Three hours of sleep after the show was all Amias could manage. The adrenaline still coursed through his system, his mind replaying moments from Madison Square Garden in vivid fragments - forty thousand faces staring back at him, the roar when he'd dropped That Guy, the way the crowd had caught onto the Poland hook by the second chorus.
"Yo, what y'all want?" Jordan called from the counter of some 24-hour deli they'd stumbled into, the bright fluorescent lights a stark contrast to the moody Manhattan night outside. "They got these pastrami joints that look crazy."
Amias glanced down at his phone, scrolling through the livestream chat:
BigSteppaXO: AMIAS THIS STREAM HITTING 10K TONIGHT BET
Vicky_05 [Moderator]: Welcome😊
NorthSideK: that show was legendary bruh, crowd was confused then went crazy for Poland
Monkey D. Murda: drop the poland audio on spotify pls!!
StoryLover: My face when you did that autotune 💀💀💀
"Nine thousand viewers," he muttered, still processing the number. Nine thousand people watching him eat a sandwich at midnight in New York City.
That +150% increased probability of listeners becoming dedicated fans after first exposure is no joke. His eyes scanned more comments as they rolled in. The System reward was working exactly as intended, even more powerfully day-by-day.
Lexus adjusted the professional streaming phone, angling it to catch both Amias and the bustling deli around them. "Chat's going crazy about Poland. Someone said they're already seeing TikToks with the audio."
"For real?" Amias checked his Instagram notifications. The Poland audio he'd posted after the show already had 60K views. "That's wild. Gonna hit six figures by morning easy."
Larry and Mitch, his two security guards, maintained casual positions near the entrance and counter. The two former military guys, without that stereotypical bouncer build most artists hired. Larry, the taller one with a slight Southern drawl, kept his eyes on the door while occasionally checking his phone. Mitch, compact with a geometric tattoo peeking from his collar, leaned against the counter, scanning the room.
Zara slid into the seat across from Amias, her hot chocolate cupped between her hands. "Venue security just texted. Merch completely sold out. Everything."
"Even those limited hoodies? The ones you said might be too expensive?" Amias grinned.
"Especially those." Zara confirmed, a hint of smugness in her smile.
Jordan returned with a tray loaded with sandwiches and drinks, distributing them around the table where Capari, Zara, and Amias sat while Lexus filmed.
"So chat wants to know," Jordan said between bites of his pastrami sandwich, "how'd it feel up there? With all those people?"
Amias took a moment, searching for words that could possibly capture the experience. "It was beyond, man. Like, when 'Redemption' dropped and I could hear people singing it back? That..." He shook his head. "Can't even explain it."
"Hey, remember when we got back to the crib after?" Jordon asked with a knowing smile.
"That was a moment," Amias agreed, the memory fresh despite the chaos of the night.
—
The front door had barely closed behind them when Amias dropped his duffel bag on the marble entryway floor with a heavy thud.
"Yo, get everyone down here," he said to Jordan, unzipping the bag. "Everyone."
Jordan raised an eyebrow but didn't question it, disappearing up the stairs and down hallways, his voice echoing through the house: "Come downstairs! Amias wants everyone!"
One by one, they filtered into the living room – Juke still half-asleep, Capari curious, Zel with headphones around his neck like he'd been in the middle of working, Zane with a book marked by his finger, Tyler, Lexus, Deji, and Emore trailing in last.
"What's going on?" Zane asked, stifling a yawn.
Amias stood by the coffee table, the duffel bag now open at his feet. "Earlier today, I had a little meeting with some bank people. Got things sorted out."
"Bank people?" Zel repeated skeptically.
Amias reached into the bag and pulled out what looked like a brick wrapped in plastic. Then another. And another. Nine in total, arranged in a neat row on the coffee table.
"What the fuck is that?" Deji asked, eyes widening.
"Six thousand each," Amias stated simply. "For each of you."
The room went silent, all eyes moving between the cash and Amias's face, looking for some sign that this was a joke.
"You serious?" Tyler finally asked.
