Street Beatz by Seyi
Failure
“Yeah, you’re a really good musician but to get into this area of the music business you need to develop your voice”.
That’s all I ever seem to get from record companies. My music is good but my voice could crack glass, not in a good way though. I love music, it’s my life. But how do you get into the music biz if you can’t hold a simple note?
I trudged home in the rain. Completely discouraged. All my life my dream was to be a mega star. Look at me now a famous reject. I turned the corner into my road and walked 50 yards up to my house. I wasn’t ready to face mum, she doesn’t believe in my dream. My dad died fighting for the same dream I have. Mum just thinks I’m setting myself up for failure. I can’t let my dad down. Mum just expects me to be a doctor like Delilah, my sister. Oh perfect Delilah, mummy’s little angel. Well I might as well go home gonna have to face the Brady bunch sooner or later.
As I was putting my key in the lock the door swung open. I jumped back, nearly fainting.
“Dee, Dee, Denise! My favourite cousin”, cried Marquis as he leapt forward to hug me.
I was over the moon he’s the only person I can talk to who listens since dad died. Everyone else just shuts me out.
We ordered Chinese and updated each other on our lives and what was going on. He then told me that when he arrived mum and Delilah were at home but went to Nana’s for the weekend. I was so relieved to be able to prolong the private time I had with Marquis. After staying up late watching black and white films we decided we would call it a day. We made our way to our separate rooms, and planned to eat breakfast at the local diner.
“Morning stinky toes,” I greeted Marquis as he exited the bathroom.
“Uh,” said Marquis acting hurt, “I forgot how long you could sleep the diners probably serving lunch now”.
When I finished dressing up my nostrils were tingled by the smell of food. I walked into the front room greeted by the sight of Marquis lazing on the sofa flicking through the channels.
“Oh, I thought I smelt lasagne,” I informed Marquis.
“You did, it’s cooling off,” replied Marquis calmly.
I walked into the kitchen, I could almost taste the lasagne on my lips it looked so tantalising.
“I knew you would like that, I remembered it was your favourite food”, said Marquis quietly.
I jumped as I hadn’t felt another presence in the room, he was such a calm quiet person which is what everyone loves about him.
Over lunch I explained to Marquis how my dream as a mega star was dead and that maybe I should just become a doctor like Delilah.
“Zip it,” interrupted Marquis, “That’s defeatist talk, you’re a fighter, you just need to learn how to sing. I help you find a coach.”
“Thank you, you’re the only person who believes in me right now because I don’t believe in myself,” I replied truthfully.
False Hope
We set out looking at the purple pages. We found a basic singing coach and this singing specialist. I was nervous I hadn’t been taught music by anyone but my dad and I don’t take criticism easily. Marquis saw the look on my face and told me to relax as I made the phone calls. I spoke to the coaches who both were women. Susan who was the basic music coach, told me to come in first thing tomorrow morning. Whereas Martha the specialist told me to come over straight away and we’d go from there, her voice was harsh I knew I’d need to brace myself.
“Take off your sweater and we’ll do some warm ups,” said Martha instructed without looking at me. I could tell this was going to be a long session.
After 3 hours of hell and total criticism, Martha told me to put my sweater on and we would discuss the session. I didn’t like the sound of her words.
“Denise, you seem to be a very talented musician,” said Martha in her strong accent, “But I insist you stick to being a producer, honestly…I’ve heard a dying horse make better…shall we call it…sounds”.
“Well, I’m great full for your honesty. Sorry for wasting your time,” I said as I walked out of her studio. In truth I was crushed but I still had the basic musician to help me out. Anyway opera isn’t my style and that’s what she specializes in.
“How was it darling cousin mine,” enquired Marquis.
“Just great,” I replied sarcastically.
“Don’t give up it’ll there’s always tomorrow,” he replied optimistically.
I went to bed early that night, I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Not even Marquis, which was unusual. He left me alone so I could be with my thoughts he knows not when to push me and let me be.
I awoke this morning ready for a new day, a fresh start. I walked into the kitchen to pour myself some crunchy nut. As I turned to return the milk something caught the corner of my eye, it was a note.
To Dede,
Gone to Tre and Taylor’s house
just felt like being with the guys.
I hope you don’t mind. Good luck
with today and don’t wait up for me
Marquis
How sweet of him to ensure I don’t worry about him. Well I guess I’d better go and get ready for Susan.
An hour later I’m in a small room inside a community centre. Susan a smiley round woman is sitting at the piano doing scales with me. This feels worse than yesterday and Susan’s sweet. Going back to basics feels weird. I haven’t spent time on scales and breathing from my diaphragm.
“Now sing louder,” Susan instructed.
“lalalalalALALAALAA!” I bellowed.
