Crooked G's

by S. K. Collins

  The instrumental from Jay-Z’s song “Can I Live” came on and Clarity hit the stage. Clarity was a sexy, thick redbone with long, curly hair that stopped at the middle of her back. She was rocking a tight, black cotton mini dress that easily flaunted her well-shaped figure. She strutted across the stage wearing some black Gucci frames and black three-inch heels. Latrice had never seen Clarity and didn’t know how pretty she was. There was no doubt that Clarity would be very marketable and that the fellas would be all over her, too. Latrice wanted to sign her even more now.

  Clarity started to spit. “Y’all know fake-bitches be makin’ me sick—So when they see me, I don’t see ’em in the Benz, ’cause my tints be extra thick—I’m on some killer, I’ma murder shit—I bust my gun, I got ’em —I don’t run, I get my nigga Dull to scoop me quick—I’m really ’bout my paper, bitch!—You betta pay me, Poppo/ For that brick—Or I’ll send el goupo to come bust ya ’shit—I’m the topic of a lot of shit—Like who’s money she’s stuffing—Who’s she fucking—And who’s the bitch she’s mean mugging—I’m the shit and I’m loving it—I’m the best bitch in the game—Ain’t even playing with the cards I get—So when they deal—And say you gotta play that shit—Just say fuck ’em—Make something from nothing—And get it how you live, youngin’.”

  Latrice was blown away by Clarity’s lyrics. She thought she could rap better than most guys and thought her delivery was crazy. She hadn’t seen a female rapper with her type of intensity and caliber since Lil’ Kim. If Clarity was on her label, other rappers in the game would seriously have to step their shit up. Clarity performed for another half hour doing songs that no one had ever heard. The crowd went crazy when Clarity finally left the stage. Latrice couldn’t wait to talk to her. The music came back on and everyone started dancing and going back to the bar again to get more drinks.

  “Damn. Her performance was something else. Her ass made me wanna try to rap,” Teyron proclaimed.

  “Hell yeah. She’s the hottest bitch out right now,” Latrice replied.

  Without Latrice even noticing, Fantasy came up behind her and tapped her on her shoulder.

  “Latrice, right?”

  “Hey, Fantasy.” Latrice looked at Fantasy and saw she still had on the same raggedy clothes that she’d had on earlier. The only thing Fantasy did differently to herself was change her shoes. She replaced her old beat-up Reeboks with some flat dress shoes. Latrice knew that Fantasy looked like a hot ghetto-ass mess, and thought that saying “fuck it” was her style.

  “Did you enjoy the show?” Fantasy asked.

  “Hell yeah. Clarity is like that, for real.”

  “So are you ready to meet her?”

  Latrice was so excited that she couldn’t even talk. All she could do was nod her head yes. “All right, follow me.”

  Latrice looked over at Teyron. “If I don’t see you before the club let out, call me in a few days so I can tell you what I think of your demo.” Teyron assured her he would call as he watched her follow Fantasy onto the crowded dance floor.

  Fantasy took Latrice to the back of the club. Clarity was waiting for her in a private room. Latrice was getting nervous and didn’t know what she was going to say to Clarity when she finally met her. She had a one-shot deal to sign Clarity and didn’t want to say anything stupid to fuck up her chances.

  I got Killa D and Piff to sign with me. But that was done over the phone. I gotta do this shit face-to-face now, Latrice said to herself hoping she could get over her anxiety.

  Fantasy knocked on Clarity’s private room and waited for someone to come to the door. Latrice’s heart was beating fast as hell when Dull opened the door. Dull was a tall, brown-skinned cat with a goatee and long dreads. He looked just as intimidating on the stage to Latrice as he did off of it.

  “What’s up, Fantasy?” Dull said as he pulled the door back to let them both in. Dull licked his lips as he looked at Latrice when she walked past him. She noticed and gave him a wink to get on his good side. Latrice had a strategy of her own. Whose opinion did Clarity admire more than Dull’s? If Dull liked Latrice, that would give Clarity all more of a reason to sign with her. When Latrice got around the corner, Clarity was in her clear view.