"Dead serious," Amias confirmed. "Y'all believed in this from jump. Packed up and came to New York on short notice. Left jobs, school, all that. This is just to make sure everyone's straight while we're building."
Juke approached the table cautiously, as if the money might disappear if he moved too quickly. "Six thousand pounds?"
"Six thousand dollars," Amias corrected.
"Bro..." Emore seemed at a loss for words.
"Just take it," Amias insisted with a small smile. "It's not that deep."
One by one, they came forward, accepting the bundles with varying degrees of disbelief and gratitude. Capari, who already had his own money from crypto, took his with a respectful nod.
"Appreciate the gesture," he said quietly.
—
"Yo, people outside looking at us," Mitch observed casually, nodding toward the window where three people had stopped, one pointing excitedly at their table.
"Think they recognized you from the show," Zara said, not looking up from her tablet.
"Let's bounce after we finish," Amias decided, taking another bite of his sandwich. "Kenzo's supposed to come to the house at 1:30 for the stream."
"Still can't believe you got her to come through so quickly." Jordan said, impressed. "And for free too."
"It's mutual benefit," Amias shrugged. "She gets exposure, I get New York credibility."
They finished their food, Amias leaving a generous tip, and stepped back into the night. The small group that had been watching through the window immediately approached.
"Yo Amias! That show was crazy tonight," a guy in a Yankees fitted called out. "That Poland track got the whole place confused then hype."
"Appreciate that, for real," Amias replied, genuinely touched by the recognition.
"Can I get a picture?" the guy asked, already pulling out his phone, his girlfriend looking on excitedly.
"Yeah, course," Amias agreed, stepping aside for the photo.
As they continued walking, more people approached - some from the show, others who'd heard through social media that he was streaming somewhere in Manhattan. Each interaction was brief but surprisingly genuine, people excited to catch him on his rise.
"First time getting stopped for pictures on the street," Amias commented to Zara as they moved along. "Mad still."
"Only the beginning," she replied, her expression unreadable in the neon-lit night.
They turned onto a street lined with clubs, bass lines from various establishments bleeding together into a discordant symphony. Capari's eyes lit up as they passed a spot with a short line outside.
"I'm thinking about hitting this," he said, nodding toward the club. "DJ's supposed to be decent."
"You sure?" Amias asked. "Already late."
"Man, I'm in New York," Capari laughed. "Sleep when I'm dead."
Lexus glanced at his camera, then at the club, torn between his responsibilities and the opportunity.
"Go ahead," Amias said, reaching for the camera equipment. "I'll take over."
"For real?" Lexus asked, already edging toward freedom.
"Jordan can help," Amias replied, passing the camera to Jordan, who looked at it like he'd been handed an alien artifact.
"You really think I got cameraman skills?" Jordan laughed.
"Not at all," Amias admitted with a grin. "But I'm tired of being on camera every second too."
As Lexus and Capari headed toward the club entrance, the rest of the group continued their walk, Jordan doing his best to keep the stream steady.
Amias checked his phone, reading new comments:
Trey-Way: bro Capari really just dipped to the club lmao
EmptyAnt: JORDAN HOLD THE CAMERA STEADY
NathanSET: Amias I see you on 28th, look left!!
"Someone from the chat sees us," Amias informed the group, looking around. Sure enough, across the street, someone was waving frantically.
Larry stepped slightly closer to Amias, his posture shifting subtly from casual to alert.
"We good," Amias assured him.
"Actually, chat's asking about y'all. Who're the security guys?" Jordan noted, shifting the camera to Larry and Mitch.
"This is Larry and Mitch," Amias introduced them to the stream. "Ex-military guys making sure we don't get lost out here."
"Or keeping New York safe from you," Mitch quipped with a slight Boston accent.
"They got jokes too," Amias added.
Larry maintained his watchful stance even as he acknowledged the introduction with a nod. "Hey, Mitch, you should show them the dog," he suggested with a barely perceptible smirk.
"What dog?" Amias asked, looking around confused. "You got a dog with you?"
