Page 136 of Love U Down II

He lightly pushed me away with his free hand then drank his shot. He hissed through his teeth and I smiled.

“Let me get another round, same thing.” Dashawn called out to the bartender.

“I thought we were here for work,” Shade reminded him.

“We are,” Allison announced as she made her way between us. She gave us each quick, one-armed hugs. “The band I was telling you about goes on in about…” She looked at her watch. “Ten minutes.”

“And they’re a rock band?” Shade checked. “You want to sign a rock band?”

“Why not?” I shrugged. “We have Kevo.”

“Kevo came in with a fanbase already established,” Rome reminded me.

“A diverse portfolio is a good portfolio. Besides, Allison pitched them and she hasn’t disappointed me yet.”

“There are also plenty of rock elements that could be beneficial to other genres. It’s the same way people are mixing rap and country these days. There’s something there and Drix can get ahead of the curve. Besides, look around. This place is packed. They already have a fanbase. It may not be as big as Kevo’s, but we aren’t picking someone randomly singing on the corner and offering them a dream like we’re basically doing with New Stage. We’ll be platforming amazing artists who just need a little financial backing and a push,” Allison explained.

“It’s an investment with a heavy chance of making my money back,” I added. “If they’re good, we’ll offer them a two to four album contract and go from there.”

“Four?” Rome whistled.

I shrugged.

“And didn’t you have a call scheduled with B. Lynn?” Allison asked. “How’d that go?”

“Better than expected. She didn’t ask for anything I wasn’t willing to give.” I turned toward the bartender as he lined up the shots Dashawn ordered. I took mine back and turned back to Allison. “She owed Jameer, so she isn’t charging anything crazy. She agreed to do some promotion for it, so I’m taking it as a win.”

“And Chamari?”

“That’s in wifey’s wheelhouse. Myome has been the contact link, so I haven’t spoken to her directly. I will say she sounds like she may be a fucking problem but…” I shrugged. “Myome wants her.”

“She is a legend,” Allison offered.

“Everyone declines after their prime and she hasn’t performed or put out music in years. She’d be selling tickets based on nostalgia and that may work the first few times sheperforms after coming back, but if she’s not good, that shit is only going to carry her so far.”

“Well it’s her legacy to uphold or let crash,” Rome said.

“Yeah well she doesn’t need to be doing that shit on our stage.”

“It’s a benefit. It’s not a Trill Loyalty event,” Dashawn reminded me.

“Fuck. It may as well be with the way Myome is damn near running it. The organizer wanted to do something cute and fun, like a little stage in a building. It’s now going to be the size of a state fucking fair.”

“And you’re footing the bill for that?”

“Hell fuck no. We booked the land ourselves but the event organizer threw in the cash she was going to use to book a space anyway to make up some of the cost and Myome and Steven were able to get sponsorships from brands and other artists.”

“That damn Myome.” Rome chuckled and shook his head. “She’s good at talking people into shit if nothing else.”

“Who the fuck you telling?” I smiled. “I’m proud of her though. There was a time when she didn’t even want her own office at the label and now she’s running a whole sector of it better than I ever could.”

“I mean, she’s really a natural at event planning and promotional stuff,” Shade agreed. “And she’s better at standing her ground than people would probably think.”

“What does that even mean?” Dashawn laughed.

“It means she looks all sweet and shit but she ain’t nothing to play with.”

“I’m glad you know that.” I hit him on the back and we all glanced toward the stage when the lights lowered and the band made their way onto the stage.