A week later, Phil had already submitted all the paperwork to the New York Department of Taxation. But thanks to the "touching" efficiency of US government agencies, the process was still ongoing.
However, his thoughtful little assistant, Bonnie, gave Leon a small surprise. With her help, Apocalypse Label's official YouTube channel was set up and already had over 5,000 subscribers.
Leon commented on this: "Looks like this woman knows more magic tricks than just pleasing men."
Within this week, Leon gave Phil's office a makeover at lightning speed. The peeling walls were repainted, and the chandeliers, which were probably older than his grandmother, were replaced with LEDs.
Since the office space was limited, to maximize the functionality of the recording studio, Leon only left a small office area for Phil during the partitioning—right across from the toilet.
Phil resisted at first but had no choice but to accept.
For a record label, a high-level recording studio is the foundation of the entire business.
The studio was already filled with equipment Leon scavenged from the secondhand market. Although they were used goods, he still spent a fortune.
Just on a secondhand dual-block BMD mixing console alone, he spent over $20,000.
Adding in renovation costs and other auxiliary equipment, he had spent nearly $40,000 before recording even started.
Squandering money at this rate, he'd probably go bankrupt before the album even reached the printing stage.
Fortunately, Leon had just received his royalty check from Roc Nation for last week's sales. With over 40,000 copies sold (vinyl plus CD), he netted a cool $50,000.
The contribution of vinyl records was significant. Although their production cost is usually ten times that of CDs, it also means higher profit margins.
Besides that, the commercial performances during this period were also quite lucrative. All in all, his money-printing machine had generated over $90,000 during this time.
Judging by the current situation, this money was enough to cover all upcoming expenses.
Although Phil was accomplished in pop music, he wasn't so adept at rap.
And Leon knew even less. In his impression, rap was just "Psy, Dck," and "I'm number one, you all are trash."
To better guide Cardi B's recording process, he specially appointed Davis as the recording director for this EP.
Although Davis didn't have much creative talent, his long career as a battle MC gave him a magician-like control over rhythm and beats.
When the nr, whose life had been bleak, heard this news, he was moved to tears. He declared he wouldn't let Leon down and would use a perfect record to show all of America Cardi's nasty tail lights.
I put my hand above my hip
I bet you dip he dip she dip
This sht is hot like a stove
My psy glitter as gold
If these lyrics were released directly to the market, they would probably shatter the worldview of most listeners.
Cardi B had been working at strip clubs to make money, and even Bonnie, who came from the same background, looked shocked during the recording session.
But Leon and the others were used to it. This girl had even wilder moves, but the current market probably couldn't handle them yet.
So, for her debut EP (Extended Play), they selected a few songs with the "tamest" content from the hundreds of dirty tracks Cardi B had written.
"Yes, just like that! Watch your tone when rhyming! Make it hotter!"
"Don't get lost in your own world; the beat is the soul! Stick tight to the drumbeat, Cardi!"
Davis screamed himself hoarse in front of the mixing console. You could tell he was very dedicated to this job.
Phil was also on the side providing emotional direction: "Not enough, Cardi! Unleash all your emotions! Tell all of New York who is the nastiest, filthiest woman here!"
Under their careful guidance, the title track of the EP, Bodak Yellow, went from demo to finished product in less than two days.
"That's it?" This incredible speed left Leon scratching his head.
Davis grinned smugly. "Bro~ this is actually slow. Rap is all about efficiency! As long as the vibe is right, recording is just surfing on the beat!"
The remaining four songs progressed even faster. An EP with five songs was recorded within a week. This speed was comparable to an industrial assembly line.
The next big thing was the music video shoot. It's not uncommon for a high-quality MV to cost millions of dollars.
Famous directors, camera crews, luxury guest lineups...
Works nominated for the MTV Video Music Awards are all built on piles of cash.
Leon hadn't even secured his own MV yet, so naturally, he couldn't invest many resources in Cardi B.
Everything followed the routine of ghetto gangsta rappers. No need for lavish sets, luxury casts, or glittering jewelry.
Give the audience what they like to see!
What is the most important thing for a female rapper to attract an audience?
Ass! Ass! And more damn ass!
To perfectly blend with the dirty lyrics, Leon decided to set the MV shoot at the midnight club where Bonnie used to work, with the experienced Phil guest-starring as director.
Hearing there was a chance to show their faces in a music video, the girls in the club transformed into hungry she-wolves!
Their bodies pressed together, everyone fighting to occupy the most prominent spot in the center of the lens!
When Phil shouted "Action," they went full throttle, shaking their bodies. The debauched scene made the whole club look like the biblical city of Sodom under God's judgment!
Leon watched everything with greedy eyes—greedy not for the girls' bodies, but for the incoming cash.
Currently, the most explicit MVs on the market were limited to Lady Gaga's level, but he could feel the audience's desire went beyond that. This sector needed more lust to fill the void.
Traditional American values, Puritan ideals, and family concepts were dying at an astonishing speed under the wave of the new era.
In this age of amusing ourselves to death, morality's restraint on individuals seemed to have become a shackle, while dopamine blinded everyone's minds.
Dopamine ruled everything!
Phil praised Leon's astonishing leadership ability, blowing smoke up his ass all the way back after the shoot.
"By the way, I have a surprise for you..."
"What surprise?"
"You've been invited as a guest to next month's MTV Video Music Awards!"
"That counts as a surprise?"
Leon curled his lip, not taking it seriously at all. He thought he had been nominated for an MTV award.
In the music circle, the weight of this award is second only to the Grammys, or arguably on par.
The Grammys focus mainly on the quality of the music itself, while the MTV VMAs focus on the audio-visual experience of the music video.
Actually, it wasn't impossible for him to get nominated. The MV for Take Me to Church had been widely praised by critics.
But unfortunately, nominations for these awards usually require applying in advance, and when the VMA nominations opened, he was still busking in the subway station.