Chapter 11
Shane
Listening to my final edit of one of the songs for Mylo’s album, I nodded in approval and played the next.
Normally, I did this process in my home studio, but since no one was here to distract me, I decided to start now.
A nigga had been on a high these last few days.
A few nice ass checks had hit my account and I was talking to Celeste more.
A part of me felt silly for pursuing a woman who technically had a nigga, but knowing the truth made it easy.
I had been telling the truth when I told her I wouldn’t wait forever.
I was fine with giving grace, but if I felt like she was starting to play in my face, the shit would be over.
Spinna’s dumb ass was also helping her case.
I saw with my own eyes that he was fucking with Serenity, which made it easier to trust Celeste.
Since that night, Celeste had come over another time.
It was hard as hell to keep my dick to myself when she was in my space.
She was so damn fine to me and everything about her pulled me in.
When she told me about her childhood and being taken advantage of, I knew I had to be the one who protected her.
I wasn’t expecting her to tell me some deep shit like that, but I was glad she felt safe enough to share.
Life had taught me to hear all sides of a story before picking a side.
Although I didn’t know her mother, I was side eyeing the hell out of that judgment call.
There had to be much more to the story that she wasn’t telling Celeste.
When the studio door opened, I turned and saw Jay.
I didn’t see him around much, so if he was here, it was for a reason.
“What’s good, Shane? How you been?”
“What’s good, man? Work and more work,” I responded as I stood and shook his hand.
“Shit, you ain’t gotta tell me. A nigga stays knee deep in work these days.”
“Yeah but look at the reward. Rhythm and Bliss is pumping out more successful artists than any other label in the country right now. That’s a big ass flex.”
“Thanks, man. Your time is coming, my boy. Just wait on it. I came in here to holla at you about something.”
“What’s up?”
Taking a seat in the chair next to me, Jay sat back and relaxed before speaking.
“So, Serenity needs a switch up. She’s been workin’ with Spinna since her debut album.
She’s getting ready to go on a select city tour but it’s time to start thinking about the next body of work.
For me, it’s always been crucial that a sophomore album is just as good as the debut.
We have to keep her audience engaged and develop her for longevity.
Spinna is one of the best, but the shit he’s workin’ on for her album doesn’t stand out.
It sounds like her first album and that’s gonna be a problem for sales.
I don’t want the hype to die down after social media thinkpieces surface.
“Serenity has the potential to leave a huge impact in the music industry. I spoke with her and Spinna about making the change, but you’re the only person I can see getting the job done.
It helps that you dabble in writing from time to time.
I know you haven’t done a full R&B album, but I know you can execute it properly,” he expressed.
Had Celeste not stumbled into my life, working with Serenity wouldn’t have been a problem.
I hadn’t worked with her personally, but heard she was about business and made the most of her studio sessions.
She wrote most of her own music and didn’t use autotune.
I hadn’t told Jay I was in the middle of working on more R&B tunes.
I had an idea whose voice I wanted, so if I worked with Serenity, everything would be made from scratch.
I had no issues with her, but I just knew this would cause some type of unease between Celeste and me.
She had no reason not to trust me, but Serenity was, indirectly, a soft spot.
She’d unintentionally taken the fake love of Celeste’s life.
“Okay. Can I have a few days to think? I need to listen to her album to get a feel for her vibe.”
“No rush at all. Like I said, she’s getting ready for a tour now that’s about four months long.
You have plenty of time to think. I would’ve had her be part of our meeting today, but she had a photoshoot and promotion in New York this week.
She’s set to come back early Sunday, so I’ll plan for the three of us to meet on Monday morning.
Again, no decision will have to be made at that time.
I just want you two to at least be familiar with one another. ”
“That’s cool. I’ll think about it for sure.”
“Thanks, man.”
As soon as Jay stood to leave, Keith, the person I was waiting on, walked in.
He was an artist I’d worked with when he first stepped onto the scene, but he traded me out for Spinna.
