#Rap T

[xoivy]

i love how this was everyone's raw, genuine reaction to the first few lyrics of meet the grahams

[todayinhiphophistory]

Today in Hip Hop History:

Ice-T was born February 16, 1958

[lezkissgifs]

Rap Sh!t S02E07

[notapradagurl7]

We Meet Again.

Black Fem! ReaderHairStylist! x Lamont Diggs.

Fandom: Rap Sh!t(2022-2023)🥲

Summary: When your niece, Kailey is best friends with your client's daughter that you drove to school but didn't give them right back to your sibling, you didn't expect to run in Lamont again and you didn't know that he had a crush on you, leading to more than a confession.

WC: 3,435k

A/N: I’ve been wanting to write about Lamont for a minute! He’s been fine to me since day one, and I miss rap sh!t, 😭 don't forget to leave comments, likes and reblogs are welcome to support, drop a request if you like, they're always open! ❤️🫡

Warnings: fluff, dirty talk, praise, fingering, use of AAVE, cussing, angst, mention of neglect, use of the n-word, rough sex, unprotected sex, head(fem receiving) consensual for both parties, confession, PWP, pet names, sibling rivalry.

Taglist: @megamindsecretlair @satoruya @planetblaque

@playgurlxoxo @naj-ay444

@becauseimswagman1 @jazziejax

@beenathembo @brattyfics

@hxneyclouds @henneseyhoe

@yassbishimvintage

@nahimjustfeelingit-writes @nayaesworld @ovohanna24

@novahreign @writingsbytee @avoidthings @kimuzostar @slippinninque @keyera-jackson @theblacklewinsky

@euphorichappiness10 @life-in-the-slut-house @caashmoneynae @miguelspvssy @liatreads @kaylaahisthebestest- @uniqueoutlierblog @dxddykenn

@mind-somewhere-else

@kindofaintrovert

@lady-olive-oil @23jammy @musicisme333  @saturnville @enchantedillumination  @mogul93 @theereina @uzumaki-rebellion @blyffe @fakxmbj @kumkaniudaku @ranikyani @mama-2001 @luckydaye777

—————

Your gaze drifted to your niece Kailey through the rearview mirror, where she sat in the backseat, radiating pure joy. Her bright smile lit up her face, and her raven hair was intricately styled into box braids, each adorned with colorful pink and white beads that jingled softly with every movement.

The sunlight spewed through the window, casting a warm glow on her smooth brown skin, making her look as if she was glowing with anticipation.

You chuckled lightly before almost driving when the traffic light turned red, Kailey was always so excited about going to school, learning and seeing her new best friend, Melissa.

“Someone’s excited huh?” You hummed with a grin, before your eyes flickered back to the road.

“Yeah, I get to see my best friends today, Melissa, we share cute stickers and play games, Toby and I always trade Scooby Doo fruit snacks too!” Kailey exclaimed, looking at you with a smile.

Damn, you remember those Scooby fruit snacks in middle school through high school. You made a mental note to buy a plethora of them when you went grocery shopping for you and Kailey.

Also, make a mental note to call your sister for the umpteenth time but she never picked up the damn phone. It was never “hello, how are you?” it was always “Has Kailey been fed yet?” as if her child was a pet, not a human.

“It’s good to have friends you can have fun with and trust Kai, and we get to spend the weekend together again,” You sang playfully, watching her grin.

It appeared that today's children had a tendency to cycle through best friends as easily as one might change outfits—discarding old friendships with casual indifference, treating them as if they were nothing more than disposable items.

“I like spending time with you more than Mommy, she never asked how my day was, never checked on me, nothing,” Kailey mumbled under her breath.

Your grip tightened on the steering wheel at the softness of her voice, the sadness that you wanted to destroy and let it not come near Kailey or you.

Why did Mariah have to be such a bitch? How to have a child if you were going to put her through this? Why have sex without condoms if you know that you're going to be a bad parent—-

“Green light, auntie!” Kailey exclaimed with a giggle.

Her voice brought you back into reality as you made a left turn through the highway. The faint sounds of cars beeping horns and passing through, prickled at you. Almost making your eye twitch.

In vibrant Miami, life was a balancing act; you juggled three jobs that defined your chaotic yet fulfilling routine. By day, you transformed looks as a passionate hair stylist, and by night, you served drinks and meals as a part-time waitress.

In between those roles, you played the pivotal part of chauffeur and auntie, dutifully driving your niece, Kailey, from her home to school and back again. Kailey often stayed at your house, sometimes for days, often for nights at a time.

Meanwhile, your sister, Mariah, was perpetually busy with what she claimed was a thriving career at a prestigious corporate firm, one that left little room in her life for the needs of her daughter.

