Midnight

The amber glow of studio monitors cast shadows across Arell's face as he hunched over his laptop, scrolling through documents scattered across his desk. The clock on the wall ticked past midnight - six hours until his mixtape would drop. His eyes burned from staring at screens, diving deep into files that their team had compiled over the past days.

India's footsteps echoed down the hallway before she appeared in the doorway, phone in hand, her eyes filled with concern. "Baby, Meek's album just dropped."

Arell didn't look up from his screen, just nodded slowly as he continued reading. "I know."

"Twitter's already going crazy." She moved behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders. Her thumbs worked small circles into his tense muscles. "I haven't even looked at what they're saying yet."

"Don't need to," Arell muttered, clicking through another document. "I've predicted everything, every comment, every move."

India leaned down, her chin resting on his shoulder as she glanced at his screen. Files upon files of information – old interviews, court documents, social media archives. Two weeks of deep diving into everyone who'd been taking shots at him.

"You've been at this for hours," she said softly. "Actually, no – you've been at this for weeks. Don't you think it's time to step away?"

Arell finally looked up, rubbing his eyes. "Before any battle, you gotta know your opponent inside and out."

"And you've done more than enough research," India countered, a small smile playing at her lips. "Come on, your tape drops in six hours. We should be celebrating, not sitting here obsessing over their moves."

"This isn't obsessing," Arell defended, gesturing at his screen.

India moved around to perch on the edge of his desk, forcing him to look at her. "Baby, you've prepared enough. You've got more ammunition than you'll ever need. But right now?" She reached out, closing his laptop with a gentle but firm hand. "Right now, we should be enjoying this moment. This is what you've been working for."

Arell hesitated, then finally nodded, letting her pull him up from his chair. "Alright," he conceded, a small smile playing at his lips.

<>

The camera rolled as Shaq leaned back in his seat, letting out a long breath. He'd just listened through Meek's whole album, and while it was decent, there was something missing. The flow was there, the energy was there—but it was lacking a little punch.

He leaned back, letting out a satisfied exhale as the final track faded. "Sheesh! Meek, boy you went crazy…" he murmured, a look of admiration flickering across his face. But he paused, tapping his fingers on the desk.

"Hold on, hold on…I feel like I gotta run Been That back." His eyes narrowed, a smirk creeping up as he looked to the diss track. Shaq shook his head, stifling a laugh. "Man, I gotta run this back—ain't no way he really went there."

He leaned in closer, clicking the play button. The beat dropped, and as the first bars kicked in, Shaq's grin only grew wider.

[Been That By Meek Mill]

"I been that nigga before the money and the fame

I been that nigga before the diamonds and the chain

I been that nigga before the foams and the clothes

I been that nigga on the corner with the most

I been that nigga I been that nigga

My dogs a shooter please don't make me send that nigga

I been that nigga I been that nigga

If they keep talking I'll make him pin that nigga

I been that nigga on the corner nappy braids and selling hard

Now I pull up on em bitches got them texting oh my god

I got bitches out in paris that be texting oh la la

I hear back like who this she hear back you forgot

Real niggas gone link up but my h town pouring drank up

Just me and Junior in the brinks truck

Doing all this shit we ain't think of

Trying to wild out so we draped up

I'm blue-dottin that pink stuff

Milao putting that pussy on me

Ten bands throw her mink up

I got money all up in my mind ho

What do you think think I grind for?

Condoms all in my condo

Pocket change that you signed for

My niggas my niggas

My niggas my hitters

We're gonna get richer

I'm talking about bigger and bigger

They stealing my swag just look at my pictures

[Hook - Tyga]

I been that nigga with them platinum chains

I been that nigga, ask India 'bout the game

I been that nigga, got your baby momma trained

I been that nigga, Chicago know my name

I been that nigga, yeah I been that nigga

Tell lil' homie don't make me send them niggas

I been that nigga, yeah I been that nigga

West Coast king, make your queen start singing

[Rick Ross]

Blew a half a kilo on my cuban link to watch it swing

No short, baking soda standing at the sink

Swerving in my wraith I should just pull up at the church

Have these niggas playing on me devils wish it was a hearse

In my all black shades motherfucking Ray Charles

I used to mop the floors now who the motherfucking boss?

