Page 2 of Juice

Ushering his assistant over Majik handed her the folder. “Welcome to Majik Musik.”

“Thank you, man. This really has been a dream of mine. I’m so grateful for y’all even taking the chance on me.”

“Well here at Majik dreams do come true.” I watched him stand from his seat and amble over to the clear ice chest that sat in the corner. After grabbing the bottle of champagne up he made his way back to where we were seated. “Today we celebrate, tomorrow we get down to business. You want to do the honors?” He asked and held the bottle out to me.

Taking it from him I shook it up and popped the cork, letting the champagne flow from the bottle. Cheers erupted inside the room as well as outside. While everybody was busy congratulating me, Tito was standing there snapping pictures of this monumental moment. We had made it. Years of grinding and busting our asses had just landed us our first record deal. We had a reason to turn shit up.

Passing him the bottle I said. “Thank you for riding through the struggle with me my nigga. I know I been your biggest headache but my nigga, we here.” Pulling him into a hug I palmed his head. “We fucking made it!”

Pulling back Tito stared at me like a proud father. “We made it.”

“Yes, the fuck we did.” I cheesed.

The celebration went on for another thirty minutes before we were walked out of the conference room. They ended up giving us a tour of the building and introducing me to some key players. I was presented with my official double M chain that all artists got when they were signed.

The highlight of my fucking day was when I got to sit in the studio and chop it up with Noble. He let me know that he had a beat that he’d been working on and knew I could do something with it. After he finished showing me the ropes and scheduling studio time, Tito and I left the building happier than what we were when we entered.

Sliding my double M chain around my neck I checked myself out in the mirror. I had celebrated with the label earlier and now it was time for me to celebrate with my niggas. Tito had called ahead and booked us a section at Stax, a local night club in the city. Tonight, would be the first night I was stepping out as a signed artist, and I planned on going the fuck up.

“You ready?” My homeboy Lucas asked as he entered my bedroom.

“Hell yeah I’m ready.”

“Damn.” He exaggerated. “Chain cost a couple mil. Shining all bright and shit.” He teased.

“Hell yeah.” I chuckled and ran my finger over the charm. “I’mma get all my niggas one as soon as that advance drop.”

“Nawl.” He waved me off. “You ain’t gotta do all that.”

“Y’all niggas been in the gutta with me. Gots to know I’mma take care of y’all.”

“Niggas ain’t kicking it with you for no handout, Juice. At least I’m not.” He clarified. “We boys, we came up together. One of us win we all do but everybody grown as fuck. You ain’t gotta feel obligated to take care of nobody but you and Mrs. Norma.”

“Oh, Ma Dukes a guarantee but I got y’all.” I said and meant every fucking word. I ain’t have no big ass group of friends but the ones I did have I respected. Them niggas was right beside me when I ain’t have a dime to my name. They gots to know that I’m rewarding their loyalty.

Niggas could’ve been switched up, but they didn’t. When the block was hot, and I was low on funds it was them niggas that was paying for studio time. I had them for whatever.

“I’m just happy one of us got a shot.” He added.

“This is only the beginning.” I acknowledged. After hitting the lights, the two of us walked to the front where everybody else was.

“We loading up?” Tito asked.

“Yep. Let’s get it.” Once I made sure the crib was secured, me, Tito, Lucas, and our other homeboy Byron hit the door.

When we made it to the club Tito parked his Denali on the side of the building. The four of us walked toward the front of the building where security was. The nigga made sure to pat everybody down before he let us through the door.

But once we was in that bitch we were walked to our section and informed that our hostess would be with us. Tito had preordered bottles, so they were sitting on the table in the clear bucket just waiting on us to partake.

Tito scooped one up from the bucket and held it out. “To Juice. I applaud you for grinding it out and making your dreams come true. We ‘bout to take Majik by fucking storm, them niggas ain’t gone know what the fuck hit them.”

“To Juice.” The rest of my niggas yelled out. Once Tito popped that first bottle the night ensued.

I was standing against the railing in the section with my shades on and my arms folded across my chest staring out into the crowd. Collectively me and my niggas had probably hit ‘bout five blunts. That with the bottle of Ace that I had been drinking on had my ass in a zone. When I felt myself getting out of body I decided to slow it down and just take in everything around me.

Low key I was feeling like this would be the last time that I was gone be able to move around freely. I knew next week my life was ‘bout to change and while I was ready for the shit, part of me was wondering if I would miss being known locally.

I was people watching when DJ Amp cut the music, making everybody groan. “Real quick, real quick.” He laughed. “Wanted to say congratulations to Juice. My nigga just signed his firstdeal with Majik Musik. You niggas from the SWATS ‘bout to take over the music scene. Stax show ya boy some love.” He yelled into the mic.

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