  Clarity was leaned back in a leather chair in front of a square table smoking a blunt, as she sipped on a cup of peach Cîroc.

  “Yo, Clare. This is the girl I was tellin’ you about,” Fantasy informed her as they walked over to the table.

  Clarity put down her blunt and got up to shake Latrice’s hand. “How you doing?”

  “I’m doing good now that I finally got the chance to meet you.”

  “I don’t know about that. The pleasure might be mine.” Clarity gave Latrice a slight grin. “Please have a seat so we can talk.” Clarity pulled out a chair for Latrice to sit in. Fantasy saw it was time to make her exit and let Latrice know she was leaving.

  “I’m outta here. You got it from here? You got me later, right?”

  “Whatchu mean?”

  Fantasy gave her that “come on now, bitch, you should already know” look, and waited for Latrice to comprehend. Damn. I just gave this bitch a hundred dollars. Now she wants more.

  Latrice was going to pay her again for the services, since she did set up the meeting, but was only going to compensate her on how well the meeting turned out. “I gotchu,” Latrice replied.

  After Fantasy knew she was getting some more money out of Latrice, she quickly left the room smiling. Shortly after Fantasy was gone, Clarity gave Dull the sign to leave them alone as she passed him the blunt.

  “I’m gonna go see what’s up with these bitches out there,” Dull said as he departed smoothly.

  “So what’s ya name?” Clarity asked as she lit up another blunt.

  “Latrice.”

  Clarity smiled. “That’s cute.”

  “Thank you, Clarity.”

  “My real name is Claretta, but you can just call me Clare.”

  Latrice started to relax knowing that Clarity was chilled and not boisterous now that she was offstage.

  “Where are you from?” Clarity asked.

  “I’m from Northwest, Seventh and P. What about you?”

  Clarity blew out smoke. “I’m straight up Potomac Gardens.” Clarity was all about business and wanted to get straight to the point. “So you here to see about signing me?”

  “Yes. But first I want to say, I love your music and I’m a big fan.”

  Clarity nodded her head and smiled, showing Latrice that she’d accepted her compliment. “You’re the best thing out and you know how to give the crowd what they want. Latrice felt she had Clarity’s attention and continued to go for it. “I’m about to build the biggest label that anyone has ever seen. I got some of the best producers and marketing concepts that will be sure to put any artist that signs with me guaranteed platinum success. The label I’m talking about is Bangspot…Bangspot Records.”

  “It sounds good and all, but how someone who’s about to start a label do something that the majors can’t even do? With all the downloading ring tones, and all that other bullshit that’s happening. How can you guarantee platinum?”

  “It’s quite simple. Bangspot is not only going to be a label, but it’s going to be a distribution company as well. My business partner discovered that there is a ROM company in Sweden that manufactures CDs that can only be burned once, and are not rewriteable. Not only that, but there is no downloading software available that can override the disk and force them to rewrite.”

  “Okay. I see how that stops the bootlegs from happening, but what about radio play and ring tones? How can I still benefit off of that?”

  “The CDs that get sent to the radio stations will be edited versions on the same type of disk, and with ring tones, fans will only be able to download a portion of a song. Nothing can be copied, only produced. And everybody still makes money. The only ones who don’t get shit are the crooks.”

  Clarity was pretty much sold now, but she had one
more question. “What happens when someone creates software that can override the CDs and copy ’em?”

  “They already have. As a matter of fact, several companies have found solutions, but by law they aren’t allowed to use them since the ROM Company has a patent protection on their product that lasts for the next eleven years. By then you’ll be rich as hell and out the game and you wouldn’t be affected. So if you want to get down with a sure thing, the time is now.”

  Clarity was feeling everything Latrice was saying and wanted to find out where she should sign her name on the contract. She wanted to have all the platinum success that Latrice had talked about and more. Since Latrice promised to bring her more money and fame, she was willing to take a risk of a lifetime. But before she signed her life away, only going off of Latrice’s vision alone, Clarity had a little proposition of her own—one that Latrice never saw coming.