"In my backpack," Mitch said casually, slipping the small tactical pack off his shoulder. "Want to see?"
"You got a whole dog in your backpack?" Amias asked incredulously, leaning in as Mitch unzipped it slightly. "What kind of dog fits in—"
Mitch suddenly thrust the bag toward Amias and let out a startlingly convincing bark, causing Amias to jump back with a startled "What the hell!"
The others burst into laughter as Amias realized he'd been pranked, Mitch's serious face breaking into a wide grin.
"Your face!" Jordan wheezed, nearly dropping the expensive camera.
StonerVibes420: LMAOOO
Monkii: LMAAAAAOOOOO
StephenCurry231: I'm crying
Arell1: security really did him dirty
Rose9: yooo that scream was hilarious
"He got some rich business man with that last month," Larry explained, actually smiling now. "Man nearly backed into traffic."
"Y'all are stupid," Amias laughed, shaking his head as they continued walking.
The streets grew more crowded as they approached Times Square, the iconic electronic billboards washing the night in their artificial day. They found a bench near a street vendor, the smell of hot dogs and pretzels filling the air. Zara went to buy drinks, leaving Jordan and Amias with the security guys.
As they chatted with the stream about the show, Amias noticed a group of three girls hovering nearby, occasionally glancing their way and whispering among themselves. Finally, one of them - tall, wearing a cropped leather jacket despite the February chill - approached.
"Hey," she said with practiced casualness. "Why's everyone asking you for pictures? You somebody famous?"
Amias glanced at Jordan, a small smile playing at his lips. "I'm Drake's son," he said with a completely straight face.
The girls looked at each other, then burst into laughter. "Drake's son is a child!" one of them protested.
"That's what they want you to think," Amias replied, maintaining the charade for a moment before breaking into a smile. "Nah, I just do music. Performed at Madison Square tonight."
"Oh word?" The girl in the leather jacket seemed genuinely interested now, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "What's your name?"
"Amias Mars."
"I'm Tiffany," she replied, then gestured to her friends. "This is Jasmine and Kyra."
The conversation flowed easily, the girls explaining they were college students at NYU, out celebrating the end of midterms. Tiffany, especially, kept finding reasons to touch Amias's arm when she laughed at something he said.
"We're heading to this club on 27th," she mentioned, her eyes lingering on his. "You should come through."
Amias was about to shutdown their invitation but before he could respond, Zara materialized beside him as if summoned by some sixth sense.
"Hey," she said, her voice friendly but with an unmistakable edge. "Got your drink."
"Thanks," Amias replied, taking the bottle of water she offered.
Tiffany, sharp enough to read the situation, smiled knowingly. "You his girlfriend?"
"Best friend," Zara corrected, then added with deliberate casualness, "And how old are y'all, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Twenty," Tiffany replied.
"Nineteen," added Jasmine.
"Right," Zara nodded with exaggerated understanding. "He's seventeen, so..."
The information landed with visible impact. Tiffany's eyebrows shot up.
"Seventeen? For real?"
"For real," Amias confirmed with a small shrug.
"Damn," Tiffany laughed, stepping back slightly. "You look older."
Did he? Well his stubble was forming…
Zara began gathering their things, a subtle but clear signal that the conversation was wrapping up. "We should keep moving. Got that thing at the house soon."
As they walked away, Amias glanced at Zara with amusement. "What's up with you?"
Zara kept her eyes forward, her expression neutral. "Nothing."
"Right," Amias replied, not pushing it though Jordan's snickering beside them said everything.
"Stream's asking if we're heading back now," Jordan reported, still struggling with the camera.
"Yeah, probably should," Amias agreed, checking the time on his phone. "Kenzo's coming in like an hour. Gotta set up."
"Alright chat," he addressed the camera directly. "We're gonna wrap this segment and head back to the house. Boot back up in an hour for the studio session with Kenzo B. Y'all don't want to miss that."
—
Back at the house, Amias settled into the streaming setup in the studio room, scrolling through Twitter while Zel prepared the equipment. Clips from the show were everywhere, Poland specifically getting massive engagement.