Mariah’s relentless ambition drove her to prioritize her desire to climb the corporate ladder—her sights set firmly on the role of CEO—over the maternal responsibilities that came with raising a child.

In her attempts to reclaim a life unmarred by motherhood, she became increasingly neglectful of Kailey, and this deep-seated frustration gnawed at you.

You couldn't shake the looming comparisons to the character Toni Childs from the TV show *Girlfriends*: rude, manipulative, and consumed by her own desires.

Clearly, she cared for Kailey and raised her well, but it was apparent that she eagerly anticipated your arrival to take her child, allowing her some personal time. However, children are perceptive and can sense when something isn't right.

“Auntie Y/N, is mommy going to be home when I get back?” Kailey asked, her voice laced with a hint of worry.

You glanced back at her, your heart melting at her innocent expression, “No, baby. She won't be home. I can't lie to you when I tell you that she’s not doing a job, i'm making that money so we can have fun, right?”

You understood Kailey's feelings at her age because your mom acted the same way when you were young.

You supported your sister while your aunt took on the parenting role and told you both that sometimes parents can be awful and may not prioritize you. She wanted to reassure you that you weren't alone in this.

The car came to a complete stop in the elementary parking lot and you killed the engine, pressing the button, hearing the crisp clicks of the locks unlocking. You stepped out while closing the door behind yourself, opening Kailey’s door for her, grabbing her hand as she jumped out.

After letting Kailey out of the car, her tiny shoes clicked on the concrete. You quickly held out your hand out as she gripped yours tight, “Are you for school?”you asked with a smile.

“Yes, I am, I can't see my friends and hang out with you,” She replied back.

“Have a great day okay? I love you pooh bear,”

“I will, you have a great day too, Auntie Y/N!”

Kailey ran into your arms, enveloping you in a tight, warm hug, you kissed her forehead and gently put her down.

As you observed the cheerful brown-skinned girl dash off with her friends, they made their way toward the double doors that swung open, by their favorite teacher. Ms. Wilson, her skin similar to a butterscotch hard candy in your grandmother's purse.

Standing by the doors, Ms. Wilson, framed her face, her curly pixie cut was in a shade of chocolate brown. She wore a light blue collared tee, paired elegantly with a diamond-patterned pencil skirt just below her knees. Her black heels clicked softly against the floor as she moved.

With a wave of her hand and a friendly smile directed at you, she created an inviting atmosphere, prompting you to respond with a kind wave and a warm smile in return.

“Thanks for everything, Ms. Wilson!”

“Of course, dear! I'm glad to always help!”

You were happy to have the same teacher growing up and now Kailey has that, a teacher that cared.

You turned to spot a recognizable tall man with locs, his brown skin glistening in the heat. He wore a grey t-shirt and grey shorts that hung loosely around his bare legs, while his crisp white Air Forces clicked rapidly against the sidewalk.

His daughter Melissa tugged on his hand. She had her locs in pigtails, brown skinned, dressed in a pink dress and sneakers.

It had been ages since you last laid eyes on him at that vibrant cookout your family hosted five months ago.

Hearing those toxic stories about them and yours made you cringe, the back and forth between them, and honestly you remember one night when you smoked weed with him and blurted out that Mia didn't deserve him. He deserves better.

Once he heard that, he held on to what you said. Keeping it tugged in the depths of his mind like you passed him a secret love note in college, avoiding the prying gaze from your classmates and professor.

And you never heard him speak of Mia’s name ever again, as if she was Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter. He only discussed his music-producing career and his daughter, Melissa.

The sun was shining brightly, and laughter filled the air as your daughter and niece enjoyed their playdate amidst the lively cookout.

Your aunt Cassie, was also the matchmaker, had invited Lamont, knowing that the two of you had a genuine friendship that she believed could grow into something more.

Her strong disapproval of Mia was evident and has been there from the start. Only fueling her desire for a connection between you and Lamont.

That man was fine, fine.

You knew about the complicated relationship between Lamont and Mia, who have a daughter named Melissa, and you only restyled Lamont's locs; he paid you the substantial fee you asked for.

“Come on, Daddy! I don't want to be late for school,” Melissa exclaimed, tugging onto the hem of his shirt.

You hadn't seen him in a while; life had gotten busy, but this moment felt nostalgic.

He approached you, his daughter tugging at his arm impatiently. “I swear she’s gonna pull something else if I don't get there faster,”

“Tell her to take it easy, it’s just school,” You replied with a chuckle, smiling at him.

Lamont chuckled and shook his head, “Not when she’s ready to see her best friend Kaliey and Toby, also its arts and crafts,” he replied, rolling his eyes dramatically.