Since this was business, I planned to hear him out about why he was trying to spin the block on me.
We didn’t end on bad terms or no shit like that, but to me it didn’t make sense that his album had sold over three hundred thousand units the first week as a brand-new artist. Once we greeted each other, he sat in the chair just occupied by Jay.
I was ready to go home, so I hoped his ass would get straight to the point.
“I was wondering if you’d work with me again. I’m in album mode but my momentum is slowly being killed. Spinna is my guy, but he’s been slackin’ a little bit lately and I can’t let that affect my work.”
“Slackin’ how? Your last album did numbers,” I recalled.
“It did numbers, but not the numbers I had when you were producing. Aside from that, he’s just not about his business lately.
I’ve been trying to give him grace. Everybody has shit to deal with outside of music, but it’s been a constant decline.
He’s hours late for my studio sessions and almost missed the deadline for my latest single.
He’s cool, and I appreciate everything he’s done to help, but I need a producer on the same page as me. ”
“I get that. What are you goin’ for sound wise with this album? I got an idea from the single you dropped but tell me what you have in mind.”
For about an hour, Keith and I went over the elements he wanted to execute in his next album.
After letting him know I was down to hop on his project, he laid out the times he planned to be in the studio over the upcoming weeks.
Initially, I was hesitant to commit. I was glad I heard Keith out and got to see for myself that he was simply about his business and not bullshit.
I considered myself blessed by the Most High to even have multiple artists asking me to work with them.
As a music consumer myself, I knew people didn’t think about the producer when streaming their favorite artists’ songs, but it mattered.
Everything mattered, from the speed of the tempo down to the lyrics in the bridge.
This music shit ran through my veins and came naturally.
Had my dad not decided to throw a soundboard in my lap from behind bars, only God knows where I’d be right now.
Times like these I had to count my blessings.
I was nowhere near where I wanted to be, but I’d come far in this industry.
When I finally left the studio, I headed to my mom’s house to see what she was up to.
The state fair was in town and I wanted to take her.
My mom loved elephant ears and getting on the rides, so I made sure she was there at least one day of the week every year.
It was something my dad used to do for her, but as I got older, I took over the duty.
The last time I’d come over here, Mia’s car was parked in the driveway. I was grateful the only car parked this time was the one that rightfully belonged here. A part of me knew Mia wouldn’t take my advice and leave me alone, but since she hadn’t tried to contact me, I had hope.
“What’s up, son? You just leaving work?” my mom asked as I stepped inside.
“Hey, Ma. Yes, ma’am. I had a couple people to meet with about upcoming projects, but not too many. I wanted to take you to the fair if you weren’t doing anything right now.”
“Damn, it’s that time of year already? I forgot it was even happening this week,” she admitted. “But yes, you know I wanna go. Let me freshen up and I’ll be ready in less than twenty minutes. You bringing my girl too?”
“Who is yo’ girl?” I asked jokingly.
“The only one I care to know about these days. We were texting yesterday, but then your dad called and I forgot to respond to her last message.”
Since my mom and Celeste kept sending messages through me like I was a damn pigeon, I gave Celeste my mom’s number so they could say everything without me in the middle.
It made me happy that they were building a bond.
Although Celeste wasn’t my girl yet, my mom loved her and that was important to me.
I cared about whether my parents cared for my lady.
They didn’t have to be the best of friends, but respect had to be there.
I needed my wife to know my family was hers just as much as they were mine.
“I can call to see what she has planned. I know this is something we do together, so I didn’t want to invite anyone and take away from our time. I’m more than willing to have Celeste with us though.”
“I appreciate the thoughtfulness, son. I swear, you and your dad are so much alike that it’s scary.
I know you’ve talked to him daily, but I wish you really knew the type of man your dad is.
He may have that street side to him, but he’s such a gentleman.
He was so patient with you growing up. You exude the exact same energy.
Calm and collected. Having a level head is always gonna get you further in life.
But anyway, call my girl and I’ll get ready. ”