"Wait! My performance isn't over yet!" Lil Jordan pointed at the timer; there were still more than 30 seconds left.
"Get out of here!" The judges couldn't tolerate him staying on stage for one more second.
Five security guards rushed in from the backstage, carried Lil Jordan away, and threw him into the garbage truck.
Seeing this scene, the contestants backstage discussed it one after another.
"WTF? Are these guys for real?"
"If these bastards dare to treat me like this, I'll kill them!"
"Bro, did you bring a gun?"
"They confiscated my gun! But I've practiced MMA, boxing, and Chinese Kung Fu!"
Because there were many contestants, according to the instructions of producer Leon, the mentors raised the selection standards.
The elimination rate was as high as 80%. Unless the singing was particularly good or the performance was particularly effective, there was a possibility of promotion.
After five hours of recording, only six contestants advanced to the next round.
"Bro, are you free now? I want to talk to you?" When everyone was preparing to finish work, Kanye leaned towards Leon.
"Of course, do you have any interesting ideas about the show?" Leon asked.
In today's recording, Kanye showed the worst program effect among the three mentors.
His attention was never on the contestants; his eyes were like infrared trackers staring at Kardashian.
The swaying buttocks were like a pendulum, completely hypnotizing him.
"Not about the show... how about going for a drink together? My treat!"
"No problem." Leon agreed immediately. He just wanted to get some information from Kanye.
Whether it is JAY-Z or SB Projects boss Braun, they all have deep connections with Kanye.
And this guy's mouth is looser than the tunnel of a Manhattan Beach streetwalker; it's easy to extract valuable information.
At 9 pm, the two came to Clover Club near Enram Park.
"Sir, what would you like to drink?" the waiter asked.
Seeing two celebrity figures suddenly visit made him very excited, but he soon calmed down.
Clover Club has been a Brooklyn icon for over a century, and countless celebrities and wealthy businessmen have consumed here.
The previous owner often bragged to employees after drinking that he had personally served President Kennedy and Monroe.
"Springbank 30 Year Old Whiskey, double, on the rocks." Kanye flipped through the menu. "What about you, Bro?"
"Same."
"Great, I think we must have an open talk tonight; we won't go home until we're drunk~"
"Looks like you want to drown your sorrows?"
"Man, I feel my life has hit rock bottom; I've never been so confused." As soon as the waiter brought the whiskey, Kanye took the glass and swallowed a big mouthful. "You must help me!"
Leon spread his hands and then grabbed the glass to take a sip. "Of course, no problem. How can I help you?"
Kanye lowered his head and pondered for a while, as if mentally preparing for his question. "How can I get Kardashian?"
"Haven't you already got her?" Leon asked.
During Kanye's relationship with Amber Rose, gossip about him and Kardashian flew all over the sky. Photos of the two entering and leaving hotels to spend the night together often appeared on the headlines of entertainment sections.
Amber Rose's figure is also curvy, often compared with Kardashian on the covers of gossip magazines.
"No no~" Kanye shook his finger. "I mean completely get her! I want to marry her! Be together forever!"
"Are you serious?"
Leon was silent for a long time. He originally thought Kanye just simply wanted to sleep with her all the time.
Kardashian has a complex history of relationships and caused a celebrity sex tape incident that shocked the world.
Why do so many people want to privatize such a well-known "public bus"?
With Kanye's fame and wealth, as long as he wants, those models and young female singers keen on mixing in the circle will fight to throw themselves into his arms.
There are plenty of girls with better figures than Kardashian.
Kanye is keen on avant-garde experimental music, and also prefers "technological warriors" (surgically enhanced women) in choosing women. This is the only reasonable explanation Leon can think of.
"But she and Humphries are already engaged; maybe they will get married next month," Leon said.
Kanye snapped his fingers, his eyes shining. "That's why I must ask you for advice! I know you are an expert in dealing with women. What should I do in this situation? How about beating that guy up?"
Leon smiled and shook his head.
Beat Humphries up?
With his height of over two meters and weight of over 240 pounds, Kanye might be beaten like a basketball.
"Listen, buddy, when you pursue a woman, first figure out what she wants." Leon turned the wine glass in his hand. "You must understand her real needs!"
Kanye was stunned for a moment, looking confused. "She wants a good family man? She wants a man who can give her a sense of security? I understand! Are you saying she likes big dcks?! Bro, I don't lose to Humphries; those basketball-playing fools are just flashy."
Leon shook his head repeatedly.
Except for the big dck being somewhat related, Kanye perfectly missed all the correct answers.