His eyes locked with yours again, and you felt the tension rise between you. “You know how these kids get,”

You laughed, the sound light and airy, as you watched his daughter talk lively about her plans for the day. It was hard not to notice the admiration in Lamont's eyes as he listened to her, a proud father in his element.

“Daddy!”

“Okay, okay,”

You watched them walk inside, the doors closed shut with a loud click and the bell rang immediately after, moments and moments later. You were brought back to reality by the familiar sound of sneakers scuffing against the pavement.

You turned to see Lamont walking out of the school, his tall frame striding toward you with a look of satisfaction, you felt butterflies in your stomach. That feeling you couldn't shake when you were around him.

“Y/N!” he called out, and your heart did a little flip.

“Hey, everything okay?” You asked, curiosity crept up as your eyes locked with his.

“Yeah, just wanted to catch you before you left, I was thinkin’ maybe..you could help me out with my locs,” he asked, running a hand through his locs. Y

You raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile spreading across your face, “Oh? You're asking for a hair appointment, huh? Is that your way of saying you want to spend time with me?” you asked with a head tilt.

“Well, yeah…I mean, I wouldn't mind some of some of your company today, just us?” He said nervously, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Was he that nervous around you or was it just the Miami heat?

“I wouldn't mind your company either, I can definitely retwist your locs,” you replied with a smile, keeping your tone light.

“Cool, can I ride with’chu in your car?” he asked again, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Yes,” you hummed in response, leading the way to your car. You unlocked the doors, and he slid into the passenger seat with a grin as you both settled in.

As you pulled out of the parking lot, you stole a glance at him. Driving off the school and made a right turn on the street.

The luxurious houses of the neighborhood flashed by, side by side, sprawling out well-trimmed green grass and manicured gardens. Lamont gazed out the window, impressed by the level of opulence that surrounded the ambiance.

Parking into the driveway carefully, killing the engine. Unlocking the doors and stepping out. “Nice neighborhood,” Lamont commented, his eyes roaming the place.

“Yeah, my aunt left me the house after she found another place to live, it's a bit much for me, I make it work,” you replied with a shoulder shrug.

“I can see why you like it, it's peaceful,” He nodded, his eyes still scanning the area.

Both of you walked over to the front door, and you pulled out the keys. Once inside the house, you took off your shoes, and Lamont followed suit, setting his by the door.

As the two of you settled onto the couch, you grabbed the comb and twisted hair cream. Putting the soft pillow between your feet, "Sit," you said, your eyes on him.

Lamont did as you told him, you grabbing the twisting hair cream and light green comb from atop the dresser, starting to retwist his locs carefully with skill.

“How come we never took that chance?” he asked you with a soft tone.

Your eyes widened at what he was saying, you were a bit confused. “What do you mean?”

“Us, you and me,” He recited with a serious yet soft tone.

As you finished the last few locs on his head, you pondered on it deeply. You wanted to know the same thing too.

“Umm…maybe because we were busy, you were still with Mia, I've been watching over my niece since my sister doesn't want to do it, life..” You confessed to him.

Once you were done with retwisting his locs, he stood up and sat beside you on the couch, giving you a serious yet softened expression, as if he had something on his mind that he has been holding it so long.

“I really like you, I want you to be my girl and I'm sorry that I—”

“Lamont…i get it, I like you too but can we make this work? You’ve got Mia, and I’ve got Kailey, I do want this to work,”

“I believe we can, you trust me right?” Lamont asked you, his hand atop yours, his thumb swiped over your palm.

“Yes, I trust you, Lamont, you're mine right?”

“All yours, baby,”

Your heart raced as he gently laid you back on the couch, their kisses growing deeper and more urgent. Each of their clothes taken off, tossed and littered across the bedroom floor.

He positioned himself between your legs with his hands tight on your hips, and rubbing his tip against your folds, your wetness coating his dick perfectly, "L-Lamont...fuck me..please.." you whined, moving your hips with him, hearing soft squelching sounds filling the room.

Lamont grinned in response before leaning down, "A'ight, since you're direct tonight, I'll give this dick," he teased, pushing himself inside you as she wanted from him, moaning wildly. Your pussy was to die for, and Lamont is gonna kill for it.

Lamont pressed his lips back to yours, rocking his hips into you at a rough pace. The bed creaked underneath their weight with every thrust, your nails felt a trail of marks on his back, "Oh fuck! Lamont!" you mewled, tears burning through your eyelids. Your arms wrapped around his neck, kissing him again.

He hoisted you upwards to ensure that you faced him forward in his lap to ride him, Lamont hissed sharply and his eyes fluttered closed, a low 'fuck' left his lips as he watched your face contort with pleasure. Neither of them wanted the night to end yet, they wanted more rounds to make up for every day that they didn't see each other.

