Chương 138: Freestyle
To: arell@infinityofficial.com
Subject: RE: New Concept Designs
Arell,
Your vision for the new line is fire! 🔥 Those gradient-shift fabrics you suggested? Game-changer.
Quick numbers:
- 70k units feasible for initial run
- Estimated production time: 6 weeks (2 remaining weeks)
- Projected retail: $150-200 range
We're pushing boundaries here. The team's buzzing about that holographic print concept. It's going to turn heads, guaranteed.
Let's chat tomorrow about the launch strategy.
Aisha
Head of Design, Infinity
---
From: codie@contrariancapital.com
To: arell@roseglobalholdings.com
CC. geoffrey@roseglobalholdings.com
Subject: East Atlanta Village Coup
Arell,
You beautiful, brilliant bastards. That East Atlanta Village play? Chef's kiss. 👨🍳💋
Here's the breakdown:
- Acquired for $3M (bankruptcy beauty)
- Flipped kitchen equipment for a cool $750K
- Developer's chomping at the bit - offering $6.5M for the lot
We've made a $7.25M profit so far in what, three weeks? And we haven't even touched the real estate potential yet.
But wait, there's more! Remember that sad little 100-unit complex in Old Fourth Ward? Snagged it for $8M. Market value's easily $12M+. A little TLC, and we're looking at a $6M flip, minimum.
Let's grab a drink soon. I've got some ideas that'll make your heads spin.
Codie
P.S. Your Infinity stuff is everywhere. My niece won't shut up about it. You're creating monsters (and I love it).
---
From: ebro@hot97.com
To: arell@infinityofficial.com
Subject: Summer Jam 2015 - You're On!
Yo Arell,
Consider this your official welcome to the Summer Jam family! 🎉🎤
You're locked in for a 30-minute set on the main stage. We're thinking sunset slot - let's paint the sky with that Infinity vibe.
A few housekeeping bits:
- Sound check: Day before, 4 PM sharp
- Meet & Greet: 2 hours pre-show (your fans are RABID, man)
- After-party: We'll handle logistics.
Bring the heat,
Ebro
P.S. Funk Flex is itching for you to drop by the studio. You down for a freestyle session this week?
---
From: craig.kallman@atlanticrecords.com
To: arell@infinityofficial.com
Subject: Streaming Numbers & Festival Circuit
Arell,
The numbers are in, and they're staggering. "Fair Trade" just hit:
- 320M streams on Spotify
- 140M on Apple Music
- 39M video views on YouTube
-#6 on Billboard HOT 100
Festival circuit's heating up too. Per Elena Vazquez. We've got offers from:
- Coachella (main stage)
- Lollapalooza
- Glastonbury (UK debut?)
Your call, but Glastonbury could be huge for international expansion.
Let's connect this week. I'm wide open for you.
Riding the wave,
Craig
---
From: geoffrey@roseglobalholdings.com
To: arell@roseglobalholdings.com
Subject: Rose Global Holdings - Structure Update
Arell,
Quick update on our corporate structure. Here's how Rose Global Holdings is shaping up so far:
Subsidiaries:
1. Rose Property Investments
2. Rose Industrial Ventures (asset stripping arm)
3. Rose Digital Assets (crypto & NFTs - huge potential here)
4. Rose Specialty Markets
5. Rose Infinity Entertainment (Infinity Records falls under this)
6. Rose Capital
Geoffrey
---
From: bjorn.gulden@puma.com
To: arell@infinityofficial.com
Subject: Potential Investment Opportunity
Dear Mr. Rose,
I hope this email finds you well. I've been following the remarkable growth of Infinity with great interest. Your innovative approach to fashion and branding has not gone unnoticed here at Puma.
The synergy between our brands is undeniable. Your upcoming shoe line with us is generating unprecedented buzz, and frankly, we see it as just the beginning.
I'll cut to the chase: we're interested in taking our partnership to the next level. Specifically, we'd like to discuss the possibility of acquiring a minority stake in Infinity.
Your design prowess and cultural impact, coupled with our global manufacturing and distribution networks? The potential is staggering.
I'd love to set up a meeting to discuss this further. My team and I are prepared to fly to Atlanta at your earliest convenience.
Looking forward to shaping the future of fashion together.
Best regards,
Björn Gulden
CEO, Puma
---
From: michael.burke@louisvuitton.com
To: arell@infinityofficial.com
Subject: Exploring Collaborative Ventures
Dear Mr. Rose,
I trust this message finds you amidst continued success.
Your ability to capture the zeitgeist while maintaining a distinct aesthetic is remarkable. It's a quality we at Louis Vuitton deeply respect and, frankly, see as complementary to our own heritage of innovation.
