บท 10: In the Booth

The sterile studio thrummed with a nervous energy. Arell slumped in his chair, eyes glued to the screen where the unfinished song pulsed with a dark, hypnotic beat. Beside him, Geoffrey tapped his fingers rhythmically against the desk, a thoughtful frown creased on his forehead. Hours had bled into the night, fueled by lukewarm coffee and a relentless pursuit of the perfect song.

"Alright, let's hear what you got," Geoffrey finally said, his voice laced with a hint of anticipation. Arell stood infront of the microphone, the harsh studio lights reflecting off his sweat-glazed forehead. He gripped the stand, knuckles white, the silence in the room heavy with anticipation. He closed his eyes for a moment, picturing the city lights morphing into a battlefield, his friends standing beside him. Then, taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and spat fire.

"This loyalty ain't for show, blood thicker than the automatic," he rapped, his voice raw with emotion, a growl that resonated through the studio. "For my brother I'm gon' spin, yeah, get them racks and we gon' win, yeah."

The beat dropped, a dark, pulsating wave that echoed the intensity in his voice. Geoffrey, eyes glued to the screen, bobbed his head in approval, a wide grin splitting his face. Arell rode the rhythm, his lyrics flowing like a torrent.

"Spin the world, spin the world, spin the world," he chanted, the words morphing into a mantra of defiance. "Retaliation ain't a phantom, Catch 'em slippin' that's my anthem, leave 'em drownin' in the static, that boy gon' turn to a phantom!"

He spat the lyrics with a ferocity that surprised even himself. The frustration, the self-doubt, the pressure of the looming deadline – it all fueled his performance. He painted a picture of isolation and the relentless pursuit of success, the desperation clawing at him like a starving beast.

But then, the mood shifted. The bridge arrived, a melancholic interlude filled with piano chords and a lone, haunting melody. Arell softened his voice, rapping about the emptiness of fame and the loneliness that gnawed at him despite being surrounded by his friends.

"Ocean waves crashin' outside, can't drown the noise in my head," he murmured, the lyrics echoing his earlier struggle. "Same damn thoughts on repeat, like a record left for dead."

But the darkness was short-lived. The beat surged back, strong and steady, like a heartbeat after a scare. Arell leaned back into the mic, his voice gaining a new edge.

"Used to chase fame, a ghost in the dark," he rapped, the words hitting hard. "Empty cheers, all fake, flickering spark."

He paused, letting the music fill the space.

"But loyalty's the anchor, keeps me steady in the storm," he continued, his voice calmer now. "My crew's my compass, guides me home and keeps me warm."

The lyrics painted a picture of friendship as a safe harbor, a constant through life's rough patches.

He envisioned their bond as a powerful force, a melody stronger than any single voice.

"Better lift each other higher, escape the city's hold," he continued, the lyrics flowing. "Chase dreams together, loyalty's worth more than gold."

The final chorus exploded with raw emotion. Arell roared the lyrics, a testament to their unwavering loyalty.

"Spin the world, spin it all around, this loyalty's a fortress, on solid ground!" he rapped. "Spin the world, let the haters drown, this brotherhood unbreakable, wears a loyalty crown, anybody test my gang, that 9 m' hold it down!"

The verses flowed seamlessly, each one a testament to their bond. He touched on moments of doubt and setbacks, but always emphasized how they emerged stronger, their loyalty a shield against adversity.

As the final verse drew to a close, a sense of triumph resonated in the studio. Ardell took a deep breath, letting the last line hang in the air. Silence descended, thick with anticipation. He looked at Geoffrey, a question mark etched on his face.

Geoffrey met his gaze, a slow smile spreading across his face. He leaned back in his chair, letting out a long exhale.

"Good job, Arell," he finally said, his voice filled with respect. "That was good. You put your heart and soul into that song." he trailed off, his eyes twinkling. "I have a feeling this one might be a hit, its catchy, would resonate with many…."

He tapped his fingers on the desk, a thoughtful rhythm forming. "There's a few spots we can tweak for polish, maybe add a bridge melody to really elevate the emotion during the talk about overcoming doubt. But overall, this is raw, this is honest. This is you, Arell."

They spent the next hour dissecting the song, Geoffrey offering suggestions for improvement. Finally, they pulled up the music production software, ready to refine the song into a masterpiece. The nervous energy that had thrummed in the studio earlier had transformed into a shared excitement.

(Scene Break)

Excitement crackled in the air as Geoffrey leaned closer to the computer screen, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "Let's try adding a new snare beat here, right after you say 'loyalty's the anchor,'" he suggested, pointing to a specific section of the song.

Arell nodded, picturing the extra drum filling the space. "Have you decided on a name yet?" Geoffrey asked, momentarily pausing his digital tinkering.

Arell tapped his chin, the melody and lyrics swirling in his head. "Not quite,"

Suddenly, inspiration struck Arell. He glanced back at the screen, the words "Loyalty's Song" glowing faintly. It felt too simple. He looked at Geoffrey, a spark in his eyes.

"How about, Loyalty Ties. It's catchy, keeps the loyalty theme, but feels a bit more dynamic." A spark ignited in Arell's eyes. "Loyalty Ties," he repeated, the name resonating with the song's essence. "Yeah, that sounds good. It's strong, evokes a sense of loyalty."