"Shit..right there!" you mewled loudly, the words escaping you, you swivel your hips gently against him, riding his dick with skill. You forced your eyes open, meeting his loving gaze, moving with your pace. "Right here, baby?" he hummed, hitting that sweet spot repeatedly.

"Damn, baby.." he groaned in her ear, his praise gave you an intense thrill, he utterly filled you up. You started to vigorously bounce on him, feeling waves of pleasure coursing through your body. "That feels so fuckin good, more," you whined again, your nails scratched into his skin harder as you let out increasingly inhumane moans.

His fingers tracing the stretch marks on your ass, every delicate mark was a work of art to him, and Lamont felt a rush of gratitude for the beauty before him, your fingers tangled through his locs, and he watched your essence spill all over his dick and drilling his hips upwards, "You're always this wet for me?" Lamont rasped, licking his lips.

"Y-Yes! it's..f-for y-you!" You stutteringly wails, your eyes rolled back. Lamont's hand delivered a firm smack on your ass and she hissed. "Faster.." he demanded, watching the woman bounce with his merciless pace, you only let out a plethora of unholy moans.

Every thrust felt loving, meaningful and that's what he wanted you to feel, trailing kisses along your neck, worshipping your body with every touch, kiss and stare.

"Don't stop..harder..please!" you stammered desperately, biting your lip. Your slick walls hugged tightly around him as he pushed harder, his hands gripping your asscheeks. "I won't, I missed you, you know that?" he groaned in your ear.

He withdrew and swiftly turned you onto your stomach before he finished, carefully sliding back inside as you opened your mouth silently, "Y-yes! I-i missed you so much!" you cried out, feeling him push further and his thrusts becoming more forceful with desire, he took charge as each motion drew breathy gasps from her, fingers clenching the blanket.

“I missed you more,” he said, swiveling his hips, watching her squirm underneath him, you could barely respond, but that's the part she loves.

You loved to feel every inch, so lost in the sensation of him filling you up completely. "Lamont, I-I d-don't w-wanna c-cum—-" you gasped sharply, your head fell onto the pillow, feeling the knot tighten within her stomach, his pelvis meeting her ass after every thrust, making a clapping sound similar to a gunshot.

With each stroke, he pushed her closer to the edge. His hands gripped her waist. "I know, baby, one more time for me?" Lamont grunted, you squirmed beneath him, sending jolts of pleasure through you, Back arching and his palm spanked your ass again, he watched sticky strings of your essence break between them.

"Yes...only for you, i'm-gonna cum!" you replied, your voice strained with effort. Leaving you breathless and squeezing your eyes shut. His thrusts turned sloppy, and sporadic, both of them were so close, "Fuck, me too,"

Feeling her climax gushed on him, Lamont followed suit, pulling out and his warm cum spilling forth on the couch as he groaned, "Just like that," he breathed, their bodies entwined in a blissful haze. You felt him pulse inside, as he felt your heartbeat too, They both shuddered and he pulled out after, collapsing beside her.

Their naked bodies laid side by side, Lamont pulled her close, you rested your head against his chest. Hearing his heartbeat with your, with their backs against the sheets, breathing heavily and chests raising and falling in sync, chuckling lightly.

"Lamont, you have no idea how many nights I thought about this moment." you said, kissing lips twice. Still riding the high of their connection.

"But I wanna another but I gotta pick up my niece..” you confessed, tracing shaped on his arm. Her heart swelled with love.

You stood from the couch, gathering clothes, and taking a shower. Then you and Lamont walked out of your house, settling inside your car, driving off.

Knowing that your friendship was becoming more, it was something you wanted for so long. Lamont kissed your cheek, and said “I'm all yours, don't worry,”

———-

[jazziejax]

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐞

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 - Lamont Diggs x Black!OC

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 - Who knew that coming back to city where her parents were raised would lead to something cute happening between her and this random man

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 - none…I think…

𝐉𝐚𝐳𝐳𝐢𝐞’𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 -I don’t even know if this is anyone’s cup of tea but I wrote it. This has been my man since Earl and the dying girl, so don’t even. I’ve searched high and low for anything for him in any way, shape or form and I’ve only seen one. So this was lowkey just for me, but I hope y’all enjoy. As you can see I’ve been in a a little writing rampage a bit but that doesn’t mean get your hopes up.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 - 3,629+

The morning sun poured into the Porsche panoramic window as the car curried through the Miami streets. The woman driving kept glancing in the rearview mirror, looking at the small boy in the back seat as he nodded his along with the song on the radio. He sat in his car seat, swinging his little legs, his curls pulled into the intricate stitch cornrows she had given him the night before, still fresh on his scalp. She smiled softly as she looked back at him, in his own world as he passionately mouthed the words to ‘As’ by Stevie Wonder. They had been in Miami for almost a month now, and she wanted to check in on how he was feeling about his new school.