  “All right, ma. I’m with everything you saying; you talking big shit and I like it. So as long as all the advance money and royalties are right, we got a deal.”

  “Thank you so much. You made the right choice. I won’t let you down.” Latrice was so ecstatic that she wanted to jump on Clarity and hug her.

  “Hold up, doe, mommi. I agreed to get down with you and all. But for it to really happen, I need you to do a little somethin’ for me.”

  At this point in the game, if Clarity needed a special favor, Latrice was willing to do it. She was willing to do anything to secure her artist.

  Latrice smiled. “You name it and it’s done.”

  “I want you to come home with me,” Clarity said, giving her a devilish grin.

  “Excuse me?” Latrice said, wanting to make sure she’d heard her correctly.

  “I said I want you to spend the night with me. Did you hear that clear enough?”

  “I had no idea you were a lesbian.”

  “I’m not a lesbian. I’m bi. There’s a big difference. Don’t get it twisted. I still love dick.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just don’t usually have this type of conversation.”

  “It’s all right. I ain’t taking that shit to heart. I know you look at me and think there’s no way this bitch could like pussy. But I do. I’m feeling you like that and I know what I want. So what’s it going to be?”

  “I’m sorry, Clare. But I don’t get down like that.”

  Clarity shrugged her shoulders. “All right then. It was nice to meet you.”

  Latrice was confused. “Wait a minute. Since I won’t fuck you, then you’re not signing with me?”

  “Look, baby. You’re not the only one that’s trying to sign my ass. It is what it is,” Clarity said, giving Latrice a devilish smirk.

  Latrice couldn’t believe what the fuck was going on right now. Clarity had given her an ultimatum in which she could never imagine happening. All of the hard work and sacrifice that she had put into chasing “The Dream” had been tested. Latrice needed to sign Clarity bad and couldn’t believe that the tables had turned on her severely. She had to make the best decision even if it went against everything she believed in. Latrice was now on the verge of being desperate.

  “So let’s say I do decide to be with you tonight,” Latrice said meekly. “Does that mean you’re definitely going to sign with me?”

  Clarity moved in closer to Latrice and gave her a serious look. “If you allow what I want to happen tonight, I promise you on everything I love that I will sign with you. You have my word on it.”

  Latrice rested her hand on her forehead, and couldn’t believe that she was actually considering going home with another woman. That shit completely boggled her mind to no end. But unfortunately, she had to conform and do what had to be done, especially if she wanted Clarity to be on her team.

  “All right, I guess I got to do what I got to do, right?” Latrice said unhappily as she started to feel sick to her stomach.

  “Nobody has a perfect situation, mommi. You just got to make the best of ya own.”

  Latrice understood exactly what she meant. Clarity had to trust Latrice with her career, hoping she would do the right thing. Latrice realized they both had something to lose and gain by dealing with each other, and she could afford to take a gamble.

  “If we’re going to do this, I got to get drunk and high first. I need to really be fucked up for this one.”

  Clarity opened up the bottle of Cîroc and then filled up a cup with ice. She filled up Latrice’s cup to the rim and placed it in her hand.

  “Drink as much as you think you can handle,” Clarity said, passionately wrapping her hands around Latrice’s hand. Latrice anticipated running through the entire bottle, just so she could make it through the night.

  CHAPTER 7

  Latrice rushed into the bathroom and quickly sat down on the toilet seat. She had drunk so much vodka and felt like her bladder was about to burst. After she was done, she wobbled over to the sink to wash her hands, and started to fumble with the liquid soap dispenser.

  “I’ma real drunk bitch right now,” Latrice said out loud to herself. She looked in the mirror and laughed nonstop. While she was washing her hands, she noticed that the bathroom she was in didn’t belong to her. In fact, she didn’t know whose bathroom she was using, or how she’d managed to get there. Latrice came out of the bathroom looking for a clue to where she was, and that’s when she saw Clarity lying on the bed.

  “What took you so long to come out? Come here.”

  “I don’t know,” Latrice said, continuing to laugh as Clarity laid her down.