A satisfied smile spread across Geoffrey's face. "Perfect. Now, let's see how that snare beat sounds."

Just then a digital chime filled the air.

"Hold on," Arell said, his head spinning to his side, he read the message spread across the screen.

[Well done host, on competing your first song]

[Scanning….]

[Scanning…..]

[Ding!]

[Song Rating: 71]

Arell's jaw dropped. "Seventy-one?" he sputtered, disbelief lacing his voice. Seventy-one? Out of a hundred?

Geoffrey, however, remained surprisingly calm. He leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face, but not one etched with disappointment. "Huh, interesting," he murmured, stroking his chin. Arell looked back at the screen, the number "71" glowing with a newfound significance. "Seventy-one… I'm surprised the score is that high, considering my stats…" Geoffrey swiveled in his chair, a playful glint in his eyes. "Maybe your 'stats' don't tell the whole story, Arell," he said.

Arell sent him an intrigued glance. His mind raced with the implication. Well, his hidden statuses were certainly helping him while he was making the song…combined with Geoffrey's skills…it was no surprise that the rating was that high, but even considering that, wasn't this a little too good for his first song?

A mischievous grin tugged at the corner of Geoffrey's lips, as if reading Arell's mind. "Seventy-one might seem a bit high for a first attempt," he conceded, a low chuckle escaping his lips. "But hey, maybe there's a bit of beginner's luck at play here. Or maybe, just maybe, you're a natural, Arell. A diamond in the rough, if you will."

He winked, the playful glint in his eyes intensifying. "Whatever the reason, this score is a great starting point. Let's not question it.

Suddenly Arell's attention was taken away once again by a sudden chime.

[Congratulations Host on completing your quest!]

[Rewards will now be distributed]

Achieve a song rating of at least:

40: [Condition Met] Received: Lil Durk: "Granny Crib" Song Structure

50: [Condition Met] Received: YNW Melly: "Blue Balenciagas" Song Structure

60: [Condition Met] Received: +2 to all unlocked attributes

70: [Condition Met] Received: Rare Gift Pack

[Host do not be worried about the possibility of other Artist having already pre recorded song structures, the System will ensure such scenarios do not occur.]

Arell's eyes widened as he scanned the list of rewards displayed on the holographic display. Scoring a 70 on their first song had unlocked a treasure trove of potential, but unlike Geoffrey, he wasn't sure what all of it meant.

Lil Durk: "Granny Crib" Song Structure: This one was a complete mystery. Structure? Did that mean the order of the lyrics, or maybe the musical arrangement?

YNW Melly: "Blue Balenciagas" Song StructureHe recognized the name, This Ynw Melly guy, was he a rapper, not so?

+2 to All Attributes: That one was easy enough to understand, a stat boost was always good.

But his gaze lingered on the final reward: Rare Gift Pack. This would be his first Gift pack since getting out of jail.

He turned his attention to the songs he had received willing the system to explain what "song structure" meant.

A soft chime resonated as the holographic display flickered, then responded in a helpful tone:

[Song structure refers to the makeup of a song, this includes; its flow, beat and lyrics and more.]

Arell's eyes widened in understanding. "Oh, okay," he said, relief washing over him. "So it's like the blueprint for the song?"

The holographic display pulsed in confirmation. [Precisely]

A thrill of excitement still coursed through Arell as he turned towards Geoffrey, the holographic display shimmering between them. "Alright Geoffrey," he said, his voice buzzing with anticipation, "I'm going to take a look at these song structures."

He pointed at the first one, "Lil Durk: 'Granny Crib' Song Structure." "This one sounds interesting. Let's see what it is."

With a tap on the holographic display, a detailed breakdown materialized. Lines and shapes appeared, illustrating the typical arrangement of verses, choruses, bridges, and outros in a song structure following Lil Durk's "Granny Crib." Explanatory text accompanied the visuals.

(Scene Break)

Arell whistled, tracing the lines on the display. "Wow, this is way more than just order," he said, surprised. "It even tells me about rhyme schemes and stuff. All I have to do is record it."

Geoffrey chuckled, reading the excitedness on Arell's face. "Hold on there, my friend," he said. "This structure is a powerful tool, but it's not a magic recipe. Think of it as a map instead of copying it,' Geoffrey continued, "it gives us a framework to work with. We can use Lil Durk's structure as a starting point, but we can also add our own creative twists. You don't want to be a copy of another rapper."

Arell's eyes lit up with renewed interest. "Yeah, that's true! I can still make it my own."

"Exactly!" Geoffrey said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Remember, the best songs come from a blend of inspiration and perspiration."

Arell grinned. The challenge suddenly felt exciting. With a clear roadmap and their combined creativity, the possibilities seemed endless. "Alright then," he said, his voice brimming with newfound confidence.

Arell then turned his attention to the next reward "YNW Melly: "Blue Balenciagas" "This one could be good too," he mused, tapping the holographic display. Another detailed breakdown materialized, showcasing the typical arrangement used in "Blue Balenciagas." This structure seemed more focused on a melodic flow, with a catchy hook repeated throughout the son. Suddenly, another chime resonated through the studio

[ Host! You have received a Rare Gift Pack! The System recommends you open it before recording both songs.]