“How’s school going, lil dude?” She asked, breaking him from his song trance while she adjusted her shades, pulling them to rest on her head as she slowed down at a red light.

Raheem perked up, kicking his feet a little. “It’s good! I got new friends!” He grinned, looking over at her in the driver's seat rather than trying to look into the mirror. Cree smiled, glancing at him through the mirror. “Oh yeah? Who?” What are they like?”

“Um… Mateo, he’s funny. And Louie, he’s my best friend ever because we like Power Rangers. And—oh!—Melissa! She always shares her fruit snacks with me!”

Cree raised an eyebrow, amused. “Your best friend, huh? Well, what ranger is he?” She asked curiously but fully amused by his storytelling and enthusiasm. She was so relieved that the move from Brooklyn didn’t have that much of an effect on him. They had their struggles at first, new school, and her trying to explain why they up and moved so abruptly, but things seemed to be going better.

“If I’m the blue ranger, he’s obviously the red one, Ma,” Raheem stated, as if it was as clear as day. And to him it was, this was basic ranger knowledge. Cree simply scoffed a bit, jerking her head back at his little attitude even though she wasn’t facing him. “Oh, well excuse me then, Mr.Blue Ranger. Sorry if I want to be sure.” She said. “You know, I liked the Power Ranger before you were even born.” She said, causing the boy to let out a small groan at the words she always seemed to have ready to repeat.

“I know, Ma.” He said, causing Cree to laugh a little since he sounded genuinely disappointed that he wasn’t the first Power Ranger fan in existence. “What else has been up at school?” She continued. He continued to tell her about what he learned, his friends, and he always loved telling her about what they had for lunch and recess his favorite parts of the day. Today, he told her about how they played kickball and he won a pack of gushers from a student. Cree chuckled. “Well, sounds like you’re running the playground already.” She cheesed, even though it sounded a little like gambling since the students sort of better on him to win.

Raheem grinned, dimples popping, before turning his attention back to the colorful backpack on his lap and the new song on the radio, ‘Apparently’ by J. Cole. Soon, they pulled up to the school, and Cree put the car in park near the drop-off area. She hopped out of the car and walked over to his side as she pulled her shades down, opening the back door and looking down at him.

“Alright, little man, you ready?” She asked with a small smile and an expectant brow. Raheem nodded as she helped him unbuckle. Once free, he hopped out with his backpack on. They did their small handshake, three fist pumps before backing away with an explosion, they then pointed at each other, a knowing look on their face. “And that’s what happened to the dinosaurs.” They stated at the same time, causing Cree to laugh at the stupid joke he had come up with while Raheem was genuinely amused.

He then began to walk into the building, being dined by his teacher waiting out front. She waved at her, causing Cree to do the same with a polite smile. Raheem looked back at her expectantly.

“Be good.” She called out.

Raheem nodded his head at that, giving her a small wave as rich brown skin glowed in the Miami sun, his dimples deepening as he smiled wide at her before disappearing into the school building.

From down the lot, Mia stood by her car, watching the adorable exchange while she waited for Melissa to head inside. Her eyes flicked back to the woman standing by the sleek black Porsche, dressed in oversized shades, a cute little white dress that showed liked legs, paired with a light blue flannel and cute blue sandals that showed her manicured toes—nothing too out of the ordinary for Miami, but something about her felt familiar.

It wasn’t until the woman turned toward her car that Mia’s eyes widened in realization.

No way.

Cree.

The Cree.

Mia’s breath caught for a second as Cree rounded her car, and through the dark shades, Mia swore the woman had glanced her way, offering a small, polite smile before sliding into the driver’s seat like it was just another regular morning and driving off.

Mia stood frozen for a second before quickly jumping into her car. She grabbed her phone and dialed up the girls, her voice hushed but urgent.

“Y’all… tell me why I just saw Cree at my kid’s school.”

They immediately doubted her.

“Nuh, uh!”

“Girl, stop playing.”

“I swear it was her! I saw her drop a little boy off—she had on the shades, this cute ass outfit, and everything.” Mia screamed.

“Cree don’t got no kids, girl.” One of the girls said to her.

“I’m telling you, I know it was her. She looked at me. And she was driving a fucking Porsche, don’t non of these bad ass kids mama’s drive no damn Porsche!” Mia tried to get them to understand, but they still didn’t believe her.

“Maybe it was some girl that looked like her. I mean, she ain’t all that to not have a few bitches around here that she favor.” One of the girls stated.

“Plus, what would she be doing out here anyway? Especially with a kid.”

Still met with disbelief, Mia huffed and hung up before calling Shawna and telling her who she saw at Melissa’s school, and this time, she got more of a reaction closer to hers.