"Chat wants to know about the Twitter drama," Jordan called out, monitoring the second screen.
Amias glanced at the comments flying by:
MassRubin: yo what you think about that baby mama situation?
Sean Combs: does your mom give good advice?
"Oh, that situation with dude's baby mama taking the kid and filing the false restraining order?" Amias shook his head. "That's exactly why my mum always told me: don't have kids before you're married. If you're marrying someone, that means you're really locked in. Otherwise, situations get messy."
The security system chimed, and Zara checked her phone. "Kenzo's here. Just pulled up outside."
Amias pulled up her Instagram on another monitor, quickly reviewing her recent posts and music to refresh his memory. Daniel (The event organiser in his team) had done research on the New York scene before arriving, making sure he knew who was who and which artists had issues with each other. Last thing he needed was bringing opps into the same space by accident.
Through the security camera feed, he could see a black SUV waiting, several people visible inside.
"Let them in," Amias confirmed to security.
A few minutes later, Kenzo B walked through the front door – confidence radiating from her posture, her hair styled in long curls that caught the light. Behind her came five others – four girls and one guy, all clearly having come from some party.
"Hi, welcome," Amias greeted them warmly. "Appreciate you coming through, especially this late."
"No doubt," Kenzo replied, her handshake firm as she assessed him with undisguised interest. "So you the one who had Madison Square going crazy tonight, huh?"
"Word travels fast," Amias smiled.
"My homegirl Denise was there," Kenzo explained. "Kept blowing up my phone about this UK dude."
"That would be me," Amias laughed. "Come through, let me introduce you to everyone."
He led them into the house, making proper introductions as they went. "This is Zara, my manager. That's Jordan handling the stream right now. Zel's in the studio, he's my producer."
Kenzo introduced her crew in turn. "This is my girl Shanice, that's Tati, Jasmine, and Maya. And this is Deon, he produces some of my tracks."
As they entered the studio area, their eyes widened at the professional setup – three monitors, high-end equipment, a proper vocal booth.
"This is serious," Deon commented, examining the gear with clear appreciation.
"Y'all want anything? Drinks? Snacks?" Amias gestured to the fully stocked mini-fridge and snack table they'd set up.
"Water would be good," Kenzo replied, settling into a chair near the main console. Her friends immediately gravitated toward the comfortable seating area with sofas and bean bags.
Shanice pulled out a bottle of Hennessy they'd obviously brought from whatever party they'd just left. "Mind if we keep the vibe going?"
"Not at all," Amias assured them. "Make yourselves comfortable."
Kenzo noticed the streaming setup and the chat flying by on one of the monitors. "That's your livestream? How many people watching right now?"
"Hit refresh," Amias suggested, pointing to the viewer count.
Kenzo leaned forward, her eyes widening slightly. "Twelve thousand? At 1:30 in the morning?"
"The insomnia crew," Amias joked. "Plus UK's already having breakfast."
"Hi," Kenzo waved at the camera, settling into her chair as she scanned some of the comments:
Yourrage [VIP]: WHY YO MIC SO LOUD UGLY AHH
BXLegend: KENZO IN THE BUILDING 🔥🔥
Plaqueboymax: SHE SO BAD!!
Plaqueboymax: WWWWWW
Plaqueboymax: WWWW
Vicious King: WWWWW
StreamQueen24: two of my favorite artists collabing!
KingMaker: this bout to be legendary
Nightlife: they bout to make a hit watch
"They showing mad love," she noted with a smile.
"Your music's been getting crazy plays lately," Amias acknowledged. "I checked out your freestyles as well – that flow is different."
(Lets pretend she started releasing music earlier, a year and some months earlier)
"Appreciate that," Kenzo seemed genuinely pleased by the recognition. "Been grinding for like two years now."
"How'd you get started in rap?" Amias asked, genuinely curious.
"My brother was always freestyling, and I used to just jump in," she explained, warming to the subject. "People started saying I was better than him." She laughed. "He hated that."
