25 Lighters Chapter 4
Promethazine Fiend
As we pull up to the venue I'm still feeling off. I've been trying to shake it all day. It's so weird how I remember taking a shot with everybody and then almost immediately waking up. I don't really feel tired but it's like I'm not here or still asleep. Whatever the fuck is going on I ain't got time to trip on it. I gotta get my mind right for this show.
"Ayyye yo you straight?" Dom asks. I guess he's noticing too.
"Yea yea I'm good. Just had something on my mind."
"Well right now the only thing that needs to be on your mind is this show aight? Handle yours."
"Imma handle it."
I dap him up and we walk into the venue. As I'm walking in I'm blown away by the setup. Behind the stage, there's a door with the words "Rumi and guests" written on it. When I walk in there I see these two leather sofas that look comfortable as hell. At the back of the room, there's a table with all kinds of appetizers, snacks, a little mini bar, and some of my merch. I start to feel much better, almost how I felt when I first landed yesterday. I sit on the couch and say a quick prayer thanking God for blessing me to be here and that the show will run smoothly. Just as I finish my prayer J calls me.
"What's up J you here?"
"Yea I'm here, you said meet you in the back right?"
"Yea yea I'm bout to come out and meet you."
"Bet"
I see J walking up and I can't help but notice how fresh boys is. I walk out towards the street to meet him.
"My nigga you fresh though."
"Imma fly nigga" he says putting his hands out like this is how he dresses on the regular. "You ready to show these niggas how you do?"
"Shit you already know."
I dap J up and we walk back into the venue. As we are walking in this nigga starts singing a hook from Z-Ro's song
"I Know they told y'all deep down south we don't play" he hooks me around the neck and continues "piss me off and imma spray every one of y'all" pointing his finger at the air as if it's a gun.
I just gave him this look like "nigga what the fuck you on" and didn't even respond. I gotta stay focused and refuse to deal with any bullshit tonight. When we walk back into my room he's just as amazed as I was by the setup.
"My nigga you big time. I'm proud of boys for real."
"Thanks bro. I'm blessed. Ayye you talked to Keisha?"
"Nah, Chanel called me just before I got here and said she was on her way and she hadn't heard from Keisha either so she was coming by herself. But some shit went down last night with her nigga, I ain't got all the details yet but I swear to God I'll slide that nigg....."
Before he could get anything else out I interrupt him.
"Look J imma be real with you, my day been a little off so I don't wanna hear about no drama and shit right now. I really need to focus."
"I hear you bro, my fault."
"It's all good bro my head just a little clouded right now. But help yoself to whatever. Imma go take care of this soundcheck real quick."
"Say less!"
I'm not sure what's going on with Keisha but now that I think about it it's kinda weird that all of us have hit her up with no response. I breeze through soundcheck with no issues. Dom gave me the thumbs up and said everything was a go.
"You ready for that interview?" Dom asks
I forgot Dom got me an interview with EC Mike from this really popular podcast show called The Syrup Show.
"Damn yea I almost forgot. I'm ready though."
Dom and I walk over to this private section where EC Mike is sitting. As we are walking over I see some of the line waiting outside. It's at least 50 people that I see and probably more wrapped around the other side of the building.
"Rumi Truth, it's a pleasure to formally meet you."
"EC Mike, I'm a huge fan man. It's nice to meet you as well."
"I got everything set up for you, so whenever you ready we can start."
"I'm ready now, let's do it." I look over at Dom for reassurance and he nods his head at me letting me know to handle mine.
"What's good Houston it's ya boy EC Mike from the hottest show in the H and we got that syrup for you. I'm with Houston's own Rumi at his sold-out show here at Live Road. How you feeling tonight bro?"
"I'm feeling good, hella excited, and blessed to be at this point in my career."
"That's what's up. So tell us about your recently released album Space City. and by the way, I fucks with the title heavy."
"Thank you, umm Space City is my first album. I released three mixtapes before this and I think what I was missing most on those tapes was quality production. So I hooked up with a producer my manager Dom introduced me to and his shit just inspired me in a much different way than before. I wanted this album to have a Houston swag to it but still cater to who I am as an artist. It's much more upbeat than my old shit and I feel it's a project that people from all walks of life can relate to."
