Chapter 12
Asao walked around Track Killaz nodding as he inspected every inch of the building that belonged to him, Niles, and Dom.
It took three weeks to get everything set up.
There were still a few renovations that needed to be completed but most were cosmetic.
The heart of what was going to make them millions was ready for them to put in work.
The building they’d purchased from Cap had been a hole in the wall club back in the seventies and renovated in the early two thousands.
Cap had it set up to be a low budget way for street warriors to spit lyrics and record their mixtapes, but his set up hadn’t been much more of an upgrade than recording in project bathrooms.
Back then, Asao had been in Cap’s makeshift booths dropping classics. Now that his name was on the lease to the building, he planned on offering the same opportunity Cap had over the years with a few upgrades.
“Shit is sweet, right?” Dom said, slamming a fist into his palm.
They’d dropped fifty grand on equipment he needed and another twenty to build out two recording booths and have then soundproofed.
Everything else could be handled over time, but for now, they were ready to open the door.
Track Killaz was official. The name was a combination of their past and future, from the streets to the studio.
“Yeah, it’s tight. We’re gonna do some shit.”
“Yes the fuck we are. Big egos, big shit.” Dom turned in the rolling chair when Asao sat on the arm of the leather sofa that had been delivered that morning along with the two extra-long twin beds that were set up in what would be the bedroom for overnight production.
Niles chilled in the studio but left the overnight sessions for Dom and Asao.
They all had their roles. While Dom and Asao handled the music and production, Niles was in charge of distribution.
“We good to record?” Asao motioned to the soundboard and booth behind Dom.
“Yeah, we’re good. You ’bout to get in here?”
Asao nodded. “I have some shit on deck. We’re in this now. Might as well christen this bitch.”
He smiled arrogantly. Initially, Asao hadn’t been feeling the idea of opening a studio or starting a label, but in the past couple weeks, watching it all come together while kicking it with the artists they had on deck, he was down to walk into the next chapter of his career.
The goal was to keep things small so he and Dom could be hands on with the talent.
They both understood their pockets would take a hit because success wasn’t guaranteed, regardless of their skills or the fact that Asao’s brand would be stamped on the roster of hopefuls.
The hustle and grind mindset was ingrained in their being.
The commitment and time invested would get them where they needed to be.
Killing the game while making sure Asao wasn’t the only name making waves while repping their city.
Asao wasn’t selfish and didn’t mind sharing the spotlight.
“Aight, I’m down. What time you want to work? I have a session set up, but if you need me to move some stuff around…”
“Nah, do your thing. We’re probably gonna fall through later tonight.”
“We?” Dom said with amusement laced in his expression.
Over the past couple weeks, his boy had been preoccupied with the songbird who had his head in the clouds.
Dom and Niles were cool with Samari because she seemed solid, and for now she was keeping Asao level.
The fear was his past would get the best of him if shit went left and neither of them wanted to see a repeat of the past. They liked Samari but that like would never compete with the loyalty they had for Asao.
“Yeah, we.”
“You need me?”
“Nah, I’m good. She wrote some shit to the tracks you sent. I’m going to let her run them in the booth so you can get them mixed.”
Dom nodded. “You on them?”
“I might drop a line or two but she’s holding it down on her own.”
“She is,” Dom admitted with a nod.
“I’m out though. Hit my line when you’re done here.”
“Aight, bet. You about to hit that meeting with Niles?”
“Yeah, about to see how this plays out.”
“Do you even care what that muthafucker has to say?”
Asao’s arrogance was exposed through the cocky grin he delivered as a response which had Dom nodding as he shared a similar one.
“That’s what the fuck I though.”
After the paperwork was finalized for the purchase of Track Killaz, Niles hired a marketing team to push word about the music festival. Without listing anyone but Asao as the headliner and the promise of more artists to come, the VIP tickets sold out in less than an hour.
Asao was their hometown favorite and the city always showed love. Word spread fast and sponsorships rolled in. Sound Beatz signed on as one of their top sponsors, and as soon as their name was attached, multiple other offers landed in their email.
Cobra wasted no time tracking Asao down with a request for a meeting.
