'll get you next round."

I chuckled, watchin' as money changed hands. I wasn't even sweatin' the dice today. I was just enjoyin' the vibe, the way the park came alive during the day--Crip niggas everywhere, blue rags hangin', folks from all over comin' through. Kelly Park was like home base.

Ren walked over, crackin' open a 40, passin' it my way. "Yo, E, you in or you just spectatin' tonight?" he asked, noddin' towards the game. I glanced at the pile of cash in the middle.

"Nah, I'm cool, Ren. Let them lil' niggas throw they change. I'ma just watch for now."

Just then, some commotion went down at the corner. A couple dudes started talkin' loud, lookin' like somethin' was about to pop off. I kept my eyes peeled--could never be too sure when shit might jump. It's always some drama with somebody's baby mama, or a nigga tryin' to flex, actin' hard.

One of the youngins from the hood came up to me, breathin' heavy like he just ran a mile. "Ayo, E, you heard about them fools from across town tryna start somethin' with Kev? Niggas talkin' wild."

I exhaled smoke slow, squintin' at the street ahead. "Let 'em talk. They ain't stupid enough to pull up over here. Not with all us out here." I passed him the blunt, lettin' him calm down his nerves.

The air was thick with weed smoke and street energy, that Kelly Park life. Between the dice games, music playin' from someone's car, and folks laughin' loud, it was just another day in Compton, but you could never get too comfortable out here. The hood always got two sides--one minute you vibin', next minute it's a shootout.

"Yo, E, you got the heat on you, right?" Ren asked low, handin' me the bottle back.

I nodded, patting my waist. "Always, nigga. Ain't gettin' caught slippin' out here."

Ren nodded, smirkin'. "You smart. Gotta stay ready."

We both stood there, posted up, watchin' the park, watchin' the game, watchin' the day.

I was chillin', watchin' the homies reup on the dice game, when it hit me that Dre had a studio session lined up over at Lonzo's spot. He been talkin' 'bout this music shit heavy, tryin' to get me to throw some bread at it. I figured, fuck it, I'm sittin' on a couple stacks, might as well see what this whole thing 'bout. Change ain't never been a bad move, and the streets been gettin' hotter. Time to switch lanes.

I turned to Ren, who was still caught up in the game. "Yo, Ren, we out," I said, noddin' towards the car.

He shot me a look, confused for a second, then grinned. "Where we headin'?"

"Lonzo's spot. Dre got a studio session lined up. Thinkin' 'bout throwin' some stacks into this music shit."

Ren nodded, didn't need no more explainin'. He knew the streets was gettin' messy too. "Bet. Let's roll."