EC Mike continues with the interview and I notice that they opened the doors. It's way more than 50 people and they all look hella happy to be here. Shit is crazy. I'm ready to perform now and I hope they are even more hype when I get on that stage.
"As we come to the end of this interview I gotta know, who are a few of you rap influencers?"
"Honestly I'm influenced by the entire hip hop culture good and bad but to name a few Z-Ro, UGK, Doughbeezy, BuddieRoe, Q Guyton, Maxo Kream, Sauce Walka, Scarface, Chucky Trill to name a few but the list could go on. I just thought I'd show some love to the ones from the H."
"That's what I'm talking bout, Rumi you a Houston legend in the making. Keep that shit up my dawg. Preciate ya time with us today and wish you nothing but the best. I already know you finna kill it tonight."
I walk back to my room and see Chanel and Jamaal chopping it up and taking shots.
"Just in time, you wanna shot it up with us?" Chanel asks
"Nah I'm good y'all go ahead. Maybe after the show."
"Is it ok if I go out and join the crowd, might be some potential lil sums out there that need my digits?"
"Yea you got your wristband right?"
Chanel waves her wrist up at me showing me she has it. "Yea I got it."
"You good then, all you gotta do is show the security at the door and he'll let you back here whenever you want to come back. Ayye have you heard from Keisha yet?"
"She sent me a text saying she'd be a little late but that she would be here. But don't worry I'm sure she good. That nigga G probably got her occupied with some shit so ya know."
For some reason, I just have this odd feeling that everything ain't ok with her. Maybe that's why I been feeling this way all day.
"Ayye J you remember everything from last night?"
He starts laughing and says "I can tell you ain't had drank in a minute, in the middle of monop yo ass got up to use the bathroom. About 15 minutes had passed by and we start wondering what was taking you so long. So I go back and check on you and yo ass is knocked out in the bed."
"Damn for real? I don't even remember any of that. Last thing I remember is when I got back from walking Keisha out we all took a shot and after that, I just remember waking up to Dom knocking on the door."
"That's normal nigga, we probably overdid it by taking shots of drank at the top plus you kept asking for more. You probably damn near drank a 4. Yo ass needs to stick to a deuce next time."
Next time? This muthafucka must be out his mind. There damn sure won't be a next time. I don't like this clouded shit and I'm probably still high. The times I sipped before I would split a deuce with J. That nigga can probably drank a 4 and be good. I can't fucking believe I drank that much.
"You on in 20. You ready?" Dom asks
"I handle mine," I reply to take the edge off so he'll think I'm ready but I'm honestly not. I'm still stuck on how much drank I had.
I walk to the bathroom that is on the other side of the stage where the crowd is. I figure seeing the crowd once again will get me hyped plus I need to splash some more water on my face to try to get rid of this high. As I make my way out of the bathroom I see a commotion going on. Walking that way I see two security guards and a cop trying to get Chanel under control and she's in handcuffs. Then I hear Chanel screaming
"Fuck you weak ass bitch that's why yo nigga was hittin' this shit."
I spot Keisha in the crowd telling Chanel to chill. They finally get Chanel under control and take her out in handcuffs.
"Yo what the fuck happened?" I ask Keisha
"We were walking back to your room and she spotted Darius and his wife Mykayla. I could tell she was tipsy because she starts talking out the side of her head and walking that way."
"Are you serious? So how did it escalate?"
"I try to stop her from approaching them but she yanked away and walks over to them. She exchanges words with Darius and he tries to calm her down before she exposes him but she starts telling it all. How he calls her when he ain't with Mykayla, and them meeting up all the time."
"So how she end up in cuffs?"
"Mykayla said something crazy and before she could finish Chanel fucking punches the girl in the face. So they probably taking her ass to jail. I told her drunk ass not to even fool with that nigga."
Honestly, I'm not even surprised. This is some typical Chanel shit. Always wanting to be seen or cause a scene if she feels like she ain't the highlight in the room. I just can't believe she would bring that hoodrat shit into my show. And all this over a nigga who is taken, he ain't even hers.