  “I thought you were scared of me. Are you scared of me, mommi?” Clarity asked as she rubbed on Latrice’s leg.

  “I’m not scared of you,” Latrice said after she became comfortable with Clarity caressing her ass and thighs. Clarity kissed all over Latrice’s neck as she slowly lifted up her dress. Latrice began to breathe heavily and that’s when Clarity realized she had her.

  Clarity kissed Latrice’s soft lips repeatedly, until Latrice allowed her to place her tongue in her mouth. They started to kiss passionately as Clarity undid her bra, massaging Latrice’s hard nipples. Clarity yielded from sucking on Latrice’s lips so she could finish undressing her. Latrice arched her back so that Clarity could remove her dress and panties. Clarity stepped off the bed and slipped her dress over her head. She threw her bra and let her thong fall to the floor. Now they were both completely naked and Clarity’s box was starting to throb.

  Clarity climbed on top of Latrice and quickly slid her tongue in her mouth. Latrice’s body was feeling like it was on fire, which she had never felt before. Every part of her body was tingling and Clarity’s slightest touch caused her body to vibrate. Latrice didn’t know if this unusual sensation was coming from her having her first female experience or something else. Whatever it was, she couldn’t help feeling all giddy inside, as Clarity rolled her tongue down her stomach. Clarity loved her dark-chocolate skin and continued to maneuver her way down Latrice’s love trail until she was face-to-face with her lotus flower.

  Clarity licked her lips eager to get a taste of Latrice’s juicy melt. This is what she had wanted to do ever since she’d first laid eyes on Latrice.

  If she didn’t plan on making good on her promises before, I know after tonight she will, Clarity said as she spread Latrice’s wet hairless lips. She plunged her face into her flowing, warm mass and felt like she had died and gone to heaven once she tasted the sweet and slick nectar. Clarity became more aroused after swallowing Latrice’s flavor and didn’t want to stop until her well was completely dry.

  But instead of Latrice drying out, she did the opposite and got even wetter as her walls tightened, releasing a force that made her momentarily paralyzed. The only thing Latrice could do was scream as Clarity continued to please her. Once Clarity finally released Latrice’s pleasure button, she sat back and watched the after-effects of her sex therapy. Latrice gasped for air and felt dehydrated as she became extremely sleepy from all the alcohol she’
d consumed. She closed her eyes and didn’t want the tingly feeling to stop racing all through her body. Latrice soothingly drifted off to sleep.

  CHAPTER 8

  Latrice’s head was throbbing so badly that she didn’t even want to open her eyes. She could feel the light coming from the blinds burning her brow and realized it was morning. She felt fatigued and icky, and could feel the hands of another touching her body. She struggled to open her eyes so she could get a peek at who was with her. She took a faint look and made out that it was Clarity who was between her legs. Latrice felt horrible and resentful about what was going on, and wanted Clarity to stop what she was doing to her. Latrice scooted away from her so she could stop licking on her body.

  “Please stop,” Latrice said as she leaned up against the headboard.

  “What’s wrong? You don’t like it no more?” Clarity asked as she wiped her mouth clean of all Latrice’s juices.

  “I don’t know. I just want you to stop. I feel sick as hell.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll stop. I can’t help it, you taste so good, mommi.”

  Latrice cringed at the sight of another female in between her legs, and wished she could forget what happened the night before. She felt so disgusted.

  Latrice held her aching head. “Can I have some water or something? I feel dehydrated like shit.”

  “I got you, baby.” Clarity walked to the kitchen completely naked and came back with a tall glass of ice water and some aspirin. Clarity had no doubt that Latrice was definitely going to need the aspirin.

  “Here you go.” Clarity handed her the glass of water and two capsules. Latrice swallowed the two capsules and quickly drank all the water. “Wow, I really needed that. Can I have some more water, please?”

  “That ‘E’ makes you thirsty, don’t it?”

  Latrice gave her a puzzled look. “What ‘E’?”

  “Ecstasy. What else, baby?”

  “You had me taking fucking Ecstasy? Why would you do that?”

  “I offered it and you took it. You said you wanted to be completely out of it, remember?”