Niles put Cobra on ice and took his time working him into Asao’s schedule, just to make Cobra sweat.
Talk about the festival pushing through the city guaranteed Cobra would be more than willing to hand over whatever they asked for.
Now that the meeting was set, it was time to put their shiesties on because they planned on robbing him for everything he held of value and at the top of that list was Asao’s new motivation.
Samari…
“You gonna be able to keep your head level in there?” Niles asked his boy as they followed the thick frame on display in a navy dress that exposed the nice round ass and widespread hips of Cobra’s assistant, Kolby.
She escorted them down a hall at Cobra Records.
The men could have easily set a neutral location for the meeting but elected to meet where Cobra likely felt he had the most power, which would make breaking him down that much more rewarding.
“I’m straight.” Asao kept his eyes on the message he’d received from Samari and smirked as he read between the lines.
Samari: I’m working on something. If you want, I can send it to you.
She never asked for his time but she knew the things that would put him on the chase for hers. Music was their connection but everything about Samari had Asao wide open. Her energy gave him peace, her music fed his soul, and her body kept him craving.
Asao: You trying to sing for me later?
They reached the door to the conference room and Samari still hadn’t sent a reply so he delivered one last text to make sure she was where he needed her to be later.
Asao: Meet me here at eleven. I have something for you.
He sent the address to Track Killaz and locked his phone, stepping into the conference room behind Niles. By the time their meeting was done, Asao planned to have a guarantee that Samari would be free and clear of any obligations lingering from the contract she’d signed with Cobra.
The device was locked and returned to his pocket so he could focus on the matter at hand.
“See, this is why you never say never.” Cobra sat at the head of the conference table, presenting as the sleazy ass king of his crumbling castle. “You’re in my house at my table to do business.”
Asao schooled his expression, deciding not to give away his true feelings. In reality he could have easily laughed in Cobra’s face because when he and his team were done handling business, Cobra would be exposed and left with what he deserved. Not a damn thing…
“Yeah, I guess shit plays out like that sometimes,” Asao said smoothly as he took the seat furthest from Cobra to ensure he kept his head level. He bypassed having a burner on him for the meeting but his hands were lethal.
Niles snorted and positioned himself between Asao and Cobra, turning his chair to face Cobra.
“Let’s get to it then.” Cobra smiled arrogantly, exposing the confidence he felt from having Niles and Asao at his table.
“Make me an offer.” Asao’s expression remained neutral but his arrogance was loud and weighted. The frown that surfaced on Cobra’s face seconds before he forced a cocky grin was proof he assumed he held all the power.
“You’re in my house. Sounds like you’re the one who needs to be making me an offer.”
Niles smirked but kept quiet, deciding to allow his boy to do his thing.
“Every time I try to give your ass credit for being smarter than you look, you fuck that up. Make me an offer.” Asao repeated himself and leaned back in his chair, posture and mood relaxed. Even though he needed something from Cobra, all the cards remained in his hands.
“You’re having a music festival with no artists.
Tickets sold but that doesn’t mean you can pull it off yourself.
If that were the case, you wouldn’t be here.
Since you’re too arrogant to ask, I’ll make you an offer.
” Cobra’s eyes darted to Niles before circling back to Asao.
“I’ll give you my top five artists, two songs each.
Nefatari will perform a new track but she’ll need to be listed as a headliner and I want fifty percent of ticket sales. ”
Asao noticed the unease when neither he nor Niles spoke. Cobra curled his fingers into his palm and shifted in his seat. Seconds later he attempted to camouflage his unease by asserting false bravado. “I’m a busy man, if you’re not here to negotiate you might as well leave.”
After a few more seconds of silent tension, Asao smirked. “We aren’t negotiating a damn thing.”
“Then what are we doing here?”
“You tell me, you requested the meeting.” Niles finally spoke, and when Cobra’s eyes landed on him, they were narrowed and laced with irritation.
“My time is valuable. If you’re here to waste it, you might as well leave.” Cobra tried one last time to assert confidence that didn’t land. He was beginning to wonder if his assumptions had failed him.