“Well done, let’s try saying me instead of la,” requested Susan. That’s how the lesson continued swapping la for me, me for la. Susan also taught me how to control the breathes I took and how to sing from my diaphragm. I also found there was a special way to stand when singing, crazy right.
“Denise I really enjoyed this day. Go home practise then rest your voice. Come and visit me anytime you need some help,” offered Susan.
“Thanks you’ve been a real help,” I replied as I hugged her and hurried home to inform Marquis.
Blessings in Disguise
It was 9:47pm when I finally arrived home. Marquis was on the phone to his girlfriend, so I decide to practise before I showed off my new found singing skills. I sung a few of the latest chart toppers until I heard the phone click into place and Marquis walk over to the sofa.
“mememememememeeeMEEEEE!” I sung like a cherubim.
“WOW!” exclaimed Marquis, “Today made a huge difference. Sing me one of your songs now, miss diva”.
I popped my backing track into the CD player and walked to the centre of the living room. I got into the singing stance, took a deep breath and belted out the first line. Wow I sound like a chart topper. Then I sung the next line. Marquis’ grin began to fade away, my voice was returning to its usual self. I felt like Cinderella after the ball, slowly but surely turning back into a house girl. There was no hope I wasn’t going to make it as a singer with the voice of a warthog…grunt grunt.
“It’s ok, don’t give up the first line sound superb,” soothed Marquis, “But I think I found something for you,” started marquis.
He explained while at Tre and Taylor’s, or shall I say T and T’s, they introduced a new format of singing to him. It was more like talking really fast to a nice upbeat tune.
“Hello I said I want to sing not talk really fast, anyway Tre and Taylor are a pair of jokes…urgggh,” I yelled as I stormed into my room.
How can Marquis even suggest I compromise singing for talking, it’s unethical. I wanna be able to sing like dad his voice was soothing and relaxing.
“I made you some pancakes…sorry about last night. No hard feelings?” marquis says solemnly.
I trudge out of my room and fork some pancakes into my mouth. I say nothing to Marquis, I feel like milking the situation. When I finished my pancakes and I make my way over to the bathroom. Just at that moment the phone rings.
“Denise I need to see you at my office at the record label ASAP,” commanded Big Phil Street Beatz’s CEO, then I hear the dial tone. Big Phil only does that when it’s super urgent.
I rushed into the shower while I was still brushing my teeth and the pancake remnants away. I run back out into my room and pull on my clothes. As I sprint out of the room Marquis others to give me a lift I offer it hastily. We arrive at Big Phil’s office 30 minutes after he called.
“You took your time Dede. Well I’m not one to complain but is that all you could pull out of your wardrobe to wear for a CEO like me? Anyway I’d like you meet my nephews Tre and Taylor,” said Big Phil.
The names rang in my head like an alarm. T and T entered through a side door.
“Hey Dede, we heard about your singing probably so we thought we could teach you a new technique,” said Taylor beaming. I didn’t have a chose in the matter, I had to learn the technique or big Phil would get vex. Big Phil led us, Tre, Taylor, Marquis and I, to a sound proof room. My tummy was in knots I didn’t want to learn their stupid technique.
“Alright Dede let’s start with a basic phrase: My name is Dede, 1.5 times 2 equals three,” instructed Tre as Big Phil left the room. I snorted as I heard the rhyme, how pathetic.
“OK Dede, Big Phil has gone so we don’t need to pretend. Marquis told us you didn’t want our help but Big Phil ordered us to help you,” informed Tre truthfully. I might as well make an effort if he had the consideration to tell me the truth.
We spent the next hour and a half talking really fast to different beats and tunes if I am honest with myself I kind of enjoyed it. It was a refreshing change. Suddenly, in the middle of a track, Big Phil barged in. He was clapping.
“I love it, every bit of it…it’s so…so…funky fresh. I’m going to call it R.A.P. Radical Attempt at Poetry,” said Big Phil ecstatically.
As they say the rest is history.
Happy Endings
The opening act had finished, I was going on. I walked down the stairs, my tummy was in knots even though this was the 14th time I’d done this. My knees knocked together they were like jelly. I could see the machine made smoke, the glitzy lights. I walked onto the stage there was an up roar from the sea of heads. I could sea at least 7,000 people in the arena. I began to rap, I could hardly hear myself. The crowd were chanting Queen Dede. I loved being queen of rap, it was even better than the dream I initially had. After the show I took photos and did signings. It was my 2 year anniversary of being in the music biz. I was in Tokyo with Tre and Taylor. Marquis was with me all of the journey, he loves his new travelling life. Mum is proud of me but hasn’t apologised for not believing in me. Delilah and I still hate each other but she loves showing me off now.