Studio Sesh Pt. 3

As the track faded out, Swae turned to Metro, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Yo, let's burn that on a CD. We gotta bump that at the club tonight."

Metro nodded, already reaching for a blank disc. "What do you want to name it?"

Swae leaned back, pondering the question for a moment. He glanced at Arell, then back at the rest. Before he could speak up, Jeff cut in, a knowing look on his face. "Nah, nah, I got the perfect name. 'Trust Issues.' Fits the vibe of this track to a 'T."

Swae's face lit up with approval, a low whistle escaping his lips. "That's good. 'Late Night Vibes' it is." He turned to Arell, a playful smile on his face. "You wanna pull up to the club with us later tonight?"

Arell hesitated for a second, his mind already racing with all the things he needed to handle. "Nah, I can't tonight. I got a show the day after tomorrow, and I need to set up some stuff tomorrow. Can't be staying up too late."

Swae nodded, understanding written all over his face. "I feel you, bro. Gotta take care of that money, keep the hustle goin'. But you know the door's always open if you change your mind, aight?"

Arell flashed him a grateful smile, appreciating the lack of pressure.

They chatted for a bit about the club, with Swae hyping up the atmosphere and the crowd they were expecting. "It's gonna be lit, man. Perfect night to drop this new track."

Jeff chimed in, "For sure. The crowd's gonna eat this up."

Swae then looked around, noticing some absences. "Where did Travis and the rest go?"

Jeff shrugged. "They went on a food run. Probably still on the hunt for some good eats."

Just then, Mike Dean walked in, a contemplative look on his face.

"Oh, Mike, you're back," Swae greeted him. "Where's the rest?"

Mike shook his head, chuckling. "I didn't go with them. I was just talking to a friend downstairs." He looked around, taking in the vibe of the room. "What are you all up to?"

Swae motioned to the equipment. "We just finished up this track, and we need your thoughts, man." Mike raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh, yeah? Let me hear it."

They cued up the track, and as it played, Mike listened intently, nodding his head along to the beat. When it was over, he turned to Metro. "I really like how you put that loop before Arell's verse. It gives it a unique touch."

Metro grinned. "Nah, man, that was all Arell."

Mike's eyes widened as he turned to Arell. "For real? Damn, you produced this?"

Swae chimed in, a proud smile on his face. "Yeah, bro. Arell made most of the beat. He's got that producer touch."

Mike nodded, impressed. "That's dope, man. Where'd you learn to do that? Self-taught?"

Arell paused slightly, considering his answer carefully. He couldn't reveal the true source of his knowledge, the system.

After a beat, Arell replied, "Uh, yeah, pretty much self-taught. Just been messing around with it online, you know? Watching tutorials, experimenting a lot in the studio. It's been a process, but I'm still learning every day."

Mike nodded, accepting the explanation. "I feel that. The grind never stops in this game. But you're clearly putting in the work and it's paying off. This track is fire."

Arell felt a swell of pride and gratitude. To get such high praise from a legend like Mike Dean was humbling. He knew his skills weren't all due to his work, but it still meant a lot to have them recognized by someone as big as Mike Dean.

"Appreciate that, Mike. Means a lot coming from you," Arell replied sincerely.

"No problem, man," Mike said, waving off the gratitude. "So, y'all still got your creative juices flowing?"

A chorus of enthusiastic affirmations filled the room.

"Alright then," Mike continued, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "I mostly came to help Travis with his album, but let's make something from the ground up while we're here."

He moved towards the computer, his fingers already itching to create. "What kind of vibe are we going for?"

Arell didn't hesitate. "Let's do something bouncy, okay?"

Mike nodded, his hands flying over the keys and controls with practiced ease. Within minutes, he laid down a solid foundation for the beat, starting with a punchy 808 bass and a crisp, tight snare. He added fast, rolling hi-hat patterns that gave the beat a lively, energetic feel.

Arell watched in awe as Mike effortlessly created layers of sound, adding melodic loops and ambient synth pads to give the track depth and character. "You're quick with it," he remarked, genuinely impressed.

Mike glanced up with a knowing smile. "That's what years of experience does to you," he replied, not missing a beat as he continued to refine the track.

