Tyler stepped into the studio, feeling a familiar but heightened vibe. Today wasn't just about working on another track—this was his remix with Kiana Monroe, a name that carried heavy weight in the industry.
His track, Heart on a Sleeve, was personal, and now it was about to get a whole new life. But there was pressure. Kiana had a pop star background, and he worried how their styles would mix.
Kiana was already there, adjusting settings and talking with the engineer. She turned when he walked in, offering a smile that was both warm and professional.
Her presence filled the room, even though she was dressed casually in a hoodie and jeans. Despite her recent fall in popularity, she still carried that undeniable star power.
"Yo, what's good?" Tyler said, nodding in her direction, keeping his cool.
"Hey, Tyler," she said, her voice smooth. "Ready?"
"Let's do it."
The tension between them was palpable—not uncomfortable, but thick with expectation. They both knew this track could be pivotal. Tyler wanted to prove his rise wasn't just a fluke, and Kiana wanted to claw her way back to the top.
Before they could dive in, Tyler shot a text to Kai, the original producer of Heart on a Sleeve. He wanted Kai here to oversee the remix and maintain the authenticity of the track. It wouldn't feel right without him. "Yo, I'm at the studio working on the remix," Tyler typed quickly. "Pull up."
As they waited for Kai, Kiana jumped right into business mode. She sat down at the mixing console and motioned Tyler over. "So, I was thinking we could keep your original verse and maybe tweak the hook a bit, give it a more melodic pop twist," she said, tapping a rhythm on the desk as she spoke.
Tyler raised an eyebrow. He didn't want the track to lose its raw energy. "I feel you," he replied carefully. "But we gotta keep it grounded. I don't want it to get too clean. The edge is what made it hit."
Kiana smiled, nodding in agreement. "Don't worry, I'm not tryna mess with what makes it yours. Just thinking of adding layers, making it pop more but without losing that grit."
Tyler was skeptical but intrigued. As they played back the original track, he mentally prepared to keep the integrity of his song intact. Soon, the door opened, and Kai stepped in, his usual laid-back demeanor mixed with curiosity.
"Yo, Kai!" Tyler greeted him with a fist bump. "This is Kiana."
Kai gave Kiana a nod and shook her hand. "I've heard a lot about you. Good to meet you," Kiana said, her voice as smooth as ever.
"Same," Kai replied, his eyes scanning the equipment. "So, we working on the remix?"
"Yeah, just getting started," Tyler said. "I wanted you here, man. You're the one who helped me build this track from scratch."
Kiana smiled, clearly impressed with Tyler's loyalty to his team. She respected that. 'Maybe this collab is gonna be better than I thought', she mused.
The buzz around the label was undeniable. Tyler's Heart on a Sleeve remix with Kiana Monroe was already becoming the talk of the studio, even before its official release.
People were whispering in the hallways about how the rising star was collaborating with one of pop's former queens in what could be a defining moment for both their careers. But not everyone was excited.
Malik, one of the label's veteran rappers, had been watching Tyler's meteoric rise with growing unease. Malik had been the alpha for years—solidified as one of the top acts at Black Gold Records.
His albums sold well, his street credibility remained intact, and he had a loyal fanbase. But now, there was this new kid on the block, Tyler, who had come out of nowhere and was already turning heads.
And if that wasn't enough, Kiana Monroe, the woman Malik had his eyes on for a while, was suddenly working with Tyler, not him. Kiana was not just any pop star—she was someone Malik admired, not just for her voice but for her beauty, her poise, and the way she handled herself.
He had tried to get her attention more than once, but Kiana had always kept things professional. And now, she was spending long nights in the studio with Tyler? Malik felt a storm brewing inside him.
Sitting in his corner of the studio, Malik fumed, sipping on a bottle of water as he watched engineers and producers buzz around.
His last project hadn't hit as hard as he'd hoped, and he felt the pressure mounting. The label was focusing on new talent, and suddenly, all eyes were on Tyler. It was clear that Tyler's rise posed a threat, not just to his position at the label but to his status in the game.
A plan began to form in his mind. He couldn't just sit back and let Tyler get all the glory. He needed to make sure this remix with Kiana wouldn't be the success everyone thought it would be.