I'll be direct: we're interested in exploring a potential investment in Infinity. This wouldn't be a mere financial transaction, but a meeting of minds. A fusion of your cutting-edge vision with our centuries of craftsmanship and luxury market expertise.
I propose a discreet meeting in Paris. Let's discuss how we might shape the future of fashion together. My office can arrange all travel details at your convenience.
Awaiting your response with great anticipation.
Warm regards,
Michael Burke
Chairman and CEO, Louis Vuitton
---
From: drake@ovo.com
To: arell@infinityofficial.com
Subject: What's up
Yo Arell,
Been watching your moves, bro. Love the music, love the clothes.
I'm in Atlanta rn so we need to link up. I've got some ideas I think you'll fuck with.
Hit me back.
Drizzy Drake. The 6 God
<>
The X5 idled outside the airport, its tinted windows reflecting the early morning sun. Inside, Arell lounged in the passenger seat, scrolling through his phone with a bemused expression. Geoffrey sat behind the wheel, eyes scanning the arrivals area.
"Man, Drake sending an email is so funny to me," Arell chuckled, shaking his head. "Like, couldn't he just message on Insta?"
Geoffrey raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps he's old-school. Or his team insisted on a paper trail."
"Maybe," Arell conceded. "Either way, I'm not pulling up to no club."
"Wise decision," Geoffrey nodded approvingly. "Now, about those other emails..."
Arell's expression grew serious. "Yeah, Puma and Louis Vuitton."
Geoffrey drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, deep in thought. "It's a tempting offer, but we need to be strategic. Our valuation is set to skyrocket in the next few months."
"For real," Arell agreed. "Might as well wait and get a better deal, right?"
"Precisely," Geoffrey said. "Delaying would mean a significantly higher valuation. We don't need to rush into anything."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sight of three young men emerging from the airport, each carrying a small duffel bag. Jahseh's blue dreads stood out among the crowd, while Jarad's purple-tinged hair caught the morning light. Stokeley brought up the rear, his wild hair barely contained under a beanie.
Arell's face lit up. He rolled down the window, calling out, "Yo, boys! Over here!"
The trio made their way to the X5, excitement written all over their faces. As they piled into the backseat, the car filled with a chaotic energy that only teenagers could bring.
"Y'all good?" Arell asked, twisting in his seat to face them.
"Man, we're more than good," Jarad grinned, his words tumbling out in a rush. "This is crazy, bro. We're really about to be on your mixtape!"
Stokeley nodded enthusiastically. "For real, for real. It's like a dream or something."
Jahseh, quieter than the others but no less intense, added, "Thanks for this opportunity, Arell."
As Geoffrey navigated through Atlanta's morning traffic the boys peppered Arell with questions about the tour, the recording process, and what it was like to work with industry legends.
Before long, they pulled up to a nondescript building in a quieter part of town. Arell's dance studio.
"Yo, why we at a dance studio?" Stokeley asked, peering out the window curiously.
Arell groaned good-naturedly. "It's where I'm learning to dance."
Geoffrey's lips twitched in amusement. "Not just dance. Sing, play instruments... A true artist is well-rounded."
The boys erupted in laughter. "Bro, you learning to dance?" Jarad teased. "This I gotta see."
Arell rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."
As they climbed out of the car, Arell turned to Geoffrey. "You good to take care of them while I'm in there?"
Geoffrey nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Of course. We'll get them settled at the mansion."
Arell gave each of the boys a fist bump before heading towards the studio entrance. "Alright, I'll catch y'all later. Stay out of trouble, yeah?"
Inside, Arell was greeted by the familiar faces of Mia and Jamal, his vocal and dance coaches respectively. The spacious room was filled with mirrors and a gleaming grand piano stood in one corner.
"Morning, Arell," Mia smiled warmly. "Ready to warm up those vocal cords?"
Arell nodded, but couldn't resist checking his stats one last time before they began. The numbers flashed across his mind's eye:
Flow: 75
Voice: 78
Lyrics: 76
Production: 84
Performance: 85
Freestyle: 75
Songwriting: 78
Not bad, he was very close to all 80's now.
As Arell began his warm-up exercises, his mind drifted to the upcoming freestyle session with Funk Flex. In just two days, he'd be in New York for the second time, spitting bars on one of the most respected platforms in hip-hop.
"La, la, la," he sang, following Mia's lead, pushing thoughts of Funk Flex aside for now. One thing at a time.
<>
As the warm-up exercises concluded, Arell found himself back in the comfort of his home studio as Jarad, Jahseh, and Stokeley lounged on the plush leather couch, their excited chatter filling the room.