"Maybe you should try to attract her in her career, invite her to your fashion show, let her star in your MV."
"So you mean let me help her in her career?" Kanye rolled his eyes. "I don't think she will buy this."
"Why do you think so?"
"She is not a materialistic woman; I can feel her burning soul!"
"..."
Leon fell into silence; obviously, Kanye mistook the temperature of the tunnel for the temperature of the soul.
"Listen, buddy, women in this circle, no matter who! No one doesn't want to go further in their career. Everyone dreams of becoming Marilyn Monroe. Your fame is much greater than Humphries. If you can make Kardashian successful in her career, I think she will definitely be moved by you."
"She did mention the idea of participating in the Yeezy fashion show to me before." Kanye muttered with his head down, as if figuring out some problems.
Leon sighed, leaned back in the chair, eyes half-squinted: "That's right. If you want to invite her, don't tell her directly; you have to talk to her mother."
Kanye blinked, obviously not understanding this operation. "Her mother? Why?"
"Because her mother is the one who really controls everything." Leon took a sip of wine, looking playful. "You want her to tear up the engagement with Humphries; handle Kris Jenner first. This is even more effective than writing an album for her."
Kanye fell into a short contemplation, and a few seconds later smiled and said: "I knew you wouldn't let me down; this idea is perfect!"
Leon put out the cigarette butt and teased: "If you sleep with Kris first, it will be much easier to marry her daughter next."
"Fxxk..." Kanye burst out laughing and quickly rolled his eyes to cover it up.
The two kept drinking. After three glasses of whiskey, Kanye was completely lost and began to talk to himself, spraying trash talk non-stop.
Woke people, environmental organizations, extreme vegetarians...
Several major cancers with the fastest social development were named and sprayed by him one by one.
Leon didn't expect at all that the rapper with strange ideas in front of him would be a conservative.
Kanye even threatened to run for president.
"I am very optimistic that you can become the first black president of the United States." Leon joked.
"Bro, isn't Barack the black president?" Kanye said.
Leon shook his head and complained: "That guy is just wrapped in black skin, more elitist than white elite politicians. I would believe it if you said he was tanned."
"I think so too!" Kanye held Leon's hand as if he had found a soulmate. "The way he canvassed for votes, as if not voting for him would expel you from black nationality; this is moral kidnapping using race!"
Seeing that the other party was almost drunk, Leon took the opportunity to lead the topic to SB Projects. "How is your manager Braun recently? We met in Miami once; how is your cooperation?"
"Braun? He is an excellent manager, a reliable friend." Drunken Kanye was completely unguarded. "My new album with JAY-Z was completed under his facilitation."
"He really has a business mind; SB Projects is expanding very fast."
"Yes~ He did provide me with a lot of business advice, including entering the fashion circle... By the way, do you know he also invested in movies?"
"Of course, I talked to him about this matter."
Braun once bragged in front of Leon about investing in Captain America: The First Avenger, but currently, the performance of this movie is not very good.
Topping the box office with $64 million in the first weekend, compared to the investment of $140 million, it can only be said to be quite satisfactory.
His bold words of surpassing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 failed to come true.
In the competition of this summer season, Warner Bros. achieved a complete victory facing Paramount's siege.
However, this box office loss is nothing to Braun's financial resources. The documentary Never Say Never he shot for Justin Bieber achieved huge success.
With a budget of $13 million and global revenue exceeding $100 million, it is the highest-grossing documentary to date.
And Bieber, as the protagonist, barely benefited from the film; the vast majority of the proceeds went into Braun's pocket alone.
Kanye suddenly looked around and smiled a little wretchedly. "Bro, are the rumors about you and Taylor Swift true?"
"I don't understand what you are talking about."
Whether it is Leon or Taylor, they are very ambiguous about announcing their relationship, and currently, neither plans to mention it actively.
"Hehe~ Gossip tabloids are full of news about you. I guess you bought a house in Tribeca just to be closer to Taylor." Kanye said, "I have to admit that you are indeed generous in pursuing women. To get close to that woman, you actually spent tens of millions of dollars to buy a house~"
"This is all your imagination."
"Don't lie to me, Bro. Everyone knows you have a special liking for blonde Barbie dolls. First Robbie, then Taylor... Maybe you should change your taste and try black chicks~" Kanye pouted his thick lips showing a wretched smile.
"How do you know I haven't tried?"
"I knew it!"
The two laughed together. Taking advantage of this atmosphere, Kanye leaned over and said mysteriously: "Maybe we will be family soon."
"Aren't we always family?" Leon said.
