"Iris man you know I trust y'all. I'm just wondering why I'm not getting any radio play at all and damn near everyone else comes on. Even if it's just a local station, their voice is getting out there. I feel like I'm just not getting anywhere." Cinco said as he took a seat in the studio next to me at the board. "Well hello to you too Cinco. I'm going to excuse the lack of greetings because I understand that you're an artist and you all are sensitive about your craft. However, Cinco I think you're only looking at it from your level of perception. Because you may not have radio play but you are in fact the face of our battle league. Not only that, but you participate in the battles as well as host so you're making double off of each and every event. We have made efforts to get you out of the streets, provide you with proper housing, got you help when you need it, and still put you up front and center. Now, it may not be radio play, but we are taking good care of you, right?" "I'm not trying to sound ungrateful at all, it's not that. I just feel like I hear everyone being represented in another way and I'm wondering why I didn't get that." "Why are you comparing your journey to anyone else's? Listen...this isn't a race, it's a journey. We had to really find your voice for a minute there because a lot of your music wasn't even set for radio play because of the amount of curse words. However, battle rap is where all of that can shine, so you'd never have to dim your light to fit in a box. There's no comparison to the moon and the sun, they both shine when it's their time. So again, don't compare your journey to anyone else's. You start losing faith in your capabilities that way." He nodded at that. "I'm sorry, you're right. I was just trippin but when you put it that way..." "Naw you didn't even trip for real. You're growing. I love that you didn't hold no punches when it came to speaking up for yourself, keep that. It'll get you far in life. But all I'm saying is trust the process. Like for example....I hate to do this but this is the best way I can get you to understand. When we first met Kev, he was so much like you. Rough around the edges, but undeniable talent. Worked with him while he worked on himself, allowed him space to grow and evolve until he went from Lil Man to Influx. Now, I'm not telling you to go outside your body, but I know that you're still finding you if we're being honest. I don't mind pushing to get you on the radio, but you tell me if this is the version of you that you're ready to debut at?" I asked him. "I wanna play you something. Just listen and you can tell me what you think before I answer that." he said as he pulled out his phone and went to the track. It was a different type of beat, more mellow than I was used to him rapping over. And it was almost a R&B type feel to it but for once you could hear him pouring his heart out on the track. The crazy part is here he was rapping my truth. We weren't supposed to be like this, born and bred into this lifestyle. Get kicks out of putting in work and really being a demon for real. We tell ourselves that it's a means to an end, but really never have intentions on slowing down. We have the nerve to feel sad when we lose, but never care about the families of the ones we gave the same fate. He's right, we are demons, but we also have good hearts and no one will ever see that. It'll be overshadowed by everything that we've done wrong. When the song ended, I looked up at Cinco and we both had tears in our eyes but had way too much pride to ever allow them to fall. I know they say God works in mysterious ways, but maybe I needed to see the mirror of myself. Maybe that's why I was so willing to help him, because saving him was like saving me. "So...what you think?" he asked me as we looked away from each other and pulled ourselves together. "That was amazing. You know maybe you weren't meant to get radio play yet. This right here I think is your first single. You're relatable and raw. That's what draws in a crowd and defines your audience. This right here is gonna take you far." I told him. "Thanks for believing in me." he told me and I nodded. "Not to be weird or anything, but can I hug you?" he asked me and I laughed a little. "Of course!" I said as I embraced him and I really wasn't sure which of us needed that hug more. "Well...now I have to get busy pushing this out there." I said as we pulled apart. "I appreciate you." he said as my phone lit up with the track he sent me. I felt like that was gold and right now it was glittering. I got up and headed to the office to tell Charles all about this track and when I opened the door he looked right up at me. "So...we did it. He put out the most undeniable breakout track that I've ever heard." I told him. "Let me hear that joint." he said as I played it for him and Charles closed his eyes and nodded his head to it as he listened intently. When it ended and Charles opened his eyes, I saw the same tears behind his eyes that we had too. "That boy definitely left it all on this one. Mannnn...yes!! I back this 1000% and we should definitely get this one out there. I'm proud of him." "So we just need to get Keyz and Shakes together and I think that's everybody who could tour the next time around." I told him and he nodded. "Yeah...that would be all of our people and this was a much needed step in the right direction. I'm ready for all of it." He said sounding inspired for real. "I might get in the booth myself." "Really?" I asked him since he never really showed me an interest in that. "Yeah...I got a lot of material I've had written and it might be a good release for me."
YOU ARE READING
Allegedly Book 2
Storie d'amoreThe story of 6 inner city young adults, all from different walks of life, from different areas, and conquering different hardships. Watch how school, family, drugs, lies, the streets, and love bring them together and rip them apart