Almost an hour had passed, and Arell mostly watched Metro and Mike bounce ideas back and forth. Based on his guess, he was probably the third-best producer in this room, but even then he struggled to keep up with Mike and Metro who seemed as they were on a different level at times. And to be honest, he could see it in the beat.

They had spent a lot of time on this, and eventually, it was made. The beat was a masterpiece, with all the right elements coming together seamlessly.

The foundation of the track was laid with deep, punchy 808 bass lines.

Metro added fast, rolling hi-hat patterns. He had a file of pre-made hi-hat rolls that he said he often used as a starting point.

The snare or clap combination was chosen to punctuate the rhythm crisply. Arell suggested a tighter snare hit, and Mike layered a clap on top for that extra snap.

To add texture and complexity, they included various percussive elements. Metro dug into his library of sounds, finding some unique percussive hits that added a distinct flavor.

The catchy, repetitive melodic loops were crafted using synthesizers when Arell played around with a few chords on the MIDI keyboard, which was now on his list of things he wanted to buy.

For depth and atmosphere, Mike programmed a lush pad that filled out the sound spectrum. It gave the beat a cinematic feel when they layered it underneath the melody.

Arell suggested chopping up a vocal sample, which Swae made, and Metro ran it through some effects to make it unique.

There were a host of other inclusions like occasional open hi-hat hits to break up the steady rhythm of the closed hi-hats, Low-end sub bass to complement the 808s, and reverb and delay effects were applied to certain elements to give them more space and presence. Mike used these effects to make the track feel larger than life, creating a sense of depth and dimension. "Makes everything sound bigger," he explained, a tip Arell made sure to take note of.

Despite all these elements, they felt the track needed something more to enhance it. That's when Arell suggested using a sample, which of course he'd be the best at choosing, given 'The Art of the Sample' status he had.

He listened to a few playbacks of the song and looked through older 90's songs and eventually chose "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Arell felt the classic, bouncy vibe of the instrumental would fit perfectly with their modern twist.

Arell chopped up the sample, lowering the key of the semi-tone and layered it over the beat. The familiar melody instantly gave the track a nostalgic yet fresh feel.

"This is it," Metro said, nodding along as the sample blended with the beat which now had that extra flair they were looking for, a perfect blend of old-school charm and contemporary energy.

Reference Track ["Jumbotron Shit Poppin" by Drake (Lil Yatchy) but way better]

As the track played back, the room fell silent. The fusion of the vintage sample with the modern beat, created an instrumental that was both nostalgic and innovative. A testament to the magic that happens when timeless elements meet contemporary creativity.

Swae, his eyes glued to the speakers, finally broke the silence. "How do you even spit on this?" His voice was laced with admiration, his words echoing the collective thought in the room.

Mike, chimed in with his own perspective. "I feel like it needs to be kinda smooth but fast. Like, fluid but with that edge."

Arell, who was playing out lyrics in his mind as soon as the beat started playing, finally spoke up. "Yeah, exactly. It's got to be like...Smooth, effortless, but with that rapid-fire delivery. It's got to match the beat's pace, glide over it."

The conversation shifted gears, focusing on how to capture this essence in the verses. Ideas flew back and forth, each suggestion building upon the last until a clear direction emerged.

Arell held a piece of paper in his hands, nodding along as the beat played in the background. "Alright, I'm ready," he said, putting on the headphones. "Let's use this microphone," he suggested, pulling the one near the console close to him rather than going into the booth.

He took a deep breath and started rapping:

"Thick Ethiopian queen, my preference, I'ma dive in deep,

Staring at myself, self-love, I'm too unique.

Dismiss a bitch, dial another, yeah, I'm too sleek,

She wasn't ready for the feast, it's sacred, not cheap.

Never touched drugs, taking lean for the first ride,

That rush felt like a champion's stride.

Boosted, that sensation rose and fell, a wild slide,

Her popping in my space, glowing bright, mystic tide.

Who seeks conflict? Alright, cool, it's their whole tribe,

Major players, we're the ones causing a vibe.

Competitors eyeing my throne, space gets tight,

Late Night, energized, I'm a dawn dweller, brink.

These folks got me riled up, yeah, I'm too charged,

Hmm-hmm, ensure this one worships, a cherished mark,

Hmm-hmm, armed, whatever comes, I'm prepared, sparked,

Too elusive, chilling at the den, a serpent's arc.