Jarad leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with inspiration. "Yo, Arell, we should freestyle. Right now. I'm feeling it, man."
Arell raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Oh yeah?"
Jahseh chuckled, his blue dreads swaying as he shook his head. "I ain't gone lie I'm feeling it too."
With a nod, Arell swiveled in his chair, fingers dancing across the mixing board. A deep, hypnotic beat filled the room, the bass thrumming through their chests.
"Alright," Arell said, turning back to face the group. "Who's starting this off?"
Three pairs of eyes immediately landed on Jarad. He grinned, running a hand through his purple-tinged hair. "Since I suggested it, might as well set the bar high. Let's go."
Jarad closed his eyes, letting the beat wash over him for a moment. Then, with a deep breath, he launched into his flow:
"Ok, Ok, Ok. Yuh."
"This beat kind of hard actually, like, ok."
"Yuh."
"Waterrr!" Came Stokeley's voice.
"Yuh, ok, yuh."
"So you gone start or what?" Arell asked with a chuckle.
"Oh I'm gone start alright."
"Ayy, ayy, we in the studio with the Rose
Big baller shit, let's go.
If Rose blooms in this bitch, watch the petals unfold
Studio's my garden, bars grow when they're told
Four doors to a two-door, I'm paradoxin'
Oxymoron flow, clean as fuck but I'm toxin'."
"Oxy- Yuh. Hold on let me catch it back real quick."
"Go ahead Jarad, you got this."
"Yuh, Yuh."
"Bugger in my nose, but my rhymes stay clean
Fiend for the beat, junkie for the scene
Scene of the crime, I'm killin' these verses
Hearses can't carry the weight of my curses
Curse of the gifted, Juicy flow, no seeds
Seeded this track with bars that'll make 'em bleed
Bleeding roses, thorns in my tongue when I spit
Spit game so cold, igloos start to melt, that's lit
Lit up like Vegas, but I'm lost in translation
Patient in this booth, patiently waiting
Surgical with the pen, no anesthetic needed
Seeded thoughts in your mind, now they're all I'm feeding
Marvel at my wordplay, DC my competition
Competition's nonexistent, I'm in my own dimension."
As the last word left Jarad's lips, the room erupted in a shared hum.
"Damn, J!" Stokeley shouted, his eyes wide with admiration. "You came out swinging!"
Arell nodded approvingly. "That flow was smooth as butter, man. Nice work."
Jahseh was already bouncing in his seat, eager for his turn. "Alright, alright."
Without missing a beat, Jahseh jumped in:
"Ayy, it's X, we in this bitch
Four of us, studio lit
Freestyle, no pen, just spit
Beat a pussy nigga up, call that cat scratch fever
Four of us in studio, we some grim reapers
Campfire flow, burn you with these bars
Rough tire on your neck, leave tread marks."
"Yuh Yuh.""Red beam on your chest, Rudolph in the dark
Santa ain't real, but the slay is
Sleighin' every beat, call me X-mas, Jingle bells, bitch."
"Damn!"
"Fear- Fear's not in my vocab, only in yours
You're a scared deer, I'm the hunter, of course."
"Hmm. You're a scared- ok."
"Off course like a golf ball in the rough, fore
Rough you up real quick, that's enough
Stuff you in a body bag, no Santa sack
Ho, don't you know? I'm on the attack
Rare breed, indeed, succeed and proceed
Proceed with caution, I'm explosive
Corrosive flows, erode your soul
Told you once, won't tell you again, get bold
Sleigh Ride, bitch."
Jarad let out a low whistle, clearly impressed.
"Bro, that wordplay was insane," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
Stokeley was practically vibrating with excitement. "My turn, my turn!" he exclaimed, already standing up.
Arell gestured for him to take center stage. "Floor's yours, Stokeley."
Stokeley took a deep breath, then dove in:
"Hold on I'm gonna do the alphabet."
"Oh you got it like that?" Arell said, his eyebrow raising in amusement."
"Watch and see."
"Waterrrr!"