Shawna didn’t even hesitate. “Wait… like Cree Cree?” The woman asked, on her cell phone at the front desk of her job at the Plymouth Hotel. “The Cree? The one that made Pretty Little Birds, Cree? Or the Cree Summer, who is equally as iconic in my opinion.”

“No, bitch, not that Cree. The one that made Pretty Little Birds, Cry Baby, all that.” Mia stated causing Shawna to gasp loudly, before quickly looking up and around her surroundings. She paused for a moment before looking back down at the phone, gaping. “Are you for real? Was it really her?” She questioned excitedly.

“Yes!” Mia practically whispered in excitement. “The one who got her money stolen—Cree.”

Shawna gasped. “Nooo. What the hell is she doing in Miami? And at Melissa’s school?”

“I don’t know, but I’m about to find out.”

Without missing a beat, Mia sooner ended the call and opened her Instagram, hit record on her Story, and stared into the camera.

“Y’all… I think I just saw Cree at my kid’s school.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cree hadn’t planned on going to the studio that day.

She was supposed to just run errands—hit the grocery store, pick up some things for Raheem, and maybe squeeze in a quick workout before heading back to his school to pick him up. But it seems as if fate has other plans, because she was texting her good friend, Joey, about that studio he knew about in Miami and getting not only the address, but her own secession for a few hours, and she couldn’t pass up that offer.

She stepped into the dimly lit studio, adjusting her shades as she took in the familiar scent of burnt sage and the hints of weed lingering in the air. The space wasn’t anything fancy— or what she was used to, just a simple setup with soundproofed walls, a sleek mixing board, and a booth on the order side of the glass panel. But it was enough. She didn’t need luxury right now; she needed a place where she could work.

She set her bag down and pulled out her laptop, connecting it to the system while scrolling through some beats she had been messing around with. It had been months since she had been in a studio like this, just her and the music, no distractions, no deadlines, no industry bullshit clouding her thoughts. She cracked her knuckles, took a sip of her iced coffee, and got to work.

The first hour was all about finding the right vibe. She tapped through instrumentals, tweaking bass lines, layering synths, and shifting drum patterns until something finally clicked. The beat she landed on was slow but heavy, dripping with Miami influence—smooth keys, a deep, rolling bassline, and a rhythm that made you want to ride down Ocean Drive with the top down.

She hummed along, letting the melody sink in before pulling out her notebook. Lyrics had been piling up in her head for weeks now, bars scribbled in the margins of receipts, on the backs of grocery lists, and even typed into her Notes app at random times of the day. She flipped through the pages, piecing together the words that fit the mood.

“I'll touch that fire for you

I do that three, four times again, I testify for you…”

She smirked, nodding along as she caught the flow. The pen hit the paper again, and she kept writing.

The next two hours flew by in a blur of recording takes, layering harmonies, and punching in lines until they hit just right. Cree wasn’t rushing anything—she was just feeling it. It was the first time in a long time that making music felt fun again. It’s been months since the scandal of her scamming manager hit the internet and no one has heard from her. Not a post on social media, not a single interview, nothing. And she wanted to stay silent until her case was over because one thing she’d learned from being a celebrity, is to just shut the hell up. Nothing you say will ever protect your ass from people who already set out to hate you, and you never know how your words can be twisted. Plus, this was a court case about her hard-earned money, not some show for people to watch.

By the time her session was wrapping up, she had a solid demo. It wasn’t perfect, but it was her and it was something she was going to work on. And right now, that was all she needed.

She glanced at the clock—Raheem would be out of school soon. With a satisfied sigh, she packed up her things, saved her files onto her hard drive, and made her way toward the exit.

Cree adjusted her shades as she stepped out of the studio, her mind still wrapped up in the music she had just been working on. It had been months since she last dropped anything, but today felt right. Being back in Miami, back in a space where she could create freely, had sparked something in her again. She was zoning out, already thinking about her next session, when—

BAM.

She walked straight into someone.

Her denim tote bag slipped off her arm, and before she could catch it, everything in her hands went flying—Raheem’s iPad, her phone, her keys, and her hard drive, all clattering to the floor.

“Shit.” She muttered, quickly bending down.

“My bad.” A voice said at the same time, reaching to help.

Cree’s heart skipped for a second when she glanced up. The man crouching in front of her was tall, built just right, with smooth brown skin and a face that looked both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. He took up the black phone first, taking it into his hands and quickly checking for scratches before handing it over. “This yours?”

She took it, brushing her fingers over the case. “Yeah, thanks.” She said as she picked up the fallen items from her purse, stuffing old receipts, loose candy, and even a small Power Rangers action figure, into the large bag.