Every confession of my feelings, genuine, stark,

Everyone's packing heat, we don't play fights."

As Arell finished his verse, Metro nodded in approval. "Yeah, that's it. You got the flow, the delivery, the whole vibe. You're on fire, man."

Jeffrey then spoke up, his voice laced with a hint of criticism. "Yeah, it's good but still, some of the way you said those words was a little off. Go ahead and redo it real quick."

Arell nodded, taking the feedback in stride. He took a deep breath and started rapping again, this time with even more precision and confidence.

As Arell finished the verse again, Metro and Mike exchanged approving glances. Jeffrey nodded, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "That was fire, Arell. Now let's see how I can add my touch to this."

Thug moved to the microphone. Arell had left a part of the beat open, right where it tempered own, creating a perfect spot for Jeffrey to jump in. The beat dropped again, and he started his verse.

"Sexy girl, bad bitch, yeah, she love the thrill,

Got her in my lap, oh, she love the feel.

Diamonds on my neck, they be shining real,

Pop that pussy for me, girl, you know the deal.

Rollin' in the Phantom, ain't no time to chill,

All my hoes exotic, keep it top-tier.

Bad bitch in the club, make that ass twirl,

Riding with a king, yeah, she my world.

She loves the way I flex, got her hypnotized,

We be making love, reaching all new highs.

Big racks, fast cars, living life deluxe,

I'm the type to turn a fantasy into trust.

Sexy girl, bad bitch, yeah, she love the thrill,

Got her in my lap, oh, she love the feel.

Diamonds on my neck, they be shining real,

Pop that pussy for me, girl, you know the deal."

Jeffrey's voice flowed effortlessly over the beat, his lyrics a blend of provocative and charismatic, perfectly matching the vibe Arell had set.

The next thirty minutes was spent fine-tuning the track. Mike Dean worked his magic on the mixing board, adding subtle touches and tweaks to bring out the best in each element. Arell and Metro listened intently, offering suggestions and feedback as needed.

Once they were satisfied with the mix, Swae moved to the microphone to record background vocals for the introduction.

His smooth voice added an extra layer of depth, enhancing the overall vibe of the track.

As Swae stepped back from the mic, he looked at the others. "It's good, but I think it could do with another verse. Something to really tie it all together." 

Swae ran a hand through his hair, looking a bit uncertain. "I'm kinda blank right now. You got this, Arell?"

Arell nodded, already scribbling ideas on a notepad. "I got some thoughts. Just need a minute to flesh them out."

Just then, the room erupted with chatter and laughter as a group of people walked in. Travis Scott, along with a few others, had returned from their food run.

Travis, in particular, seemed to be on the verge of sleep. His mouth hung open slightly, but his eyes sparkled with an unusual energy that didn't quite match his physical state.

Travis approached the console, his red eyes lighting up as he saw the setup. "Yo, what did we miss?"

Swae grinned. "We just laid down a track. Arell and Thug went in on it."

Travis looked at Arell, impressed. "For real? Lemme hear it."

They played the track back, and as it filled the room, everyone nodded along, vibing with the beat. Travis's expression turned to one of admiration. "Damn, this is fire."

Metro spoke up. "We still need another verse to really finish it off. Arell's working on some ideas right now."

As Travis listened to the track, his red eyes seemed to twinkle with inspiration. He turned to Arell, a wide, almost unnatural smile spreading across his face. He tapped Arell's shoulder and started repeating, "Ay, ay, ay,". The room fell silent, everyone watching Travis,

"Let me do a lil' sumn," Travis said, his voice low but filled with excitement.

Arell looked at Metro, then back at Travis. "Bet," he said, his voice firm.

Metro nodded, his eyes lighting up. "Alright, Jac, let's hear what you got to say."

Travis nodded, his smile growing wider. "Rewind it to the beginning."

Metro replayed the beat, this time focusing on the section Arell had left open, right where the beat tempered down. Travis moved to the microphone, putting on the headphones and got into the zone as the beat dropped again.

Travis's flow was smooth and hypnotic, with a playful yet intense vibe that matched the beat perfectly.