"No no, you didn't understand what I meant." Kanye shook his finger. "I mean, Braun is very close to getting Taylor's full management contract."
As soon as the voice fell, Leon's smile froze immediately.
Taylor's management contract is very complex. Big Machine Records boss Scott formed a huge management team for her, and Braun is in it.
The purpose of doing so is also clear: not to let any manager have the opportunity to completely control Taylor.
"Braun is really generous." Leon remained calm on the surface. For this transaction, Braun would have to pay Scott at least tens of millions of dollars.
"More than that, Braun is contacting Maggie. You know that stubborn old woman, right?" Kanye said, "Soon Braun will save Robbie from that vicious woman's hands."
Hearing this, Leon was completely unsettled.
First Ariana, now Robbie...
Plus Taylor, Braun obviously wants to take away all the women around him.
Previously, Leon regarded the dispute with the other party as simple commercial friction, which is common in the entertainment industry.
Now it seems this is completely an all-out war.
"It's getting late; I have to go." Leon glanced at his watch. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"I have to thank you, Bro. I will invite you to my wedding with Kardashian~" Kanye was completely drunk, eyes blurred, leaning on the chair scrolling through Kardashian's social media.
Leon got into the business van, took out his phone, and dialed Taylor's number.
"Let me guess, you are still on the plane?"
"Honey! I just wanted to call you; I've walked out of the airport." Taylor realized her tone seemed a bit overly enthusiastic and immediately switched to a tsundere pose. "Why didn't you come to pick me up again?"
"You didn't tell me in advance at all..."
"You should have memorized my schedule in advance. If I told you in advance, it would be meaningless~"
"Okay, want to come to my place?"
"No, I want to borrow your recording studio."
"Now?"
"Yes, right now~ Do you remember the song I wrote last time? The first version of the accompaniment has been made." Taylor's tone was cheerful and excited. "I want you to listen and see if there are any changes needed."
"Okay, I'll wait for you at the company."
Leon quickly asked Jorge to turn the car around and drive to Apocalypse Music.
At 11 pm late at night, there was no trace of light in the company.
However, the "One-Night Love Exchange" next door was brightly lit, with wailing sounds rising and falling.
Half an hour later, waves of drowsiness hit him.
Just when Leon felt a little impatient, Taylor's voice came from downstairs, approaching slowly.
"Honey~" Taylor threw her bag on the ground and jumped directly into his arms.
With an impact of nearly 130 pounds (approx. 59 kg), Leon almost stumbled and fell. After a light kiss, he let go of Taylor. "Are you alone? Where is your assistant?"
"I asked them all to go back. Now it's our private space." Taylor stared at him with her signature fox eyes, her slender fingers sliding down his chest.
"Do you want to do something private here?" Leon immediately became energetic, all drowsiness gone, acting as if to take off his clothes.
"What are you doing!" Taylor pretended to be surprised. "Didn't we agree to record a song?"
"Is this the private thing you talked about?" Leon tilted his head, realizing he was teased.
Sensing his disappointment, Taylor hooked his chin with her finger and said: "Don't be impatient~ We still have a lot of time. Listen to my song first."
Leon's expression was full of helplessness. The other party just flew back from the West Coast, so she was energetic, while he had no jet lag to adjust.
Taylor put the recorded accompaniment into the device. As soon as the first note popped out, his eyes lit up.
The melody is concise and infectious, the arrangement is distinct, and the rhythm is strong;
Emotion and structure cooperate perfectly, showing a strong sense of drama.
"Did you write the music?" Leon asked.
"Of course!" Taylor raised her chin. "But Max gave me a lot of help in the arrangement."
Stars hiring ghostwriters is normal in the entertainment industry.
In this process, even if the singer changes a word or a note, they can put their name on the list of creators.
This leads to an interesting phenomenon: In America, almost all singers are singer-songwriters.
It is easy to give the audience an illusion that "all the songwriting geniuses in the world are in America."
In fact, most of them just stand behind a professional team and put on a show.
But Taylor is definitely not among them. The melody style of this song is distinctive, and one can tell it is Taylor Swift's work at first hearing.
"I didn't even have time to rush to Nashville, so this is the first recording." Taylor stared straight at Leon, with light in her eyes. "You are the inspiration for this song, so you must be the first listener."
"I am honored... This song will definitely be stronger on the Billboard than Adele's Rolling in the Deep." Leon curved the corners of his mouth. "So what is the name of this masterpiece, have you thought about it?"
"Blank Space, the blank space in my heart." Taylor's eyes shone brightly. "I will write your name there."