California's Carson Lincoln Memorial Park.
Wearing black sunglasses and a white shirt, Dre gazed down at a tombstone engraved with Curtis Young's name. After a while of silently contemplating the inscriptions, Dre knelt down beside it, placing a white chrysanthemum he had brought onto the grave. The flowers, tied simply with black thread, lacked any elaborate decoration.
Peering at the tombstone, Dre removed his sunglasses and muttered softly to himself, "Is it cold over there? Curtis, Dad's here."
Tracing Curtis Young's name on the tombstone, Dre spoke again, "It's been nine years since you left. The six years I spent with you were the happiest moments of my life."
Sitting down on the grass, Dre reached into his Boston bag and pulled out a bottle of liquor. "The day I first met you... I couldn't say anything for a long time after seeing your face. You probably didn't know, but I watched you grow up. When you played basketball in the neighborhood, I thought you'd become a basketball player. And when you played baseball, I thought you might become a baseball player."
"After hearing that you dropped out of high school, I went to find you, and you were working at a mart. I secretly watched you, working under the white mart manager. I cried a lot seeing you being mistreated."
Dre opened the bottle and poured some liquor around the grave. "You liked this liquor, didn't you? Let's have a drink, Dad and son."
After sprinkling the liquor around the grave, Dre sat beside it, hugging his knees, and gazing at the landscape below the hill where the grave was located with misty eyes. "I miss you, son. Do you miss me too? I tried my best to be a father to you, even though we had such a short time together. Still, I miss you a lot."
With his arms wrapped around his knees, Dre buried his face between them. "After you left, many people blamed you. I couldn't even show that I was grieving for my son. They said I shouldn't mourn your death because you died from drug addiction, while a rapper who had already debuted died. They pointed fingers at me and forced me not to mourn your death."
"After that, I wanted to put your story into music. I wrote countless lyrics hoping they would reach you in heaven. But, son, the world is not that forgiving. Investors who heard about turning your story into music didn't leave me alone. They said it's not good to miss or mourn for a son who died of drug addiction, as it affects the stock market. Worthless children who only care about money."
Dre looked down at the grave, saying, "But it seems like I was also such a worthless person. I was afraid the stock price would fall. In the end, I couldn't sing a song about you. Not yet, anyway. Eventually, I realized I was just trash who valued money more than anything else in the world."
Playing the file "Dear Buck wilds" by Ice Cube on his smartphone, Dre placed it beside the grave. "Uncle couldn't make it today. He's a bit busy. This song playing now was released by your uncle. How is it? It seems he wanted you to feature in it since he liked you so much."
Dre reached out to touch the grave gently as he spoke. "I made 'Dear Buck wilds,' but at the same time, I didn't. There's a famous kid named Kay who arranged it. To be honest, the song I made was trash, but after that kid touched it, it turned into gold."
Looking somewhat troubled, Dre continued, "That kid is definitely a genius. But, you know, Curtis, that kid is challenging me. He's telling me to tell your story. He's telling me to stand up again. Do you know how much I want to tell your story?"
Dre sat with his arms crossed. "I couldn't dream because of the stock. So, I kept ignoring it. But, you know, recently, at Snoop's party, that kid sent me a message. He told me not to cry. He told me not to forget the past but to wipe away my tears. When I listened to that song, your face and that kid's face overlapped."
Dre sighed deeply. "I saw you in that kid. Maybe, Curtis, you appeared before me through that kid. But that couldn't be, right?"
After talking to Curtis's grave for a while, Dre looked at his wristwatch and got up from his seat. "Oh no, time flies so fast. I'll come back next week, Curtis."
Even as he stood up, Dre continued to gaze at the grave for a long time, then put his sunglasses back on and headed towards the parking lot. Parked there was an unusual green Bentley Continental Coupe. A man in a suit standing beside the car opened the back door as Dre approached.
Just as Dre was about to get into the car, the man spoke up. "Boss, there's something you need to see."
Dre, puzzled, turned to face the man, still holding onto the car door. "To see? What is it?"