I been that nigga that could get em by the twos

Snow white, no spikes, two stacks for my lubes

You a fool for your wifey and I passed her to my crew

Coke white, sour cream, butter all in my coupe

Put my dogs on celery see we all be blowing loud

Tell them little boys pipe down

Before we get that pipe for the wipe down

Chopper still might judge a jury I could take this bitch to trial

[Hook - Tyga]

I been that nigga with them platinum chains

I been that nigga, ask India 'bout the game

I been that nigga, got your baby momma trained

I been that nigga, Chicago know my name

I been that nigga, yeah I been that nigga

Tell lil' homie don't make me send them niggas

I been that nigga, yeah I been that nigga

West Coast king, make your queen start singing

[The Game]

Look, (gunshot adlib)

Red Roses turn black when I'm stomping through your garden

My Compton resume make your Chicago past look like bargain

Your crib looking like a townhouse, my mansion astronomical

India in my DM's saying your love psychological

I'm documentary status, you Wikipedia pages

You ain't even got security at your basic gated places (weak)

Been running LA since '04, what's your credentials?

Your whole identity essential, but not essential

You ain't built like that, you ain't killed like that

Star of David on your back, that ain't real like that

India pregnant? Might be mine, I hit it twice

While you playing moral compass, your girl compass pointing at me

You got hands on me once, but karma's like seasons

When Reese catch you slipping, he gonna give you several reasons (bang bang)

Cedar Block knows my name, what set claim yours?

Your whole image built on prayer while mine built on wars

Meek hit Drake up on the phone like "yo, what's the word?"

He said India was choosing while you was being a nerd (on stage)

Five hundred thousand on my neck, you can't afford this

Your net worth compare to mine slim like Ethiopian forest

You beating me on camera? That's cute for your collection

Piru running through my veins

Parents, scarred, that's why you trying to make it last

With India, but she know better, she know where the real at

I been that nigga since before you could spell rap

Your hideout ain't safe when I'm on tour

Got shooters in every city, that's what I keep them stored for

Remember what happened to you when you dancing at yo studio?

That wasn't random, that was message from the stars

You ain't even top ten in your own city limits

India carrying life? Better check that DNA

Cause last time at my mansion, she didn't play

Or did Drake put her in 6 positions?

You can check the footage, ask Baka what happened after

When Drake pulled up in that Raptor, Baka pulled up to the section

I'm done playing nice, this that Documentation 2

Cedar Sinai got your birth records on file

While Piru got your death warrant in style

(BLOOD!)

"Nah, nah, nah. 'Cedar Sinai got your birth records on file, While Piru got your death warrant in style' - NAH! Game coming with straight threats now?" he bellowed, slapping his desk. "But for real though, I really can't believe he brought up his kid. That's what we doing now?" He shook his head, disappointment evident in his features. "I respect Game, but that ain't it. Man, that's some snake shit right there."

"Listen," he said. "I've been in around long enough to know – when you start bringing family into it, that's when shit gets real. That ain't rap beef no more. That's personal."

Across social media, the reactions were immediate and intense:

@djvlad: Interviewed Game about that Arell diss... the full story gonna shock y'all 👀 #VladTV

@thebreadbatch: The way Game came at Arell's family... that's different level of disrespect. Some lines you don't cross.

@complex: Breaking: Game mentions Arell's child in new diss track, hip-hop community reacts

@JoeBudden: Been in this game long enough to know - when they all gang up on one person like this, that person usually bout to level up. Watch.

@complex: Sources say Travis Scott among many other major artists declined their invite to Meek's album release party due to relationships with Arell Rose.

@HiphopCentral: "Damn! Meek Mill came heavy on that diss. Tyga, Ross, and Game too?! 😳@Arell_Rose better come with something lethal."

@indialove: This is laughable! Ya'll lucky Arell holding me back

@XXL: "Wait til you hear what Meek just said about @Arell_Rose's girl on Instagram live."

@Champagnepapi: deleted tweet "lol wow."

@RickyRozay: "Some rappers need reminding of the levels. MMG still the realest." 💪🏾💯

@YoungThug: "Leave @Arell_Rose alone. My lil homie got this covered." 🐍🔫

@ComplexMusic: "Arell Rose officially getting dragged. Meek Mill and co. really went there."

