28. Drix
DRIX
Iexhaled and shifted on my feet while Chandler cast her laptop to the large television in the center of our parents’ living room. Rome hit me on my back. I glanced at him but his eyes were focused on the television.
Dashawn and my pops were standing damn near beside me while they talked. Lee and Alan were both eating, nursing beers, and laughing near the entrance to the living room. Hazel sat on the couch with my mom, both of them holding one of my nieces.
Everyone who mattered and could show up had shown up for me today and I appreciated that shit.
“Alright. We’re going to record. I’ll post it and we’re off. Are you ready?” Chandler asked.
“Man, Chandler. You’re the only one stressed about this shit.” I smirked.
“Alright. Then let’s do it.”
“One take,” I said confidently.
Chandler smiled and lifted her phone.
“Three… Two…”
She pointed at me and I grinned.
“What’s up? This is Drix dropping in to let y’all know the rumors are true.
Your boy is starting his own label, Trill Loyalty Music, and I’m currently accepting new artists.
If you’re interested and think you have what it takes, feel free to shoot us an email.
I’m a rapper and I love rap, but I’m accepting all genres of music, whether that’s R&B, country, rock, or whatever.
I ain’t got no picks and chooses. If the music is good, it’s good, and if it’s not, don't come over here playing in my emails.” I grinned.
“And since I’m announcing shit, I guess now is as good a time as ever to announce I have a mixtape and an album coming through.
My new mixtape, Trill Stories Volume 1, will be made up of eleven songs, each featuring a new artist on my label, which leads me to the final announcement.
I’m only signing nine people right now. I want to give my label and my artists all the attention and support they need.
So if you want a label that’s down to help you figure out your sound and invest in you as an artist, come check out the winner’s circle.
” I winked. “If you’re interested, send a short snippet about yourself, why you think you can be a part of the label, and of course, recorded content of you performing.
The email to do that is linked below. A’ight, y’all. Peace.”
Chandler slowly lowered the phone and nodded. “Alright then, Berlin.”
“What do you think?”
“I think it was good.”
“Then let’s do it.”
Chandler posted the video on my label’s official Skroll page, linking it to my artist page as well, then attached it in an email to people who’d subscribed to get notifications when I dropped new shit. I crossed my arms as I stood in front of the television.
“Myome,” Rome said.
“What?” My head snapped to the side at the mention of my wife’s name.
“I’ve got her on the phone.” He held it toward me and I grabbed it.
She and Charm were on the camera, their faces damn near pressed together. They both screamed the second they saw me.
“Congratulations!”
“Thanks, y’all.” I grinned.
They were on their opening tour and apparently with another act to buffer things, Myome and Charm were having a great time. Retta apparently really got along with the other act so she was easier to work with because she wasn’t being miserable twenty-four-seven.
Myome was supposed to be home when my website and shit went live for the first time but their tour had done so well they’d added dates. Of course I wouldn’t tell her to tell them no.
Even if she couldn’t show up physically, I knew she supported me.
“How do you feel?”
“Excited,” I admitted. “I’m excited.”
“As you should be. Berlin, this label is going to be huge,” Myome said.
“Yeah. You’re going to do amazing shit with it,” Charm added.
“I hope so.” I exhaled.
“Alright, y’all.” Chandler called all of our attention back to her. “It’s officially been ten minutes since we posted the video. Let’s do it.”
She grabbed her laptop and we all watched as she typed in the email and password for the official label email. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes while it loaded. I counted to three before I opened them and a smile took over my face.
“The emails are already pouring in!” Chandler bounced on her feet and my friends and family cheered.
I hit Rome on the back then walked over to Chandler and yanked her in. I hugged her while Charm and Myome yelled and cheered on the phone.
“Look at my husband, the label owner.” Myome flicked her eyes up and down and I grinned.
“Wait till you get back to start looking at me like that,” I warned.
“Trust me, I will.” She blew me a kiss. “Okay. We just wanted to say congratulations because we saw your video go up. Go celebrate with everyone and call me when you get home.”
“A’ight. Will do. I love you, Twin.”
“I love you too, baby.” She winked at me and I winked back before we hung up.
I walked around the room hugging and dapping my friends and family then circling back to the television and just standing in front of it, my arms crossed over my chest as I watched email after email pour in before my eyes.
We all chilled for a few more hours before going our separate ways.
I was still on my parents’ street when a call from Chandler popped up.
“What’s up? I forgot something?” My eyebrows furrowed and I pulled over in case I needed to turn back around.
“Uh, this actually may be a bigger issue.” She cleared her throat.
“What’s up?”
“Well…” She took a deep, shaky breath.
“Chandler, spit that shit out.”
“Monica had her baby!” she blurted.
“Okay?” I pulled back off and scoffed. “Good for her.”
“She’s publicly claiming it’s yours again.”
“The fuck you mean she’s publicly claiming it’s mine?”
“I just sent you the link to the live broadcast she’s doing.”
“Good looking out. I’ll hit you back.”
I hung up and quickly went to our messages to tap the link.
Monica was online with a blank screen labeled as the BB Be Knowing page. I glanced at the screen then the road.
“I have the blood test right here.” Monica waved an envelope in the camera. “I know exactly who my baby daddy is and he knows who he is too.”
“And are you here to announce who it is?” a distorted voice asked.
Monica feigned like she was thinking about it then sighed.
“All I’m going to say is that I’ve only ever been linked publicly with one man and we all know who that is and the history we have.”
“And how do you feel about this side chick narrative people are pushing?”
“How can I be the side chick to a man I’ve had for years? If anything, the new woman is the side chick in my relationship and he knows where home is, right here with me and his baby.”
I exited the live and called Charm immediately. She answered on the second ring.
“Hello?” She sounded confused as hell that I was calling her.
“You with my wife?”
“Yeah. You want her?”
“Nah. I’m about to call her. Just stay with her for me, alright?”
“Uhhh, should I be worried?”
“Lil bit,” I admitted. “I’m about to give her fucked up ass news and I don’t want her to hear it alone.”
“I’ve got her.”
“I know you do and I appreciate that. Thank you.”
“Of course.”
“A’ight.” I hung up and tapped Myome’s contact.
“Hey! You home already?”
“Nah. I was just calling because I wanted to tell you Monica was back on her bullshit and I didn’t want you to hear it from social media instead of me.”
“What do you mean back on her bullshit, Berlin?”
“I mean, she’s had her baby and she’s saying it’s mine…” I braced for impact. “And uh, she allegedly has proof that the baby is mine.”
“How— She— It—” Myome stuttered then went quiet and my heart jumped in my chest when I heard a crash then Charm’s ass yelling in the background.
“Myome? Myome!?” Charm yelled.
“Yo! Twin?” I took the phone from my ear and put it on speaker. “Myome?!” I barked.
There was more screaming on the other side of the phone but I didn't hear it for long before my hearing went out and my chest tightened.
I pulled over and put a hand on my chest while I tried to take deep breaths.
My chest was tight and my lungs struggled.
My eyes watered and I hung up my call with Myome to press Chandler's contact while I fought to breathe.