Page 1 of Juice
juice
. . .
“How you feeling Juice?”My manager, Tito asked, snapping me out of my head. The two of us were seated in the lobby of Majik Musik waiting for someone to come and get us. Rolling my eyes over to where Tito was planted, I hunched my shoulders. Honestly, I didn’t know how I felt. Excited, nervous, shit really—I was kind of in shock.
For the last two years I had been on the grind. Hustling my ass off to get this music shit to pop off. I’m talking ‘bout selling cd’s out the trunk of my car, performing at small clubs, streaming my music, anything to get my name out there, I was doing it.
One night I was in my homeboy studio when Tito hit me up telling me that he’d booked me to perform at the AU for homecoming. At first, I was nervous as fuck ‘cause that was going to be my biggest show to date. I tried to think of a million reasons why I wasn’t ready for that type of crowd, but Tito kept pushing for me to do it.
After giving in, I got my set list together and said fuck it. Much of that night was a blur. All I could remember was hitting that stage, standing in front of that crowd, and just spittingshit that was on my heart. I gave that performance everything I fucking had and next thing I know I was getting a call from A&R at Majik.
Tito and I sat with them on a few occasions about my future in the entertainment industry and what I wanted for myself. Majik Musik was a big deal in Atlanta. Everybody hot on the charts was signed to them and for some reason they had taken an interest in me.
We went back and forth with their team and realized we was out of our league when they presented a contract. I didn’t think they was fucking me over or no shit like that, but all of that contract mumbo jumbo was making my head hurt. Me and Tito was two niggas from the hood with nothing more than a high school education. We ain’t know nothing ‘bout nothing. All we knew was we was hungry, and this was what we had been working so hard at.
Tito ended up reaching out to a lawyer that he knew and after he reviewed the contract, he told me I would be a fool not to sign. Now I was sitting here minutes away from being a signed artist with a label behind me and I was damn near shitting bricks ‘cause my nerves was so bad.
“Mike said the contract was good. All you gotta do is sign.” Tito let me know.
“I know.” I sighed and slouched down in the seat. Running my hand over my head I looked off. “I really can’t believe this shit is happening.”
“This the shit we been working on Juice. I ain’t tryna hype you up or no shit like that but you better than half the niggas that’s hot right now. You can actually rap my nigga. These niggas out here be trying hard to catch the beat and can’t rap for shit.”
“Them niggas got deals though.”
“And you ‘bout to have one too. This shit really for you man. We ‘bout to go up.” He boasted, lightweight putting my nerves at ease.
I think the thing that I was most nervous ‘bout was failing. I done seen plenty of niggas get a deal and end up being a one hit wonder. I ain’t never want that to be my story. Especially not when I needed this shit.
I didn’t come from money, in fact I ain’t come from shit. Growing up in the hood we had one or two options. Sell drugs or play sports and go pro. I couldn’t stay out the streets long enough to take that school shit serious, so I dabbled in street pharmaceuticals.
The shit worked well enough for me to be able to pay for studio time and keep my appearance up for shows. But it was never something I wanted to do long term. I been rapping since I was ten, that’s what I wanted to do. This shit was embedded deep in my heart to the point where it’s all I’ve ever seen for myself. So, to be sitting here right now had me deep off in my head.
“Julius Jones.” Someone called out, pulling me even further up out of my head.
“Here.” I said and held my hand up. I had to pause and drop my head once I realized what I’d done. “I mean I’m right here.” I said and slid up from the chair.
“Right this way.” She instructed.
“Here we go.” Tito sang from behind me.
Following her down the hall I took a minute to admire the building. The office space had floor to ceiling glass walls, and every office that I got a good glimpse at looked fancy. Different than the shit I was used to seeing. The label had plaques of accolades from their artist plastered all throughout the building. Hopefully one day I’ll make it up on these very same walls.
“Have a seat. Someone will be with you in a moment.” After seeing the two of us in the room she left out, making sure to close the door behind her.
Sitting down at the conference room table I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dropped it on the table in front of me. Before me or Tito could say anything, the door was pushed open. When the CEO, head of A&R, and Noble Stockley, one of their star producers entered the room my heart sank to the pit of my stomach. It was officially go time.
“Juice my man. I heard you were ready to sign with Majik Musik.” The CEO, Majik said as he took a seat across from me.
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I’m ready.”
“That’s the type of shit I like to hear.” He smiled and slid the folder over to me. “Every part that requires a signature has been marked with an X. We can get down to business as soon as you sign.” Sitting the pen on top of the folder he sat back and waited for me to do my thing.
Grabbing the pen in my hand, I held it and flipped the folder over. My eyes danced around the paper a few seconds before I sealed my fate. Once I signed the last page I closed the folder and slid it back to him.
“Listen, many have been in that same seat. I’ve seen some use the opportunity to make nothing out of something while some have fucked it off. Know that at this company if you’re willing to put in the work we got you. I can make you go from a local celebrity to an overnight rap sensation. How far you go in your career is solely up to you.”
“I understand.” I told him.