The man pulled out a tablet PC and said, "Today, Snoop, Eminem, Ice, Dogg Pound, Warren G, Master P, and 50 Cent all released digital singles simultaneously."
Dre stood up straight, surprised. "What? All seven of them? Even Ice? I didn't hear about this."
Handing the tablet PC to Dre, the man said, "It seems they each put different lyrics on the same free song. There's no copyright for the free song, but it's registered under the name 'Kay.' The person who's currently in the studio mentioned it."
Scratching his head, Dre said, "Kay made the beat? Well, that kid is a genius, so it's possible. But seven people rapping on Kay's beat with different lyrics? And all on the same day? What's going on with these guys?"
Taking the tablet PC from the man, Dre got into the car, saying, "Let's listen on the way. We can't be late for the major shareholder meeting. Let's go."
Geon settled into the car, his fingers searching for his headphones as the vehicle started moving. He plugged his 'Beats Pro' headphones, a budget-friendly gem of his brand 'Beats by Dre,' into his tablet and immediately played Snoop's music. The chest-thumping bass guitar resonated from the $400 headphones.
As Geon listened, his eyes widened in surprise. "Huh? A rock ballad? 'Break The Wall'?"
His gaze intensified as the solo bass guitar played, seamlessly transitioning into the intro of 'Daddy Was A Doctor,' a track released by his son Curtis under the moniker 'Hood Surgeon.' A 4/4 drum followed, real drums, not electronic beats, lending a rock feel rather than hip-hop.
"Ting, ting ting, ting ting."
The intro filled with Snoop Dogg's characteristic raspy voice preparing to rap on the beat.
"Uhh, that felt good?"
Geon chuckled softly, recognizing the lyrics mentioning his own songs. But as the next lines played, he froze, hand gripping the headphones tightly against his ears.
"That nigga fucked about right about now Dogg"
"I'm about ready to get up out this damn"
"I'm ready to get his shit up man"
"With motherfuckin investor after you"
"Punk ass bitches, sucka ass niggaz"
"I can't take this shit no more dogg"
Geon's eyes trembled, fixated on the music.
"You can, smoke a pound of bud everyday"
"You got a big screen TV, man, you wanna give all this up?"
"You got the dopest shit out on the streets"
"Nigga, is you crazy? It's about your son. It's not Other Asshole story."
Geon's eyes twitched, his gaze piercing through the tablet. Snoop's rap danced effortlessly over precise drum beats and basslines. When the rap paused, a heavily distorted guitar solo engulfed the scene, swiftly covering the vocal part of 'paradise' by 'Hood Surgeon' with female vocals.
The guitar's melody seemed to speak directly to Geon, urging him to constantly reminisce about his son Curtis. It felt as if Curtis was trying to convey a message to Geon through the music, stirring up a solemnity in Geon's eyes as he listened to the final lines of Snoop's rap.
"Dr. Dre is the shit, bitch!"
"Talk about the sadness of your son rather than the fucking money"
"I think what Hood Surgeon wants. It's time for you to be a father"
On the rooftop of a 12-story building at the entrance of the Fashion District in Los Angeles, Geon Kim peered down below, holding a walkie-talkie in hand, having crossed over to the U.S. just a month ago.
"Is the security team ready?"
"Affirmative, we're ready," came the response.
Observing the crowd below, interspersed amidst the many shoppers enjoying themselves, Geon Kim, dressed in a sleek black suit, checked the monitors again.
"Is the camera team ready?"
"Yes, all set."
As he scanned below, he noticed about thirty individuals, each clutching an AVC HD camcorder, stealthily blending into the crowd.
"Are the stationary cameras confirmed?"
"Yes, all systems are go."
Turning his attention to the monitors stationed at one corner of the rooftop, displaying various angles of the Fashion District, Geon nodded in satisfaction.
"Actors, descend and blend in with the crowd," he instructed over the walkie-talkie.
