Brand New EP (4)
Clearly, I had intended to keep things strictly business at first. Forcing a friendship would just feel awkward. Or so I thought.
"Uh...?"
The songwriting went way smoother than expected. I could feel it from the start of the session. This is definitely gonna hit. Hanbam seemed to sense it too, cranking out work at an insane pace. He rewrote all the lyrics in a flash and nailed the hook perfectly.
This has to work. What the hell is this guy?
By the halfway point of the track, doubts started creeping in. His talent was beyond imagination. I'd rated him around a 7 before, but this session? He was hitting 8s and 9s. In my first life, I couldn't recall any rapper pulling this off. Racking my brain, no one like Hanbam or Vincent Bancoff came to mind. Not even anyone similar.
So why hadn't he blown up back then? Truth is, no deep reason needed. The entertainment world is cold. Talent, skill, hard work, and persistence don't guarantee success.
Q: So how do you make it?
A: If everyone knew that, the whole world would be winning.
Before I knew it, we were grabbing hamburgers and chatting about this and that. And just like that, we ended up getting close.
That kind of story.
To borrow Hanbam's words: "It's like we started as business partners and became family."
"Family?"
I got the lyric reference, but family? That's a stretch.
"We're a shared fate now—basically blood brothers."
Fair point. We're collaborating on a release; our fates are tied.
"If this track flops, I'm heading back to the burger joint."
Of course, the place is right next door. We'd both ordered burger sets. Munching on fries first, Hanbam admitted his situation wasn't flush. Starving underground artist vibes.
Just to check: "No family support?"
Was he like Yu Jeuni—fancy Apgujeong home, doctor parents, grandpa a congressman? Picked that up from some politician's SNS algorithm recently.
Anyway, never fully trust to the end.
"Nah, nothing like that. We're not loaded. Feels kinda guilty dropping out of college for this."
But Hanbam was the real deal in hip-hop.
"I saved up just enough for a year, quit my part-time gigs, and dove into music. If this flops too, maybe it's seppuku time."
He was dead serious about making real music. Scraped together cash however he could, grinding tracks to survive. And in this spot? Uploads to SoundCloud getting zero traction. Show Me the Money cut after three seconds. Another flop here would be fatal for him.
In my first life, he probably quit around now. Thinking that gave me chills.
Guy's got real talent.
Even I couldn't guarantee a hit at this stage. Not me, of all people. Who am I to say?
That's reality. The world is full of geniuses. Rich folks scoop up the elite ones, assemble the prettiest faces, churn out tracks factory-style, and dump billions into marketing. Even they flop sometimes.
Point is, money and looks aside—no one can promise success here.
If this tanks too, will he really quit music?
I was about to ask, but Hanbam beat me to it.
"Honestly, if it flops, I just go back to burgers."
"Save up for another year or two, cool down, try again."
"Still early twenties—figure I got one more shot in life."
This is hip-hop? Desperate as hell.
Me? Hit or miss, no sweat. Even a total bomb wouldn't faze me.
Not even close. Saying this in front of him might even feel shitty.
"Truth is, I'm pretty desperate too."
I am desperate. He probably couldn't guess why.
Hanbam perked up, intrigued. "Desperate how?"
"Gonna start my own one-man label."
"Already? You're a high school freshman."
"Prep now, launch properly by graduation."
"Ambitious."
Good—no scammer vibes. Maybe Yu Jeuni's bad example taught me well.
"A flop won't kill me, but as an artist, every release is do-or-die."
"Oof... I'm actually dying here."
Joking aside, he got it.
"Kinda get the vibe. People's expectations and all."
"Gotta beat the sophomore slump too."
"Sophomore what?"
"When a promising debut act tanks the follow-up."
"Ah! Sophomore slump! Missed that."
Strictly speaking, mine's singles, not albums. But post-Blue Lemon Sky, the skepticism hits just like for any newbie.
I want to shut down those doubts. Nail it right, and my spot in the industry solidifies.
"This track succeeding would let me finally trust my skills. Starting then."
Spilling my guts, Hanbam pondered, dipping fries deep in ketchup like it was serious business.
"I'm only two years older, so this might sound weird, but Seryeon, you don't even seem like a high schooler."
"Huh?"
He leaned across the table. "Second life or something?"
"Gasp."
Luckily, just a joke.
"You game at all, Seryeon?"
That's how we started Mepuri together that day. Turns out, this guy's a monster at it.
We partied up, and he'd carry bosses for me. Newbie perk: snag easy rewards. Now we're boss-running together.
At this point, it hits me: People keep approaching first, and boom—friends. Is it time for relationship guru Mundaine's retirement?
Chatting in-game, heading to wash up. Mirror catches my reflection naturally. Over a year post-regression, still not used to this face.
Straight-up cheat code.
High nose. Pretty eyes. Brows and jawline scream masculine. Mirror misses the height and build—perfect too. Even with workouts, this ain't effort territory. System gift or miracle, it's a massive passive buff on my life.
Half my unconscious wins and favors? Probably this mug. Feels scammier 'cause it's passive—you don't even notice it's carrying you.
Hmm.
Not going menhera here. But a cynical thought: Now I get why pretty boys preach 'looks don't matter'—annoying af.
Hands clean, back to the PC.
Home now. Studio rig's beast-mode, but game there? Black hole. Especially brain-melters like Mepuri. I'd ghost work entirely. Routines matter—that's my mantra.
Seems minor. Wait, really? Chatting in Mushroom Village now. Track demo's wrapped.
Hanbam's blue-haired ice mage girl spills via speech bubble.
Thinking back, we slammed a tight schedule and recorded. Demo out in weeks, dropped on Receive—the world's top video platform. Reactions? Explosive. Hip-hop purists might differ, but public love, buzz, hype? Locked in.
What now?
No producer...?
Bumped his tier up a notch mentally.
HardStedemy 1.1 All-In Party Play PP!!!
—demoted back to - tier.