Bab 183: **Chapter 182: Lighters**
".So give me reason to prove me wrong, To wash this memory clean, Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes"
At the Metropolis Theater, Link performed "Give Me Reason" with the band accompanying him. This was the New York premiere of *Transformers 2*, and Link was invited to perform the movie's theme song before the film started.
The performance ended with enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience.
As Link waved to the crowd and took his seat in the front row to watch the movie, his phone vibrated a few times in his pocket.
He checked it and, after a moment of surprise, texted Anna.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! The obituary for MJ was released at 2 PM today," Anna replied.
Link shook his head and sighed.
He had suspected something was wrong in the past few days. MJ's concert, originally scheduled for early June, had been postponed twice due to his health issues. Rehearsals at Lincoln Center had been canceled due to MJ's absence.
Even though he had only met MJ twice and their friendship wasn't deep, seeing someone familiar disappear from the world was still a sobering experience.
"Link, didn't you like the movie?" asked Michael Bay, the director of the *Transformers* series.
"No, it was great. It's the best movie I've seen this year."
Seeing Michael Bay's puzzled look, Link briefly mentioned the news of another Michael's passing. Michael Bay was also moved by the news.
After the movie, Link saw MJ's death being broadcasted on many electronic billboards on the streets.
The hospital had announced that MJ had a cardiac arrest at home, fell into a deep coma, and was rushed to UCLA Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Due to MJ's immense influence and the numerous connections involved, rumors and speculations about his death spread rapidly online. The media coverage was overwhelming, leading to many music events and concerts being postponed.
Link's second album, *Keep Going Forward*, was also delayed until July.
"Anna, how's the sales of 'Lighters' this week?" Link asked as he flipped through some documents in the office.
"Lighters" had been released on major digital platforms in mid-June with minimal promotion. It sold 75,000 copies in the first week, ranking 74th on the Billboard Hot 100 and 5th on the rap chart.
For newcomers Mars and Lil Bobby, this was a commendable result.
"This week it sold 108,000 copies, ranking 21st on the Hot 100 and 2nd on the rap chart, just 2,000 copies behind the top spot held by 'D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)' and 30,000 copies ahead of Kanye's 'Monster.'"
Anna reported with a folder in her hand.
"That sounds pretty good."
Link popped a lollipop into his mouth.
Anna smiled, "Yes, not only are the sales strong, but the media reviews are also very positive. They praise this rap song for its perfect blend of funk, rhythm and blues, and rap, claiming it has introduced a new rap style and expanded the boundaries of rap music. *XXL* magazine gave it a five-star rating, calling it one of the top ten rap singles of the year."
"Five stars?"
Link was surprised. *XXL*, also known as Double-X-L, is one of the most authoritative rap magazines, headquartered in New York. They rate rap singles from 1 to 5 stars each month and feature the best singles.
Link's previous single, "I'm The One," and Jay-Z's "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" only received four stars, so a five-star rating for "Lighters" indicated strong support and high quality.
With this momentum, "Lighters" was likely to reach the top of the rap chart next week.
Unfortunately, that afternoon, a new rap single called "Forever," featuring Lil Wayne, Kanye, Eminem, and Drake, hit digital music platforms.
The collaboration of three rap giants and a rising star Drake drew significant attention, as everyone knew the release was aimed at preventing "Lighters" from topping the rap chart.
Despite the label's explanation that the song was a track from NBA star LeBron James' biopic *Basketball King*, and was originally scheduled for June, few believed it wasn't intended to compete directly with "Lighters."
The timing of the release was too coincidental, reminiscent of Kanye's early release of "Monster" to suppress Link's "I'm The One."
Despite the controversy, "Forever" performed well, selling 237,000 copies in its first week and securing the top spot on the rap chart and 8th place on the Hot 100.
"Lighters" sold 96,000 copies in its third week, surpassing Jay-Z's "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" but still holding onto the second spot.
"It's so petty for three top-tier artists to team up against a newcomer like Mars. Link, should we fight back?" Wiz Khalifa said, frustrated.
Link, flipping through the latest issue of *Billboard*, shook his head. "Even if we release another track like 'I'm The One,' we still can't compete with them."
"Link, you're a tactical expert. Last time Jay-Z's 'D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)' was so strong, yet 'Give Me Reason' still beat it to number one. We can definitely make a comeback."
Mars said with a smile, his curly hair bouncing.
Lil Bobby, Philip, and Ali nodded in agreement.
Link glanced at them and smiled helplessly.
The success of "Give Me Reason" was due to the movie's promotion and the song's high quality, not tactics.
Yet, some people believed it was part of his strategy. He had announced a compromise the previous week and then quickly rose to number one, with media calling it "Link's comeback," making it difficult for him to clarify.
"We'll hold off on competing for the charts for now. MJ just passed away, and being too high-profile isn't appropriate."
Everyone agreed.
MJ's passing was a significant shock to both the American and global music scenes. Fans around the world were holding memorials and marches, with some estimates claiming millions of participants.
MJ had also collaborated with East Coast and West Coast rappers on two rap albums, earning him a sizable following in the rap community.
Being too flashy at this time could provoke backlash.
For instance, Kanye and Lil Wayne's recent chart competition faced considerable criticism.
As a newcomer rapper with fewer die-hard fans, Link needed to focus on building a strong fanbase and consolidating support to stay ahead.
After some discussion, they continued talking about music creation.
All of Link Music's signed artists were songwriters. Mars had written most of his first album himself, Lana had a thick songbook from her years in underground music, and Wiz had previously worked with Warner Bros. on a well-received album.
Lil Bobby was a singer with Atlantic Records, and after being borrowed by Link, mainly helped Mars with his albums.
Link occasionally joined them to discuss music, play some music pieces for reference, and collaborate on songwriting, though he didn't fully hand over complete songs to them.
For songwriters, writing their own music results in better performance. Relying on others for songwriting wasn't a good habit.
Moreover, with several contracts with Link Music, he couldn't write all the songs himself.
"Boss, MJ's memorial service is scheduled for next Tuesday."
Anna called to inform him.
"Alright, please book me a ticket."
Link thought for a moment and said.
(The End of This Chapter)
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