14 views
The Artist
There was no other way to spin it. His last album was a complete flop. Reginald hung up the phone with his manager and walked out of the small home studio. Keisha was in the living room looking at baby clothes. She was nine months pregnant with their firstborn. Reginald was a freshman artist who got a major record deal off a viral youtube song. He got his advance and immediately changed his life. He was by no means rich, yet he got his girlfriend out of a shitty apartment and into this townhome, a new car, and a wardrobe.
Reginald signed a typical 360 record deal, common amongst new artists desperate to get into the industry. A 360 deal just meant that no matter what you did, somebody else collects most of the reward from you doing. This was an afterthought in the face of the advance Reginald was offered. He would have signed far worse to get his hands on that kind of money. Reginald was a mixed genre hip hop artist. His music blended street life with a message. He kept a foot in both conscious rap and street rap circles.
That was part of what made him and the song he wrote such a craze. He knew how to speak to both camps. Sadly, with all fame, it's light is fickle. Most of the public was not as receptive to his larger body of work. As the record sales from this album indicated, Reginald may simply be a one-hit-wonder. If that were the case, he would end up putting this new life in jeopardy. "How did it go, baby?" Keisha asked, but Reginald knew she knew. It was all over the blogs, YouTube, morning radio shows, and social media, his album was dead. "Good baby, they just need to let it marinate a little. It's all good." Reginald said with his practiced nervous smile.
He went on to say, "They want me to attend this label party tonight. They think it will be good to get me in front of some of the label execs and shit." Keisha rolled her eyes and said, "You were supposed to help me pick out baby clothes tonight." Wrapping his arms around her very pregnant waist he said, "I know, you pick them, I'll look at them tomorrow, you know I can't say no to these events." Reginald saw the disappointment flee her face as she said, "I know baby. You go, do you? Don't come back all fucked up. You know I can't party right now." She turned towards him and kissed him. Watching her return to scrolling her phone, Reginald was satisfied she was cool and went to prepare for the night's party.
Hidden in the Hollywood hills,...
Reginald signed a typical 360 record deal, common amongst new artists desperate to get into the industry. A 360 deal just meant that no matter what you did, somebody else collects most of the reward from you doing. This was an afterthought in the face of the advance Reginald was offered. He would have signed far worse to get his hands on that kind of money. Reginald was a mixed genre hip hop artist. His music blended street life with a message. He kept a foot in both conscious rap and street rap circles.
That was part of what made him and the song he wrote such a craze. He knew how to speak to both camps. Sadly, with all fame, it's light is fickle. Most of the public was not as receptive to his larger body of work. As the record sales from this album indicated, Reginald may simply be a one-hit-wonder. If that were the case, he would end up putting this new life in jeopardy. "How did it go, baby?" Keisha asked, but Reginald knew she knew. It was all over the blogs, YouTube, morning radio shows, and social media, his album was dead. "Good baby, they just need to let it marinate a little. It's all good." Reginald said with his practiced nervous smile.
He went on to say, "They want me to attend this label party tonight. They think it will be good to get me in front of some of the label execs and shit." Keisha rolled her eyes and said, "You were supposed to help me pick out baby clothes tonight." Wrapping his arms around her very pregnant waist he said, "I know, you pick them, I'll look at them tomorrow, you know I can't say no to these events." Reginald saw the disappointment flee her face as she said, "I know baby. You go, do you? Don't come back all fucked up. You know I can't party right now." She turned towards him and kissed him. Watching her return to scrolling her phone, Reginald was satisfied she was cool and went to prepare for the night's party.
Hidden in the Hollywood hills,...