The stranger picked up Raheem’s iPad next, glancing at the colorful case before handing it over. “Got a kid?” He questioned casually with a tilt of his head, though a small smile was on his face.

Cree nodded, shoving the tablet into her bag. “Uh, yeah. Yeah.” She sighed, trying not to overthink the question and get into explaining her complicated life situation.

The man hummed like he had a response on the tip of his tongue but held back. He simply handed her the rest of her things before standing up. “I ain’t mean to run into you like that. You good?”

Cree dusted herself off, slipping her phone into her pocket. “Yeah, I’m straight. It’s cool.”

He gave a small nod, his gaze lingering on her for a beat longer than necessary, like he was trying to place her. She knew that look.

She also knew better than to stick around for it. As attractive as he was, she had no pleasure in dealing with that right now.

“Alright then.” She said, offering a polite nod before stepping past him, and making her way toward the exit. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked away.

The man stood there for a moment, brows slightly furrowed. Her face, her voice—something about her nagged at him. Before he could think on it too long, something colorful on the ground caught his eye.

“Oh, shit.”

He bent down, picking up a red hard drive that had a worn Denzel Washington sticker, his character from American Gangster slapped on the front. His eyes flicked up just in time to see the door down the hall close behind her as she exited.

“Yo, wait!” He called out, breaking into a jog toward the exit. “Aye!”He tried again, but by the time he pushed through the door and stepped into the Miami sun, the Porsche was already at the lot’s edge, easing onto the main road. “Hey!” He yelled again, picking up his pace. He made it halfway across the lot before the car merged into traffic. He stood there, hands on his hips, watching as it disappeared down the street.

“Shit.” He hissed softly.

He exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders and slightly shaking his head before looking down at the hard drive in his hands. He flipped it over, hoping for some kind of contact info on it. Nothing—just one word, engraved in smooth cursive in the back.

‘Cree.’

His brows furrowed as he repeated the name in his head. It sounded familiar. Before he could think on it too long, he glanced at his watch. His eyes widened.

“Shit!”

He was almost late to pick up Melissa from school.

Cree, however, had no idea her hard drive was missing. All she could think about was her music and getting to school to pick up Raheem. Well, that and the man she bumped into earlier.

He was fine as hell. Tall, and built just right with his slim but muscular body. He had dreads, his black hair completing his smooth brown skin—it had been a while since she’d looked at a man like that and actually lingered on the thought. Being famous from a decently young age messed with how she saw relationships. She didn’t really get to have many normal ones, at least not the kind that didn’t make it to the public eye or was with someone in the industry. But even if she were looking for something—which she wasn’t, not with how life was going right now—she wouldn’t be dumb about it.

Still, that wasn’t gonna stop her from smiling a little at the thought of seeing him again. He was fine as fuck.

The school’s parking lot was already packed when she pulled up. She had to wait a few minutes before the teachers started escorting the kids out. Getting out of the car, she leaned against the side of her door, eyes scanning the sea of kids until she spotted that familiar brown skin and those neat cornrows.

As soon as Raheem saw her, his face lit up.

“Ma!” He said as he began to run over to her.

Cree opened her arms, laughing as he ran straight into her, wrapping his little arms around her waist. “Hey, baby! You had a good day?” She asked.

“Mhm! We had pizza for lunch, and Ms. Carter let me be the line leader today!”

“Ooooh, big boss moves, huh?” She gave him a high-five before leading him to the car. “Alright, let’s get you buckled in. We might go see GG and ‘nem today.”

She was strapping him into his car seat when she felt someone walking up behind her. Years of being in the public eye, where paparazzi and strangers had no boundaries, had her instincts sharp as hell. Without thinking, she flinched back and balled her fist, ready to swing at whoever was creeping up on her.

“Woah, it’s not even like that!”

The voice made her pause just as she was about to let her fist fly. She paused as she studied the person before her, eyes narrowing—and sure enough, it was the man from earlier. Except this time, he wasn’t alone. He stood with a little girl beside him, hand in hand. She was cute, all big brown eyes and two neat ponytails, smiling up at her politely.

Cree exhaled sharply, shaking her head as she lowered her fist. “Damn, you can’t be sneaking up on people like that.”

He chuckled, holding his hands up in defense. “My bad, my fault. I ain’t mean to startle you like that.” He stated, trying not to laugh at her startled expression since he almost got sucker punched in the face, in front of his daughter.

Said the little girl blinking up at her. “Hi.” She said with a cute smile. Her locs were in adorable pigtails and her brown skin made her chubby cheeks look so kissable under the Miami sun. Cree’s face softened as she returned the smile. “Hi.” She said with a little wave.

The man cleared his throat, breaking himself out of his own stare of starting at the woman before him before extending his arm, something red in his hand. “You dropped this back at the studio.”