"You gotta be fucking kidding me." I say burying my face in my hands because my mind is everywhere else but on this performance.
Keisha grabs my hands and pushes my head up and says,
"Hey don't trip on that shit. It's over now, just focus on yo show. Ok? Forget about that shit."
Lord knows I needed to hear those words because I was slowly losing it. I performed at over 100 shows and have never had this gut feeling of something not being right. As the night goes on that feeling worsens. Keisha has always had this way of making me feel as if the problems I face aren't as bad as they seem. When she said those words I suddenly remember that we kissed last night. It somewhat soothes me but I gotta get it together. I'm at the point where I'm just ready to get it over with so I can go sleep the rest of whatever this is off.
"You right. I'm going to go back to the room and try to focus. You coming back?"
"Yea I'll be back there, I'm going to go check on Chanel and see what they're going to do with her. I just show the security my wristband right?"
"Yea just show them that and you'll be good. I'll see you back there."
When I get backstage to my room it's just Dom and the stage manager talking. Ain't no telling where J done run off to.
"Ayye yo everything good? I heard about what happened out front." Dom asks
"It's all good, Chanel got arrested but at least they got her rowdy ass outta here."
"Well don't let that shit distract you from what we came here to do. Showtime is in 10. Everything is good with sound and stage so do whatever the fuck you need to do and get ya head in the game kid. I'll give you some space, and remember get ya mind right, it's time to handle it."
I dap him up and he walks out. Dom reminding me that I go on in 10 set off a ticking clock in my head. It's literally as if a clock is going off in my head just counting down to chaos. I start rehearsing my set even though I've overprepared for this show. I'm going to start with my single 'Southside Fade' since it's upbeat and that's the most popular track on my album. Just as I skim through my set Dom runs into the room and has this look on his face as if something is wrong.
"Ayye yo Rumi come get ya boi J they out here bout to pop some shit off."
And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse. I run outside through the back door and see J with about 10 of his niggas and G Will and some GTE niggas going at it.
"J what the fuck y'all got going on bro?"
"I don't know Rumi why don't you ask my mans G here why he send his girl to do his dirty work."
His girl? Is this why Keisha ain't hit me back all day. I knew that nigga G Will was gone eventually get her caught up in some shit. Right now I don't have time to figure out what the fuck happened. This show is all that matters right now. At least that's what I'm trying to convince myself of.
"Look whatever y'all niggas got going on y'all need to take that shit elsewhere. This ain't the time or place for all that."
"Yea J why don't you listen to yo boi Rumi here, he always been a little wise. Otherwise, we can get into some shit if that's what the fuck you wanna do." G Will says while slightly pulling his shirt up flashing his tool.
"Well what you wanna do nigga? Muthafucka run-up in my shit and wanna pop off at the mouth, yea nigga what the fuck you wanna do?" J boldly pulls out his shit and cocks it back and points it at G Will.
"Bro come on y'all niggas need to chill. It's too many eyes out here."
I look back over anxiously by the door to see if the security guard or some officers is near but they probably still occupied with Chanel bullshit. When I turn back around I see J Duece (Jamaal's homeboy) walking up from the parking lot. All of a sudden he points a gun but not in our direction. I'm confused because I can't tell who he's aiming at as I don't see anyone. He pulls the trigger and fires three times.
Everybody starts running and shit but I hear some people yelling "somebody call 911, she's bleeding a lot." I walk towards the street where J Duece fired the shot and see a big group of people I'm assuming surrounded by whoever he shot. As I get closer I notice a woman's arm and once I see the heart tattoo on her wrist I almost lose it. It's Keisha. I run over pushing people out the way and I see a security guard performing CPR. I try to push him out the way too as I'm yelling "no, no, no yo what the fuck no, this can't be happening." Another security guard gets ahold of me and I'm just watching as the other tries to save her. At that moment it's as if the clock that I kept hearing in my head stopped ticking and everyone's voice around me is sort of muffled. Then I hear this loud ring that makes me grab my head because I needed it to stop.
The ambulance finally arrives and after almost 45 minutes of trying to bring Keisha back, they pronounce her dead at the scene. I have no words.