Responding to his command, men wearing various animal masks emerged from the black vans parked at the entrance of the Fashion District. Gorillas, rabbits, lions, tigers, elephants, eagles, leopards, and pigs stepped into the Fashion District, eliciting surprised gazes from the shoppers.
"What's happening? Is there an event?"
"Mom! Look, it's a rabbit!"
"The gorilla mask is scary, Mom!"
"Aww, how cute!"
While the shoppers initially showed interest in the masked figures, particularly delighting the children, the masked group seemed indifferent, either sitting at sidewalk cafes or leaning against lampposts, engrossed in their own activities. Young women attempted to engage with the masked individuals, poking them or taking pictures, only to be met with silence. Eventually, the crowd lost interest and resumed their shopping routines.
Geon Kim waited approximately ten minutes on the rooftop until the crowd's attention was fully captured by the masked individuals.
"Commencing in 30 seconds. Sound team, perform a final check."
"Roger, all systems checked. Speakers across all buildings in the Fashion District are linked."
"Excellent. Full staff, all ready! Countdown from 10."
As Geon's command echoed, security personnel rushed out from the buildings, positioning themselves amidst the crowd. Shoppers, curious about the commotion, turned their attention toward them. Suddenly, music began emanating from the speakers of all buildings in the Fashion District simultaneously. Heads turned, and smiles spread across faces.
A group of men, each wielding an AVC HD camcorder, emerged from the crowd and began filming the masked individuals. The resounding bass guitar reverberated, joined soon after by electric guitar and drums, causing some to grimace at the increasing volume.
Amidst the clamor, the rabbit-masked individual seated at the outdoor café suddenly stood up, removing his mask. Onlookers erupted in excitement.
"It's Snoop Dogg! Snoop Dogg!"
"Woah! No way!"
"Quick, take a photo! Actually, let's record a video!"
Snoop Dogg, now unmasked, adjusted his sunglasses and began to rap.
"Six million ways to die, choose one"
"It's time to escape, but I don't know where the fuck I'm headed"
"Up or down, right or left, life or death"
"Uhh~ Doctor, I do not think that's the way it is"
Concluding his verse with a flick of his fingers, Snoop Dogg pointed in a direction, and the camera lens followed his hand, revealing a gorilla-masked individual leaning against a lamppost. With a grin, the gorilla removed its mask and slammed it on the ground.
"Ahhhh! It's 50 Cent!"
"Wow! Incredible!"
Tearing his shirt to reveal his muscular torso adorned with bullet scars from past altercations, 50 Cent stepped forward.
"My name is Curtis, if I hear this name, will somebody think?"
"Sorry, I'm 50 cent, Curtis Young is Doctor's son"
"Ahhhh, Your somewhat brain boggled"
"So You look to the microphone and slowly start to wobble"
"Are you scared, Doctor?"
At the rooftop of a 12-story building at the entrance of Los Angeles' Fashion District.
Looking down from the rooftop, Geon Kim stood with a walkie-talkie in hand, his gaze piercing through the bustling crowd below.
"Is the security team ready?"
"Roger that, all set."
Geon raised the walkie-talkie again, scanning the crowd with black-suited African Americans spaced roughly two meters apart.
"Is the camera team ready?"
"Yes, we're all set."
As Geon scanned below once more, he spotted around thirty individuals discreetly holding AVC HD camcorders amidst the crowd.
"Are the stationary cameras confirmed?"
"Yes, all systems checked and functional."
Turning his head, Geon glanced at the ten monitors set up in one corner of the rooftop. They displayed various views of the Fashion District, divided into screens showing different angles and perspectives, capturing both high and low views, as well as eye-level shots of passing individuals.
After ensuring everything was in order, Geon picked up the walkie-talkie again.
"Actors, start blending in with the crowd."
Upon Geon's command, men wearing various animal masks emerged from the black van parked at the Fashion District entrance. Gorillas, rabbits, lions, tigers, elephants, eagles, leopards, and pigs—all part of a sequence—entered the Fashion District, surprising onlookers who were engaged in shopping.
"What's happening? Is this some kind of event?"
