“You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo you better lose yourself in the music,”the duo rapped before breaking out into laughter.
“Nah, for real, you got this shit. Don’t think about it, just go do what you do best,” Al coached, whipping into the parking lot. You straight now?”
“Been straight.”
In a matter of minutes, Logic swapped out the butterflies in the pit of his stomach for a game face. The goal was to make it out of the hood and being a scared nigga wasn’t going to cut it. He had mouths to feed and sitting on talent wasn’t going to get him far. Taking a deep breath, Logic exited the car and followed Al into the studio.
After giving his name to the lady at the front desk, Al was instructed to head back to Studio Five. He thanked her and headed in the direction she pointed. Logic walked down the hallway, checking out the artwork that lined the wall. There were pictures of all the greatest musicians, ranging from Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Diana Ross, The Temptations, to Blade Ice Wood, 42 Dugg, Obie Trice, and Sada Baby. All from Michigan, all leaving their footprint on the world, and Logic wanted parts.
“This nigga.” Al shook his head as they passed the first studio. There was a large glass window, giving you a perfect view of the inside. The studio was overcrowded with too many people, but they didn’t seem to mind. Like the clown he was, Dex was standing in the middle of the room with a bottle of Don Julio ontop of his head and a blunt hanging from his mouth. Someone was recording the nonsense as a few girls twerked around him. The whole scene was comical.
“That’s your boy.” Logic shook his head.
“His goofy ass ain’t my shit,” Al denied as they approached Studio Five. He tapped on the door and was surprised when Czar, another Detroit rapper, pulled it open.
Unlike Dexter’s studio session, this one was a lot quieter. Logic wasn’t mad though because he’d hate to embarrass himself in front of a room full of people.
“Sup.” Czar stepped to the side so they could enter.
“I’m Al and this my nigga Lo,” Al introduced them.
“What up doe,” Rahlo greeted, standing next to the engineer who was pressing buttons on the soundboard. “What you think about this beat?” He glanced at Logic as a beat he had been working on filled the studio.
Logic closed his eyes and took in the snares, low drums, and percussions. His fingers lightly tapped against his leg as the instrumental blessed his ears. When the beat dropped, the bass made Logic open his eyes and Rahlo grinned. That was just the reaction he was looking for. The intro was cool, but the bass drop was his favorite part.
“Show me something.” He nodded to the booth and, without hesitation, Logic crossed the room and went into the booth. He closed the door and stood in front of the microphone, adjusting it to align with his mouth. Rahlo restarted the beat, and just like before, Logic closed his eyes and took deep breaths to control his thumping heart.
“Can this nigga rap? He look like he's about to start praying or some shit,” Czar inquired, pulling a blunt from behind his ear.
“You tell me.” Al folded his arms as words started spilling from Logic’s mouth. Czar had to do a double-take. There was no way the nigga was in the booth rapping fast like Twister, yet Czar understood every word. Rahlo raised his eyebrows in amazement as Logic bobbed his head to his own lyrics. Deciding to fuck with him, Rahlo tapped the engineer, instructing him to slow the beat down.
“Versatile in this bitch, slowing the beat down like a nigga gone glitch with this shit. Been a king since a jit, now I’m fucking this beat like a bitch with thick thighs and a round ass and I ain’t ever coming up off this shit,”Logic rapped, pushing the microphone out of his face to take a breath and went right back in.
“Aye, if you don’t sign this nigga I am,” Czar whispered.
“You’re supposed to be a silent partner.” Rah stared at him.
“And I’m silently telling you to sign the nigga before I do it. How he do that shit with his voice?”
“Don’t know, let’s find out.” Rah brushed past him as the track ended. Logic wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead and exited the booth. He glanced at Al's goofy ass, who was giving him the thumbs up, then back at Rahlo and Czar.
“What you doing for the rest of the night?” Rah asked, breaking the silence.
“Shit,” Logic answered.
“Nah, we about to record. We’ll work out the logistics in the morning, but I wanna keep this momentum going…you in?”
“We in?” Logic peered over at Al, who was trying his best to keep his game face. In reality, he wanted to hug his best friend. Little did Logic know, asking Al what the move was meant the world to him.
“Fuck yea.” Al slapped palms with Logic. “Get yo ass back in the booth.”
???
It was after one in the morning when Rah let Logic take a break. Al was sleeping on the couch, the engineer was fighting to keep his eyes open, but Rah and Czar were hype. It was easy to tell they were really about that life. Music ran through their veins and all they needed was a blunt and cold water to refuel. Excusing himself, Logic exited the studio and walked toward the front for some fresh air. When he bent the corner, he ran right intoher. Just like last time, she dropped her phone and stumbled back. Quick on his feet, Logic caught her by the forearm.
“I’mma start charging you if I gotta keep saving you from busting your ass.” He bent down to pick up her phone.
“You,” Tyler snarled.