She looked down and her eyes widened when she saw her hard drive, immediately reaching for it. “Oh, shit—” She caught herself, glancing at Raheem, who was already watching closely. “I mean, shoot. Damn, I didn’t even realize it was gone.”

“Yeah, I tried to catch you, but you was already gone.”

Cree smirked, tucking the hard drive into her bag. “I be moving quick.” She said, trying to remove the awkward tension that sort of lingered from her almost hitting him, their literal run-in and just all-around speaking since they didn’t know each other.

“I see that.” He smirked as he tilted his head slightly, that same lingering look from earlier settling in his eyes. “You Cree, huh?”

She arched a brow, catching the way her name rolled off his tongue. She liked the way he said it. “I mean, that’s what it says on the back, don’t it?”

His lips twitched in amusement, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he nodded toward the girl beside him. “This my daughter, Melissa.”

Cree looked down and gave her a warm smile. “Nice to meet you, Melissa. This is my nephew, Raheem.”

Raheem, who had been quiet up until now, squinted up at the man before looking down at Melissa. “This is Melissa from my school.” He said, looking back at his aunt, who made a face of surprise since she remembered he mentioned the girl earlier.

Melissa nodded. “Yeah, we’re in Ms. Carter’s class.” She grinned, looking up at her dad. The man’s brows lightly raised as she nodded, indulging in the information the kids delivered. Raheem’s face lit up. “Me too!” He said as if the little girl hadn’t already said that. Cree chuckled as the two kids immediately fell into small conversation, excitedly chatting about their classmates to the adults.

Cree folded her arms, eyes flicking back to the man. “So, do I get a name, or you just gonna keep staring at me like you tryna figure something out?” She asked eyes squinted to block the sun that shined over his head like a halo as she arched a brow at him.

He let out a low chuckle, running a hand over his loc’d hair before finally extending his other one toward her. “It’s Lamont.”

Cree took his hand, shaking it firmly. “Well, Lamont, I really appreciate you returning my hard drive. You don’t even know how much this truly means to me.”

“No problem. It looked important.”

“It is.” She, hosing the device tight in her grip as she moved to finish buckling Raheem into his car seat, before turning back and giving him a knowing smirk. “Lucky you found it.” She said. “I probably would’ve never seen this thing again if it wasn’t for you.”

Lamont smirked back. “Yeah… lucky me.”

@saturnville @henneseyhoe @notapradagurl7 @sy-monee @zillasvilla @slvt4her @saltburnsworld @melaninhawtie @j0ysyndr0m3 @moooonluvr @

[poison-into-positivity]

So apparently Max just canceled another original show, Rap Sh!t, which follows two Black women and features a predominantly Black cast.

It has pretty good reception too! There was no reason to cancel it! Genuinely, from the bottom of my heart, what the fuck is that company thinking right now.

Cancelling two well-received Max original shows that center around minority voices within two weeks of each other. Max has never looked worse.

David Zaslav is NOT coming back from this.

[guerrilla-operator]

HENRY ROLLINS, DUFF MCKAGAN, AND BODY COUNT

[antigoneikk]

“Rock groups have played the exact same music for twenty years…personally I’d rather listen to Ice-T or Public Enemy.” - John Paul Jones

[todayinhiphophistory]

Today in Hip Hop History:

Clipse released their debut album Lord Willin’ August 20, 2002

[cosmic-hoebo]

Lamont Diggs | Rap Sh!t

[contac]

[spaceshipsandpurpledrank]

The ABCs of T-Pain

[dudja]

Pov your favorite coworker was late #comedy #pov #memes #coworker #work #meme

[theofficialinternetloner]

Went to the store today to see if I could get The Death of Slim Shady (and any other good hip hop albums, really), and they didn't have a SINGLE COPY. Instead, they had pretty much every fucking Sabrina Carpenter album on earth and way too many copies of the trash that is The Great Impersonator. They also didn't have any other hip hop albums, whether they were classics like DAMN, Get Rich or Die Tryin, and Relapse or new releases like Chromokopia and GNX. No Eminem, no Dre, no Kendrick, no Tyler, no 50, no 2Pac, no Pusha T, no N.W.A., no Akon, nothing. The worst part? This place sells tons of albums in other categories like pop, K-pop, and rock, and I've actually bought three so far. But where are the fucking hip hop albums?

[sonnetforbonnet]

Don't Stream on Max, Stream Scavengers Reign on Netflix!

Hey, Don’t Stream On Max folks! If you have Netflix, stream Scavengers Reign! Show Max just what kind of success they’re missing out on! Who knows, maybe Netflix will renew it for a S2?

@saveofmdcrewmates @adoptourcrew