"Mom! Look, it's a rabbit!"
"I'm scared of the gorilla, Mom!"
"Aww, it's so cute!"
While the crowd initially focused on the group wearing animal masks, expecting some event for the children, the masked individuals paid no attention to the kids. Instead, they began taking their positions, either sitting in outdoor cafes or leaning against lampposts, crossing their arms, immersed in their own activities. Although some young women teased them or took pictures, the masked individuals remained unresponsive. People soon lost interest and resumed their shopping routines. Geon waited for about ten minutes until people were completely engrossed in the animal-masked group before speaking into the walkie-talkie again.
"Commencing in 30 seconds. Sound team, final check."
"Confirmed, all external speakers across Fashion District buildings are connected."
"Good. All staff, all ready! Countdown from 10."
As Geon's instructions echoed, security guards stationed near the buildings rushed out and positioned themselves among the crowd. Shoppers turned their attention, curious about the sudden activity. Then, simultaneously, music began blaring from all the external speakers of the Fashion District buildings. People looked up, baffled, as the cameras rapidly shifted focus, capturing a man wearing a pig mask dining at a nearby restaurant, his face buried in a plate of spaghetti.
As the camera director approached for a close-up, the man slowly removed his pig mask.
"Oh my God! It's Ice Cube!"
"What the...? What's happening?"
"Are they filming a music video?"
After wiping his mouth with a napkin and placing the spaghetti bowl on the floor, Ice Cube stood up, walked towards the camera, and began rapping with his trademark intense expression.
Hey, Doctor, don't waste your time on others, you're not like them
"You don't care about investors. Hey, Doctor! You're Dr. Dre!"
"Speak to the damn asshole!"
"I don't even have the right to mourn my son who died of drug addiction!"
As Ice Cube, in his imposing stature, delivered his rap, he suddenly stopped, bowed his head, and clasped his hands together. The camera angle shifted to capture Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and 50 Cent simultaneously. All three stood frozen in the same pose, and as the audience observed their sudden stillness, they too paused in their movements.
While the upper camera seemed to freeze the Fashion District like a still frame, the movement of the seated bench caught the eye. As the person wearing a leopard mask stood up, people's attention shifted. When the leopard mask was removed, the women in the audience burst into screams.
"Oh my gosh! It's Kay!"
"He's so handsome!"
"Kay, we love you!"
With a gangster-like swagger, Geon stared directly into the camera and began singing, not rapping.
"Break the wall, Doctor, there's no wall in front of you."
"Give me your hand, one step closer."
"You'll find that what's in front of you is not a wall."
As Geon's voice resonated, the audience's jaws dropped in awe. From the mouth of such a beautiful boy came a voice so hauntingly powerful that the crowd, forgetting to cheer, simply gazed at him in a daze. After Geon's singing part ended, Eminem, who removed the lion mask, and DMX, who removed the eagle mask, followed suit, each delivering their rap performance. When Eminem stepped forward, the Fashion District erupted into thunderous cheers.
After Geon's song resumed, Master P, who removed the tiger mask, and Warren G, who removed the elephant mask, ended the rap. As the audience watched, each swayed in their seats, dancing, and suddenly, the camera above captured people dancing and genuinely enjoying the impromptu performance.
As the music faded and the stars waved to the crowd, fans surged forward. Upon seeing this, Geon quickly instructed the security team, and the burly African American guards pushed the crowd back with imposing expressions. As the guards cleared the area, the rappers' cars, which had quickly retreated during the commotion, sped off, and the Fashion District fell quiet as if the performance had never happened.
The next day.
The guerrilla performance at the Fashion District was filmed and uploaded to YouTube under the title 'Break the Wall, Doctor.' The video quickly gained views and climbed to the top of the popular videos list. Alongside the singles released the same day, the song sparked immense interest and discussions among countless fans. As word spread, YouTube views skyrocketed, and all seven of their songs entered the top 10 of the latest hot charts on streaming sites.
And then, with the buzz surrounding 'Break the Wall,' other American rappers began to take notice.