@KingJames: "Damn, even I gotta admit… that's a tough track."

@YourGirlKiara: "Game is calling out @Arell_Rose's whole life. I need to see this clapback, or Arell better retire." 😭🔥

@NoJumper: "This is next-level disrespect. Meek Mill and Game, brutal but kinda true?" 💀

On Youtube, Akademiks was in full stream mode, his chat moving at lightning speed as he broke down the situation.

"Chat, chat, listen... LISTEN!" Akademiks adjusted his headphones, leaning into the camera. "Y'all don't understand what's really going on here. This ain't just about music no more. When Game name-dropped Cedar Sinai? That's some real street stuff he putting out there." He grew excited.

"But look, y'all hear what Drake did? Nah, nah, nah – y'all ain't hearing me! When Baka pulled up to the section..." He paused for dramatic effect, grinning at his camera. "Listen, if Drake want your girl, it's WRAP! That's just how it is!"

The chat erupted, and Akademiks fed off their energy, growing more animated with each passing second.

"Now look, I fuck with Arell heavy. That's my guy, pause. BUT!" He slapped his desk for emphasis. "When the 6 God pull up, when Drizzy pull up! When the Goat pull up! it's different! ITS DIFFERENT!" He shouted, his voice going raspy. "And let's keep it a buck – India was in them DMs! Game ain't lying! Drake ain't lying!" He broke into his characteristic giggle.

He took a long sip from his cup, his eyes wide. "Drake really had shorty in the 6? Like that? NAH! That's CRAZY! Yo bitch got fucked Arell!"

The chat scrolled by at lightning speed, a blur of emojis and all-caps reactions.

He grabbed his phone, scrolling through his timeline. "And y'all see these first-week projections? With the new unit counting method? Meek about to do NUMBERS!"

Meanwhile, in a sunlit apartment, ImDontai was mid-reaction.

"NAH NAH NAH, HOLD UP!" He jumped up from his chair, pacing. "They really trying to push my boy into responding!"

Across the country, Zias and B.Lou were filming their own reaction.

"Nah, B, you hear what Game said about Cedar Sinai?" Zias shook his head. "That's some different type energy."

"But peep how Arell moving though," B.Lou responded. "Man ain't even tweet nothing back yet. Just that mixtape reminder."

The anticipation built across platforms as the clock ticked down. Twitter was ablaze:

@NoLifeShaq: 1 HOUR TILL WISHING FOR ONE OF A KIND! We staying up all night for this one! 🔥

@imdontai: The fact that they dropped this diss right before his tape... that's some snake moves fr. But we locked in for midnight!

@DJ_Akademiks: BREAKING: Sources say Wishing For One of a Kind already breaking pre-save records! Drake effect too strong! 👀 Dropping at 11:59 on the dot! Midnight we eating! #WFOOK

"Y'all feel that?" ImDontai asked his Youtube stream, leaning back in his chair. "That's that before-the-storm feeling."

Zias nodded at his own camera, checking the time again. "Fifty-three minutes. This mixtape bouta' hit different."

B. Lou nodded. "For sure, but what I can't wait for is Arell's response after the mixtape drops."

@PostMalone: It's about to be a different game after midnight... 🏎️ @Arell_Rose

@MetroBoomin: Some producers make beats... others make history. Midnight 🎹

@Pharrell: When you hear it, you'll understand. Midnight. 🌟

The anticipation continued to build as reaction channels across YouTube prepared for the drop. Thumbnails were being prepared, titles workshopped, as the minutes ticked down to midnight.

@NoLifeShaq: 10 minutes LEFT!

@imdontai: This about to be different! 🔥

In his studio, Akademiks couldn't contain his excitement. "Chat going CRAZY! If this tape hit like they saying it's gonna hit..." He took another sip from his cup. "Drake effect different! Game effect different! Arell this better be good."

In studios across the country, content creators sat ready, refresh buttons at hand, waiting for the moment Wishing for One of a Kind would appear in their feeds.

@50cent: Young fella bout to answer ALL that smoke soon enough. But artistry? Midnight we find out who really built like that.

The anticipation had reached a fever pitch. The industry held its breath. The clock struck 11:59 PM

@Arell_Rose: "WishingForOneOfAKind"

The stage was set. The industry waited. History was about to be made.