"I can imagine," Amias smiled. "Family competition is different."
"Speaking of competition," Kenzo transitioned smoothly, "how was it performing with 50 and Eminem tonight? That's wild."
"Not with them technically," Amias clarified. "But yeah, opened for them."
"How are they in person?" Tati called from the couch, clearly more interested now that the conversation had turned to celebrities.
"Professional," Amias replied diplomatically. "Fifty's been helping me navigate some business opportunities."
"That's a crazy connection," Kenzo observed. "Especially for someone who just started putting music out."
Amias raised an eyebrow. "You've been doing your research."
"Had to see who I was coming to work with," she admitted with a smile. "Your first song dropped in January, right?like three weeks ago."
"Something like that," Amias confirmed.
"And you're already opening at MSG?" She shook her head in disbelief. "That's not normal, you know that right?"
"Right place, right time," Amias replied vaguely. "Some connections, some luck."
Kenzo's eyes traveled around the studio setup, the professional equipment, the house itself. "Must be making good money already from somewhere."
"Got some business ventures outside music," Amias explained. "Tech startup, mainly."
"Like how much though?" Kenzo pressed, her directness refreshing rather than annoying. "More than 10K?"
"Yeah," Amias nodded, amused by her persistence.
"More than 100K?"
Another nod.
"More than 500K?"
Amias laughed.
This was public information so…
"Damn, you gonna have my tax people on me." But he confirmed with another nod.
"That's crazy," Kenzo said, clearly reassessing him. "Real entrepreneur."
"I'm sorry," she added suddenly, leaning forward slightly, "but your accent is fire. It's like British but not completely?"
Amias smiled, used to this reaction. "Born in Texas, moved to London when I was eleven. Got a bit of both."
"That explains it," Shanice called from the couch, her words slightly slurred from whatever they'd been drinking before arriving. "It's sexy as hell."
Kenzo shot her friend a look before turning back to Amias. "So what kind of track we making tonight? I usually do drill, but I'm open."
"Actually got a few different vibes prepared," Amias replied, nodding to Zel who was ready at the console. "Let's hear some options."
They scrolled through several beats from Zel's library, with Kenzo nodding along but not committing until they hit a grimy drill beat that made her eyes light up.
"This one," she said immediately. "This hits different."
Amias exchanged a look with Zel. Not the direction he'd hoped to push her toward, but it was best to start where she was comfortable.
"Let's lay it down," he agreed, gesturing toward the booth.
Kenzo took a swig of water and headed into the booth, adjusting the headphones with practiced ease. As Zel started the beat, she closed her eyes for a moment, finding the rhythm before launching into her verse:
"Yea I said it, I ain't fucking wit ya' weak ass niggas
Do it for the 'Gram, pussy in the streets ass niggas
Bird ass, always talkin' out they beak ass nigga
He tryna argue, 'cause he don't know what to eat ass niggas"
Her Bronx accent cut through the aggressive beat, her delivery confident and sharp. She continued without hesitation:
"Like, I ain't trippin' over none of you hoes, you bitches catty
Ya know that nigga sharin' his clothes still call him 'Daddy'
Them bitches talkin' hot and still walkin' without scatty
They just mad because I'm pretty, petite, and I got a fatty"
She paused, seeming to think about the next line. Amias leaned into the talkback mic.
"Try something about being over it," he suggested. "Like you're moving past all that drama."
Kenzo nodded, and when the beat cycled back:
"But I'm over it Cuz I'm blowin' not just holdin' it
I need me some shit that's gon' keep bussin', I'm not reloadin' it
And if I back out now, can believe me, I'm not just showin' it
In any situation, I got it then I'm controllin' it, like"
Her friends nodded along, the alcohol making them more expressive as they mouthed the words. The chat was going crazy:
Neats: KENZO SNAPPING
StreamQueen24: this is fire already
Kenzo continued, building momentum:
"Look, I'm a five-star bitch I'm still heavy on the ghetto doin' five-star shit
Went from spinnin' in the J's, and now I'm steppin to Louie
Fuck the clout and the fame, I still send bitches to the gooey, yeah I said it"
She paused, then repeated the last phrase with different emphasis:
"Yeah I said it."
