Chapter 68: Serendipitous Encounters and Farewell Calls
Three days after their wild night at "The Velvet Rope," Holmes found himself back at Diddy's studio, this time with a more relaxed vibe. He was kicking back with Diddy and Jay-Z, playing cards and listening to some new tracks.
"Yo, Holmes," Diddy said, dealing a hand of poker. "You been chilling out here in New York. You thinking about relocating?"
"Nah, Puff," Holmes said, shaking his head. "Chicago's my home. But I might get a place out here, just to have a base."
"That's smart, man," Jay-Z said, studying his cards. "You gotta have a presence in both cities."
Enter Lil Wayne:
Suddenly, the door to the lounge opened, and a young man with a distinctive dreadlock style walked in. It was Lil Wayne.
"Weezy F. Baby!" Diddy exclaimed, rising to greet the young rapper. "What up, Tunechi?"
"What up, Puff?" Lil Wayne replied, flashing a wide grin. "Just came by to drop off some beats."
Diddy turned to Holmes and Jay-Z. "Holmes, Jay, this is Lil Wayne. He's gonna be a problem in this game, mark my words."
Holmes sized up Lil Wayne, his eyes scanning the young rapper from head to toe. He sensed the raw talent and ambition radiating from him, but he also detected a vulnerability, a sense that Wayne was still finding his way.
"Wayne," Holmes said, extending his hand. His voice was polite but firm, his gaze unwavering. "Good to meet you. I'm Holmes."
Lil Wayne shook Holmes's hand, his grip surprisingly.strong. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Holmes," Wayne said, his voice filled with respect. "I'm a big fan of your work."
Jay-Z nodded in acknowledgment, but remained focused on his cards. He was known for his stoic demeanor, and he didn't give away much with his expressions.
A Humble Approach:
Lil Wayne's humility and genuine admiration for Holmes immediately diffused any potential tension. Holmes, despite his guarded nature, couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for the young rapper.
"Just Holmes is fine, man," Holmes said, relaxing his posture slightly. "What you been working on, Wayne?"
Lil Wayne eagerly began to describe his latest projects, his passion evident in his voice. He talked about his upcoming mixtape, his plans for his group, the Hot Boys, and his aspirations to become one of the greatest rappers of all time.
"I'm just trying to learn from the best, Mr. Holmes," Wayne said, his eyes shining with sincerity. "I want to be on your level one day."
"You got the talent, Wayne," Holmes said, offering a rare smile. "Just stay focused, stay hungry, and never stop learning."
Diddy watched the exchange with amusement, knowing that he was witnessing the beginning of a potentially fruitful relationship. He had a knack for recognizing talent, and he knew that both Holmes and Lil Wayne had the potential to achieve greatness.
A Call from Em:
As Holmes and Lil Wayne continued to chat, Holmes's phone rang. It was Eminem.
"Yo, Holmes, what up?" Eminem said, his voice sounding distant. "We just wanted to let you know we're heading back to Detroit."
"What's up, Em?" Holmes said, his brow furrowing. "You guys leaving already?"
"Yeah, man," Eminem said. "We gotta get back to the lab. 50's got his album to finish, and we got some D12 stuff to work on."
"Alright, man," Holmes said. "Safe travels. I'll catch you back in Detroit soon."
"Aight, Holmes," Eminem said. "Peace...Holmes hung up the phone, a sense of unease settling over him. He had enjoyed his time in New York, but he was starting to miss his friends and his familiar surroundings. It was time to head back to Detroit and get back to work.