Samari laughed. “But you have to look at things from more than just a sexual nature. It can literally be anything.”
“I would agree but ‘waves crashing and bodies smashing, ocean and depths as deep as the sea’. You want me to believe that’s not sexual?” Beauty smiled smugly.
“You can go to the beach without having an orgasm,” Dayton chimed in.
“You absolutely can but we’re not talking 'bout going to the beach, we’re talking about letting somebody be your ecstasy. Am I right?”
Samari nodded. “You are but maybe I’m my own ecstasy.”
“So you’re trying to sayyou’rethe inspiration?” Dayton asked and Samari shrugged.
“Are we having grown conversations?” she asked, searching Beauty and Dayton’s faces. She knew the answer, because when Samari said everyone listened to Beauty and the Beats, she’d meant everyone, herself included. They were known for their conversations and risqué topics, doing deep dives with artists to get the stories most media outlets couldn’t obtain. A lot of the topics were grounded in talk about lyrics, which often were inspired by things most would frown upon.
“Oh we’re grown, grown, baby. Say whatever is on your mind,” Beauty delivered with an animated motion of her hands.
“The majority of my orgasms have been delivered by me.” Samari wiggled her fingers and Dayton balled a fist, bringing it to his mouth.
“Well damn. That’s some sad shit. I need you to run down a list of flaws because you’re too pretty to be self-servicing, so that means something’s wrong with you.”
Beauty rolled her eyes. “Just like a man. You’re assuming she doesn’t have muthafuckers lined up, ready and willing. We handle our business because y’all are selfish and or not capable.”
Niles decided to join in. “Shit, speak for yourself. I’m a giver. I don’t get mine until you get yours.”
“You feel me?!” Dayton said, extending a closed fist toward Niles.
Samari grinned. “I’m not going to speak on that, but the point is, I know what I like. I can definitely be my own muse.”
“Alright, alright. Now let’s talk about the music festival. You’re headlining with A’so which is a big deal.”
Samari’s eyes went wide and she cut a glance at Niles who didn’t look her way but had a smug grin curling his lips. The news that she was headlining was unexpected and she needed time to process the revelation.
“It’s been what, two years since your debut album?”
“Yes, almost three.”
“And now you’re headlining with A’so. New label, new music. How does that feel?”
Samrai smiled. “Amazing, actually. I’ve learned so much about myself. I’m owning that woman, flaws and all. I’m ready to share my experiences with people. Life isn’t always pretty, but if you don’t live, you don’t grow. You have to push through the ugliness sometimes, and in those moments, you know if you have it, you learn who you truly are, and if you’re blessed enough to survive that and come out the other side, you know you were built for it. I didn’t think I was but I’m learning that I am. I can’t wait to give them a piece of me and woman I’m embracing. The music I make now will be about owning who I’ve become.”
“Damn, girl. You’re deep. That’s some beautiful shit,” Dayton said, nodding.
“I’m speaking my truth, and if that’s beautiful or deep, that’s what it is.”
“You used the word ownership twice and you’re also speaking about the evolution of yourself. Can we take that to mean this time around it’s important for you to own the woman you are which I assume will translate in the music? Because let’s be real. We know a little bit about Cobra and I don’t have to say how fucked up he is to his people. I’m assuming you’ve experienced that, so is that the drive behind this new awakening in Samari Jené?”
“It is, but also more about doing this from my desire to be in a creative space and not need. When I first signed, I wanted this so badly that I accepted less than I deserve. I let them tell me who I was, and although my music was my own, there was also a layer of who the label wanted me to be. I won’t do that again. I can’t.”
“Okay Niles, you hear my girl loud and clear. Y’all are gonna have to let her do her thing; so not too much on my girl.”
He nodded with a smile. “She’s got that.”
“You see that. If they try to box you in, you hit me up and I’ll handle that for you. I don’t play about my girl.”
Samari laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind. But I’m excited about you guys hearing this project.”
“Do you have a name for it?”
Samari shook her head. “Not yet, but the deeper I get into this new space, I’m sure it will come to me.”
