“That was good, Lucas, but let’s try it again from the top,” said Kevin Myers, the CEO of HeavyTone Records, sitting behind the mammoth control panel in the recording studio.
Lucas readjusted his headphones, and started singing again.
“Man, where’d you get this kid from?” asked Mike, the recording engineer. “Not only can he rap like Jay-Z and 50 Cent, he sings like Mario and Justin.”
“Believe it or not, I found him at a high school talent show.”
“Talent show? You’ve got to be kidding me!” Mike said, unable to believe that such a talent was performing in such an amateur event.
“Yeah, I was there to see my nephew who was one of the acts. He was okay, but when Lucas stepped on stage and started rapping, an original song I might add, I had to sign him.”
“You signed him on the spot?”
“No, it took three months of schmoozing his mother to convince her to let her son become an HeavyTone artist. At first she thought I was full of it, but when I took her on a tour of our studios, showed her our roster of stars, and a contract with a mid six-figure advance, she said okay, but only if it didn’t interfere with his school work.”
“Money talks.”
“Yeah, Man, it surely does, especially for a single mother living in a cramped one-bedroom apartment with a growing teenager.”
“Where’s his father?”
“Lucas’ mom, Peggy, didn’t really get into the details. She just said that Lucas’ dad passed away when Lucas was a baby,” Kevin said.
“What did he die from?”
“She didn’t really say, but I get the feeling that his death was sudden.”
“Man, that’s a tough break.” Mike shook his head.
“Yeah, it is, but their days of struggling are over. Mark my words; Lucas Williams is going to be a mega-star.” Kevin smiled as he watched Lucas belt out the lyrics.
“Turn around, baby, and let me hit dat thang, hit dat thang,” Lucas sang into the microphone. He was in the recording booth, in his own world. As he bopped his head to the beat, huge locks of his curly hair bounced up and down in sync with the music.
“Look at this kid. Not only can he perform, he’s a lady-killer. The girls are going to go crazy over his toned, tall, athletic physique, and they’re going to lose their minds over his hazel eyes,” Kevin said proudly as if he were Lucas’ dad.
“Yeah, he does have an exotic look. His skin is almost the color of a penny; looks like he’s been lying on a tropical beach. Actually, he looks more like one of those Gap models, instead of a singer.”
“And that’s a good thing. At least we won’t have to spend a fortune overhauling his looks like some of our other artists. I tell you, Lucas is definitely a natural.”
“Once I wrap my charms around ya, ya gonna be beggin’ me to take dat thang, take dat thang,” Lucas continued.
The speakers in the recording studio were turned up loud and Kevin and Mike bopped their heads to the beat. “Who wrote the lyrics to this song?” Mike asked.
“Lucas did.”
“Don’t you think they’re a little provocative for a boy his age? I mean, he’s talking about getting a girl into bed.”
“Naw, Man, that’s what the kids these days listen to.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Do you think Lucas has had sex yet?” Mike asked out of curiosity.
“I doubt it. Man, he’s only sixteen. He hasn’t even mentioned having a girlfriend. Besides, his mom is so overprotective, I’m sure she monitors her son’s every move.”
“Actually, that’s a good thing, because once you’re toast, you can never be bread again,” Mike said.
“What does that mean?” Kevin asked.
“It means that once you give up your virginity, you can’t get it back. Like you can’t un-toast bread; once it pops up out of the toaster, it’s a done deal.”
“I never heard that analogy before. But you’re right, once you do the deed, it’s most definitely a done deal. Lucas is a smart kid, and I’m sure he won’t get into anything too heavy before he’s ready. At least I hope not. I got plans for this kid, and it doesn’t include fatherhood before his eighteenth birthday,” Kevin said, sounding again like Lucas’ dad.
After hours of recording and re-recording, Kevin called it a wrap for the day. “Looks like we’ll be finished with the first single by next week,” he told Lucas once he stepped out of the recording booth.
Lucas smiled broadly, exposing his perfectly white grill. “Man, that’s quick.”
“That’s because I’m working with top-notch talent.” Kevin slapped Lucas on the shoulder.
“When are we going to start shooting the video?” Lucas asked anxiously.
