Even though he was prepared to be hustled, Leon was still shocked when Phil proposed starting a record label.
It was a bold plan.
And the old scumbag had shamelessly included his own name in the pitch.
But it was undeniably a good idea. Big shots like Jay-Z and Dr. Dre had started doing exactly this back in the 90s.
At first, no one imagined they could grow their labels into the industry giants they are today.
A so-called "label" isn't fundamentally different from a record company. In a sense, Universal, Warner, and Sony Columbia could also be called labels—just giant ones.
If you have to distinguish, a record company is more like a super-factory for clothing that produces everything from priest robes to underwear.
A label, on the other hand, is more like a single production line within a factory, focusing on a specific type of product.
Because of this, most music labels carry the strong personal stamp of their founders and usually specialize in a single genre.
Starting a personal label wasn't uncommon in the industry anymore. Singers with a bit of fame often started their own. One of the more successful examples was the rapper hailed as a genius, Lil Wayne.
His label, Young Money, launched superstars like Nicki Minaj and Tyga, making him a fortune in the process.
Leon weighed the pros and cons in his mind, then suddenly realized something. "You forgot I'm still under contract with Roc Nation. I'm afraid Jay-Z wouldn't be too happy to see me start my own label."
Phil shook his head. "I don't think Jay-Z would care. You're just starting your own label, not signing yourself to it."
"I actually think Jay-Z would be happy to see it. DJ Khaled started his own label too, and after growing it big, he sold it to Jay-Z."
"That shameless fat guy made a killing off that deal."
When Phil said this, his eyes were practically spitting fire with envy.
Leon thought about it. Although it felt a bit weird, the explanation made sense.
Jay-Z's business empire had expanded into every industry. The record company was just one part of it; he couldn't focus all his energy on the music market.
If one of his artists started a successful personal label, it would save Jay-Z the trouble of scouting new talent himself.
He could just buy the label as a package deal. The richest nr on the East Coast certainly didn't lack money.
Seeing Leon wavering, Phil turned up the heat. "Don't hesitate. This will be the best decision you ever make in your life!"
Leon knew perfectly well that a big reason Phil was pushing this was selfishness—it allowed him to dump the cost of Cardi B's debut album onto Leon.
If Cardi B flopped, Phil lost nothing. If she took off, as her manager, he'd profit effortlessly.
But in the end, Leon decided to bet big. Take Me to Church was still selling well, and a steady stream of cash would keep flowing into his pockets.
He could afford the startup costs of a personal label, as long as the production quality matched T-Ray's Black Panther Records.
He could convert Phil's office into a recording studio and scavenge some decent professional equipment from the secondhand market.
The rest of the money would be dumped into printing and promotion...
"I'm interested..."
"Great! Leave all the paperwork to me. No one knows the process better than I do!" Phil was so excited he could barely hold his glass steady. "Tomorrow I'll go to the New York Department of Taxation to handle the registration. It will take some time..."
"By the way, I'll also register the new company with the RIAA."
Seeing Phil more excited than himself, Leon shook his head helplessly.
Although this old scumbag was barely human in character, his professional competence was unimpeachable.
Leon immediately threw a bucket of cold water on him, saying in a low voice, "I will remember your selfless help... You truly are a great friend."
Phil's smile froze instantly. "What? Selfless help?"
"What else? Starting a personal label costs a lot of money, asshole... Even with the recent royalties from Take Me to Church, it's going to be tight."
"But..."
"No buts. Remember, I am doing you a favor! If you let Cardi B release a record as some laughable independent artist using this crappy equipment, she might actually blow your dck off."
Phil was left speechless by Leon's rebuttal. He stood frozen for a long time before gritting his teeth. "It was my idea... Even just for the sake of friendship, you should give me some shares. Just a little bit..."
Friendship?
Leon laughed out loud. Hearing that word from this old scumbag was as ridiculous as hearing that all Native Americans died from natural causes.
He wasn't one of those "naive" nrs from the ghetto who handed out records without even understanding the contract.
"Rockefeller found oil in the ground. If you gave him the idea to start an oil company, would he give you shares of Standard Oil?"
"Don't be too greedy. You've already gotten enough from me... If I wanted to, I could start a management company anytime. I think Cardi B would be more than happy to leave you immediately."
"You must understand, even your damn manager's cut depends entirely on my generosity."
Phil, who had been deeply entrenched in the record industry for over twenty years, was completely dazed by Leon's combo punches. He finally realized just what kind of person this young man he discovered really was.
Greedy, cunning, heartless...
And shameless.
However, to gain a foothold in the entertainment industry—a vanity fair reeking of copper—all these vices became virtues!
Helpless, Phil had to yield to Leon. But it wasn't a total loss.
As long as this label grew bigger and stronger, the value of Leon and Cardi B would rise, and Phil, as their manager, would still reap the benefits.
"Alright... I have to say, you are greedier than many record company executives I know, even those old foxes."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Just like I said, leave the paperwork to me... What are you planning to name the label?"
Leon paused. Since it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, he hadn't thought about that.
Phil continued, "The name is crucial for a music label, like Lil Wayne's Young Money or Dr. Dre's Aftermath..."
"It largely influences whether the audience will buy into the singers under the label."
Leon lit a cigarette and thought for a while. "Street Jesus" was his nickname since debut, and fans accepted it well, but using his personal tag directly for the label felt a bit inappropriate.
Jesus, suffering, torture, redemption...
As the cigarette burned down, Leon's gaze swept around the room, finally landing on the cross hanging on Phil's chest.
"Apocalypse."
"Let's call it Apocalypse."