Amias immediately recognized the hook potential. "Hold that," he called through the mic. "That 'yeah I said it' – let's build a hook around that."
For the next few minutes, they crafted a call-and-response chorus together:
"So what?
Yeah I said it!
So what?
Yeah I said it!
So what?
Ye-Yeah I said it!
So what?
Yeah I said it!
So what?
Yeah I said it!
So what?
So what?
So what?
So what?
What?
What?
So what?"
With a background vocal, that he made, adding:
"Cuz ya weak ass-
Cuz ya weak ass hoes..."
When Kenzo emerged from the booth for the first playback, the raw recording already had an undeniable energy to it.
"That's fire," Amias acknowledged as Zel worked on a quick mix. "But I want to try something completely different for the second track."
"Like what?" Kenzo asked, taking a sip from her water bottle.
"Something more melodic," Amias suggested, nodding to Zel, who pulled up an instrumental that immediately transformed the energy in the room.
The beat that filled the studio was nothing like the drill track they'd just recorded – a soulful, melodic production with lush chords and a bouncing rhythm that created an entirely different atmosphere.
{Reference Track: BFFR by Kenzo B}
"This is..." Kenzo hesitated, clearly outside her comfort zone. "I don't really do this style."
"Just try," Amias encouraged. "Sometimes the beats you're afraid of become your biggest songs."
When she entered the booth again, Kenzo's discomfort was visible. She tried a few approaches, but her flow kept reverting to her familiar drill cadence, which fought against the melodic beat.
"Hold up," Amias said through the talkback. "Slow your flow down. Way down. Let it float on the beat instead of attacking it."
Kenzo tried again, but still couldn't find the right approach.
"Mind if I show you what I'm thinking?" Amias asked.
"Please," she replied, seeming relieved.
Amias entered the booth, standing beside her as Zel restarted the beat. He demonstrated a more relaxed, melodic flow that worked with the production rather than against it.
Kenzo watched intently, nodding as she caught the vibe.
"I feel you," she said when he finished. "Let me try."
Her next attempt was much closer, though still not quite landing. Amias stayed in the booth, occasionally suggesting alternative lines when she got stuck:
"Try 'They poppin' all this big money shit, but niggas jeans ain't that'," he offered at one point.
Kenzo immediately picked it up: "Postin' pics, drippin' in jewels, and then ain't givin' em' back."
Line by line, they built the second verse together, Amias punching in for help when needed.
"Like, they poppin' all this big money shit, but niggas jeans ain't that
Postin' pics, drippin' in jewels, and then ain't givin' em' back
I ain't doubtin' no niggas struggle, but just stop wit the cap
How you gon' take me on a date, can't even pick up the slack"
As they worked, the chemistry between them became obvious – creative sparks flying as they built on each other's ideas. Kenzo's friends noticed it too, exchanging knowing looks on the couch as they watched through the booth window.
The chorus came together organically, building on the "Yeah I said it" phrase that had worked in the first track, creating cohesion between the contrasting songs. In fact the lyrics from the first worked so well on the second track's beat that they completely re-did them for the second track instead.
By the time they finished, Kenzo was completely immersed in the new style, her delivery transformed.
"That's honestly my best song ever," she admitted after listening to the rough mix, genuine amazement in her voice. "Something completely different from what I usually do."
Chat was going wild:
Bed: KENZO JUST LEVELED UP!!
St4: this is actually beautiful wtf
ARLoyal_Smith12: She ugly 🤮 She can't rap 🤮L Stream 🤮
12God: this better than anything she ever dropped no cap
"One more?" Amias suggested, energized by the creative flow.
"Definitely," Kenzo agreed immediately, her earlier fatigue forgotten.
The next beat came on, more menacing and intense with a hard hitting 808 and slow tempo.