“I was going to schedule production in a few weeks, but I think we should wait. After all, you’re recording and going to school at the same time. Maybe we should wait until you have a break so you’ll have more time to focus on the project.”
“I can focus just fine. Besides, I’d rather shoot the video as soon as possible so we can get some airplay on MTV and BET. We both know a record ain’t nothin’ without a slammin’ video,” Lucas said firmly, sounding like a true mogul in the making.
Kevin had been in the business for a long time, and over the years he’d seen his fair share of wannabe musicians who were not willing to do the work to produce a hit record—all they wanted to do was party—but this kid seemed to instinctively know what it took to become a star.
“I know. I know.” Kevin chuckled as he listened to Lucas dispensing advice.
Lucas thought for a second, trying to come up with a solution. “I got an idea!” He beamed. “I’ll beg my mom to let me have a few days off before I start my new school,” he said, with hope gleaming in his eyes.
“Now that sounds like a plan, but why are you starting a new school?” Mike asked, chiming in.
“We’re moving to the West Side, and my mom insists that I go to Walburton Academy,” he said, with a hint of disdain in his voice.
“Why are you sounding like she’s shipping you off to boarding school? Walburton Academy is extremely prestigious. It’s one of the best private schools in the city,” Kevin told him.
“Yeah, I know. But I like my old school just fine,” Lucas said, digging his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans.
“It might be fine, but it’s not a top-notch college preparatory high school. I’m sure your mother only wants you to have the best education that you can possibly have,” Kevin said knowingly.
“Yeah, that’s what she said.”
“Do you think your mom will go for you taking a few days off?” Kevin asked skeptically.
“I sure hope so, ’cause I’m not looking forward to going to that uppity school anyway. The longer I delay facing all those stuck-up brats, the better.”
“You think it’s that uppity?”
“No doubt,” Lucas huffed. “Don’t nothing but rich kids go to private schools, and I ain’t grow up like that.” All of his life Lucas had watched his mother struggle to pay the rent, put food on the table, and clothes on their backs. Like most of the kids in his neighborhood, he was accustomed to living the simple life.
“You’re a rich kid now, and will be extremely rich very soon,” Kevin reminded him.
“Man, you know what I mean. Them kids at Walburton ain’t just a few hundred thousand rich. They’s a few hundred million rich, even a billion, with ooolllddd money,” he said, stretching out the word old.
“I know exactly what you’re talking about, and trust me, you’re going to be a multi-millionaire before you graduate high school,” Kevin assured him.
Lucas blushed. “You think so?”
“I know so!” Kevin smiled. “I’ve been in the business longer than you’ve been on this earth, and I know a star when I see one. You got the looks, the talent and the smarts. If you stick with my plan, you’ll be on Billboard’ s Top Ten by next year.”
“Even if that happens, I never want to forget where I come from,” Lucas said with sincerity.
“That’s good to hear. I’m glad you’re grounded, because you’re going to have so many screaming chicks after you that you’re going to have to hire a personal bodyguard to keep them off of you.”
“I’ma stay grounded, ’cause that’s who I am. But, on the other hand, I do like the sound of girls screaming my name,” he said, sounding like the sixteen-year-old that he was.
“And why is that?”
“’Cuz I ain’t never had a serious girlfriend. It seems like every girl I liked always liked someone else, and if they liked me, I wasn’t into them.”
“Trust me, once your CD and video drops, all that’s going to change. Remember that some girls will like you because you’re a star, and some will genuinely like you as a person.”
“How will I know the difference?”
“Now, that’ll be tough. But you’ll be able to spot the little money-grubbers a mile away, because those will be the ones who’ll want expensive gifts and free tickets to every concert so they can tag along with you like groupies. On the other hand, a girl that’s truly interested in you, will care less about your fame, and more about you as an individual, and not a brand,” Kevin said, giving some wise advice.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Lucas said, paying close attention to Kevin’s words. He had the career of his dreams; maybe now he could finally meet the girl of his dreams.
“Come on, man, let me take you home, and have a chat with your mother about shooting the video before you start the new school.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
“See ya, Mike,” Kevin said, as the two bounced out of the studio, hopped into a taxi and headed uptown to plead with the boss.