"Eyes low, feelin' high, I'm on a different plane,

Ridin' with the vibes, yeah, we numb the pain,

Bad bitch, bad bitch, she got that body insane,

Up and down, ridin', ridin' like a private plane.

I'm floatin' in the clouds, driftin', driftin' off to space,

Her touch like a drug, got me in my own place,

Candy paint on the whip, gloss, gloss, look at that gloss,

Livin' life fast, ain't no time to pause.

Neon lights flashin', Versace threads on my frame,

Feel like Biggie, feel like Pac, ain't no shame,

Shawty loves the way I move, mesmerized, mesmerized,

We makin' magic, reachin', reachin' all new highs.

Big racks, quick cash, stack it, stack it to the sky,

I'm the type to turn a dream, turn a dream into real life,

High off the vibe, yeah, I'm feelin' right, feelin' right,

Dark shades on, yeah, I'm outta sight, outta sight.

Sexy girl, bad chick, thrillin', thrillin' through the night,

Sippin' on that lean, purple, purple in my sprite,

Fast cars, fast life, every moment's legit,

Pass that, yeah, but she bad, can't resist.

In this high-speed chase, twist, twist in the midst,

Flippin' through the city lights, never miss, never miss,

Purple in my cup, stars, stars in my eyes,

Ridin' through the night, yeah, we on a different high.

I feel like Future, Metro, Metro on the beat,

We gon' make it rain, rain, rain, diamonds at my feet,

Feelin' like I'm 'Ye, with these Yeezy on my feet,

Got my squad with me, yeah, we always rollin' deep.

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, we in our zone,

Shawty on my lap, bad, bad to the bone,

Whippin' in the Phantom, ghost, ghost through the night,

Metro got the beat, yeah, this shit is outta sight.

Hittin' up the club, lit, lit, lit all night,

Shawty wanna ride, yeah, we takin' flight,

Fast life, high life, every moment's legit,

Pass that, yeah, but she bad, can't resist."

Travis finished his verse, his flow smooth and hypnotic, with a playful yet intense vibe that matched the beat perfectly it was almost as if he was having fun yet remaining completely focused on his wordplay. As he took off the headphones, he looked at Metro with a wide smile.

Metro nodded approvingly. "That was good, man. But let's do some more takes."

Travis, still buzzing with energy, said, "Let me add some adlibs to it first, make it really pop."

Metro queued up the track, getting ready to play it back. Travis stood in front of the microphone, staring at it intently, his eyes gleaming.

The room fell silent as everyone watched him, waiting for his signal. Metro glanced at Travis, slightly puzzled by his intense focus. "You ready for me to run it back?"

Travis didn't respond immediately. He just kept staring at the microphone, as if gathering his thoughts, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Suddenly, Travis broke the silence, his voice booming through the studio. "It's lit!" he exclaimed, the words echoing through the room.

Arell muffled a laugh, amused by Travis's sudden burst of energy.

Travis licked his lips and nodded, a tired look on his face. "Alright go ahead."

Metro hit play, and the track started from the beginning. As Travis's verse approached, he leaned in closer to the mic, ready to add his signature adlibs.

"Errrrrr!" he vocalized as his part transitioned from Young Thug's verse, creating a bridge between the two.

"It's lit!" he shouted at the perfect moments, his voice dripping with excitement, adding an extra layer of hype to the track.

"Yeah!" he exclaimed, punctuating the beat with his infectious energy, his adlib perfectly in sync with the rhythm.

Travis continued, his adlibs flowing effortlessly, perfectly complementing the track. His unique sound added an extra layer of depth and excitement, enhancing the overall vibe of the song.

Metro gave a few final tweaks to the mix after Travis finished his last take, ensuring every element was perfectly balanced. When the track finished, he leaned back, a satisfied smile on his face. "That's it. This track is a hit."

Swae clapped his hands together. "This is gonna blow up. We gotta drop it at the club tonight for sure."

Jeffrey nodded in agreement. "The crowd's gonna go wild for this and that other one."

As everyone revelled in the final product, Arell was momentarily lost in thought, his eyes focused on an open space.

'System what's the rating for this?'

[Ding!]

[…..]

[…..]

[Song Rating: 91]

'Oh, that's dece-… wait what?'