"My bars subterranean
A-game I bring to the booth
Bodies I leave on the roof
Big moves that I'm countin' like Sesame Street
Durag, waves deeper than Fleet
Big E-T energy, Pikachu
Florida, where the gators make nightmares true
G for the grind, got more hustle than Flo-Jo
Lightsaber H-heat I'm packin', call me Han Solo
I for the ice on my neck, Medusa stare
Jackie Chan, move quick, they stop and stare
One punch, man down, Bruce Lee in my bones
Paper, fold it, make it take flight
S for the Slump God, bow down to the throne
Tokyo Drift, my flow's in the zone
Venom in my words, hear the snake call
Wu-Tang, gang, protect ya neck when I spit
X-ray vision, see through your bullshit
Y for the yams A$AP was talkin' bout
Loud when I'm zonin' out
Waterrr! Coolant for my engine, I'm too hot
Ski Mask with the mask off, still can't be topped
Slump in my stance but I'm sharp as a tack
Florida Man with finesse, put respect on my track
Stokeley stylish, sicker than your average
Manhandle amateurs, I'm too professional
Medusa couldn't freeze me, I'm too cold already
Spaghetti Western flow, my aim is too steady
Weather the storm like Thor
Lore of the Slump God grows forevermore."
As Stokeley finished, the others erupted in cheers and applause.
"Yo, that shit was cold!" Jahseh exclaimed, jumping up to give Stokeley a dap.
Jarad nodded enthusiastically. "For real, man. You killed it."
All eyes turned to Arell, anticipation thick in the air. He stood up slowly, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Alright."
Arell closed his eyes, letting the beat pulse through him. Then, with a deep breath, he began:
"Slatt talk, young thug, I'm fluent in slime
Hot 97 degrees, I'm burnin' up the airlines
Melodies got nothin' on my harmonies
I'm unforgettable, my bars stick like cavities (Dental)
Letter after A, but I'm aimin' for the Z
Now I'm back to A, A$AP that is
Analyze the bars, bet you missed some shit
Shitten on 'em, smell like P like U, that's how I rep
Switch it on 'em, we 'bout to make a movie, call me Scorsese
Green light, go, on a G like 5, watch face crazy
Damn if you thought you'd catch up
Margiela Madman, fashion killa with a death wish
Born in the dark like Bane, kill you if you open my blinds
On Yams, that's word to my moms, RIP to the real ones
Cole world, but I'm hotter than the sun's core
For Free? Nah, this Dissects any price
How Much a Dollar Cost? Ask my accountant
Wesley's Theory of success, I surmounted
XXX my problems away, that's triple X rated
Explicitly stating that I'm implicitly jaded
Jade necklace, green with envy, they can't touch this
Got 10 on command like Moses, not with a staff I came with a knife.
Talk up, we don't need no introduction
Ten milli' in the bank, that's just deduction
They talk down, we talk up, no discussion
Trunk full of heat, car looking like Kuwait
They say money talk, mine's screamin', can't relate
No cap, I'm just cappin' off success with more wins
They can't see the vision, so they're beefin' out of FOMO, kin
Introvert mind in an extrovert's world
Everybody think they nice, wanna catch these hands
Got more enemies than calories, they can''t fade me
But I'm on a different level, they just can't expand
Tryna creep in my circle, nah, you ain't God
They used to count me out, now they countin' my bread
Went from nothin' to everythin', he stroke of the pinky, your wedding ring
Hoes, texts, reads - none of it matters the most
Jet-setting lifestyle, but I keep it grounded
Life's a chess game, I'm the king they can't checkmate
Enemies checkin' for me, but I'm 'bout to check eight
Figure eights in the six-four, straight outta Section 8
Sectionin' off my success, watch em' suffocate
Bars so cold, call me Kelvin, absolute zero
Absolute unit, shoot to kill, no need for a hero
Heroic flow, narcotic prose, got 'em all addicted
Predicted my rise, now they rise when I'm predicted
Wavy like Wayne, but I'm makin' my own tsunami
Television couldn't capture the vision I'm livin'
Given the odds, I odd the evens, believe I'm heaven-sent
Residual income from these bars
Crown so heavy, need a neck brace to carry it
Marry the game, divorce the fame, I'm polygamous
Autonomous, anonymous when I'm ominous."
"Bro!" Jarad shouted, leaping to his feet. "That was hard."
Jahseh shook his head. "For real.
As the excitement began to settle, a thoughtful look crossed Arell's face. "You know what? I might actually post that."
The others looked at him, surprise evident in their expressions.
"For real?" Jahseh asked. "Like, online?"
Arell nodded, his expression growing more determined. "Yeah, man. People have been hating on y'all, since they've seen you all on the album."
He gestured to the cameras mounted in the corners of the studio. "I had the mics on too. We caught the whole thing."
"Yo, Jarad," Arell said suddenly, turning to face him. "What was that thing you said at the start? Something about a rose?"
Jarad's brow furrowed for a moment, then his eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh yeah! I said 'If Rose blooms.' Why?"
A slow smile spread across Arell's face. "I've been looking for a producer tag. That might be perfect, actually."
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