"I got an idea," Amias said, pulling up a sample pack on the computer. He found a female voice saying "It's Hannah" and quickly distorted it, layering it into a beat Zel had cued up. The effect was instantly captivating – haunting and catchy simultaneously.
{Reference Track: Hannah Montanah by Ice Spice ft. Dababy and NLE Choppa}
"Oh shit," Deon exclaimed from the couch. "That's hard as fuck."
Kenzo was already moving toward the booth, ideas visibly forming. "Let me try something on this."
This time, she found her groove immediately, blending her drill sensibilities with the more melodic approach they'd just explored:
"With my bitches, but thinkin' 'bout us
I'm from the Bronx, so it's no one I trust
I don't love niggas, I just be in lust
Thank God I'm rich, I was just on a bus"
She continued, her confidence growing with each line:
"Like, now I'm cool on a boat
Yeah, I got slim, but I still eat my oats
Hate me a nigga that give bitches hope
Bae, watch your mouth, 'cause you know what I tote"
When she hit the pre-chorus, something special happened – her voice found a perfect pocket in the beat:
"Munchin' me down and say, 'It taste like water'
Do niggas foul 'cause I'm my mother's daughter
Fine lil' shit and her money got taller
Rappers ain't shit, I might fuck with a baller"
The distorted "It's Hannah" sample punctuated each section perfectly, creating an infectious hook without even trying. As she finished her second verse, Amias felt inspired.
"Mind if I jump on this?" he asked when she emerged from the booth.
"Please do," Kenzo replied eagerly, her eyes bright with creative excitement.
Amias stepped into the booth, closing his eyes for a moment to feel the beat's pulse. When he opened them, he nodded to Zel to start recording.
What flowed out seemed to surprise even him – a verse that complemented Kenzo's energy, so much so that his accent seemed to completely change all while bringing his distinctive flavor:
"Baby, when we goin', put the cash in your bag
Say she think that I'm a thug and she mad
See, she tryna keep her shape right
She been in the gym, they in love with the ass"
He continued, his flow riding the distorted sample perfectly:
"Addicted to it, she must be a drug 'cause she bad
Married to the money, I'm in love with the cash
Hatin' for a minute, niggas love when you crash
Put it on his fitted, it's a dub on his ass"
His delivery intensified for the second half:
"Super fine girl
Never been too friendly if you asked
I prolly wouldn't give a hug to yo' ass
Let me put the AR with the drum in your bag
Actin' like we in this bitch in love when we smash"
He finished with a flourish, adding a melodic part that transitioned perfectly back into Kenzo's hook:
"Lil' mama hotter than lava
She drivin' me crazy, I need her asylum"
When he stepped out of the booth, the room had a different energy – everyone fully engaged, the alcohol forgotten as they focused on what they'd just witnessed.
"This is a hit," Deon stated flatly, professional assessment overriding any pretense. "Like, an actual hit."
"These tracks are crazy," Kenzo said, her eyes not leaving Amias as Zel worked on compiling a rough mix. "When can I get them? I need to drop this ASAP."
"They're yours," Amias confirmed. "I'll have Jamie finalize the mixes in a hour or so."
"We should shoot a video too, that would bang." Kenzo suggested, clearly already planning the rollout.
"I was thinking the same thing," Amias agreed. "I can get a video team together quick if you want. Just tell me where you want to film."
"For real?" Kenzo asked, clearly not expecting that level of support.
"For real," Amias confirmed. "Just need to know where and when, I'm leaving New York soon though."
The clock on the wall read 2:50 AM – the session had flown by, creativity making time irrelevant. Kenzo and her friends needed to head out, with promises to connect the next day about the video plans.
As they said their goodbyes at the door, Kenzo pulled Amias aside, her hand lingering on his arm longer than necessary.
"Thank your for bringing me on," she said quietly, "those tracks are better than anything I've ever done."
"That's the power of pushing beyond comfort zones," Amias replied. "Sometimes the best music happens when you're trying something new."
Kenzo studied his face, her eyes traveling over his features. "We definitely need to link before you leave."
"I'll make it happen," Amias promised. "Just let me know where."