Page 92 of Love U Down II

I grabbed a wine glass for myself and a beer for Drix.

“What we toasting to?” he asked as he poured me half a glass.

“Your album of course.”

“And you,” he added as he handed me my glass.

“And you,” I repeated.

“And newfound hope for our artists.” He took the beer bottle from me.

I nodded. “I like that.”

“Me too.”

He cracked the bottle open on the side of the counter and we tapped our drinks together before taking slow sips.

CHAPTER 21

DRIX

“What’s up? What’s up?” I walked into the studio and smiled when Alan and Shade cheered. I dapped each of them, grabbed the back of the chair Alan was on, and leaned in. “Fuck up out of my seat, man.”

He snickered but hopped up. Shade moved to the couch so Alan could have the spot next to me.

“Alright,” Alan exhaled. “This is where I am.” He started the track he’d been working on and I leaned back in my seat.

I was excited to be back in the studio producing. I nodded to the beat playing.

“You need some more drums or something. It sounds too…” I searched for the word. “Open. It ain’t busy enough. I don’t want your brother to sound like he hiding behind the beat but I don’t want that nigga to sound like he a capella either.”

“You want to start it off busy or how it is?”

“Add something to the beginning then we can strip it down and build it back up. Who’s doing the chorus or you doing it yourself?”

“Maybe. Why? You got something in mind?”

“The label Jameer is signed to owes me a favor. Look at their roster and see if anyone piques your interest. We can write thechorus and just have them lay the track or you can co-write. I just need to know ASAP.”

“I can do that.”

“A’ight cool. Who else you haven’t gotten approval from?”

“Sundaze. Genie approved her shit. Charm and Kevo both said they already had work in the vault they’d just pull out for their release.”

“A’ight. Let me hear that shit then.”

Alan quickly switched from Shade’s song to Sundaze. I leaned my head back, closed my eyes, and listened to the entire thing. When it ended, I sat up and restarted it.

“After that second verse, it gets a little bit repetitive.” My phone started ringing and I answered instantly when I saw Rome calling. “What?”

“I just landed back home. What’s up?”

“What’s up?” I repeated. “Man, you need to be resting to get back on that road in a few days.”

“I’ll rest when I’m dead.” He chuckled. “You free?”

“Depends on what you’re asking for.”