New York 2006

Chapter 99 The Appearance of “Apocalypse People”
Taylor took the phone and called his father in Nashville.The two communicated for half an hour before Taylor walked up to Luo Ji with his cell phone and spoke.

"My dad asked you to answer the phone."

After his last experience with Taylor's mother, Luo Ji became much calmer this time, picked up his phone and spoke.

"Hello Mr. Swift."

A middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Logic, did you ask Taylor to go to Big Machine Records to protest?"

"Ah."

Taylor's father said hesitantly: "Would it be too much to go directly to a lawyer?"

Luo Ji immediately sensed the weakness of the middle class from his tone, so he spoke firmly.

"I own a music company myself, and I have also had a business war with Universal Music. I know the character of this group of capitalists very well. If you don't fight, they will not take the initiative to give you profits. How can you expect someone who doesn't respect Taylor to give you money? Is she giving in?"

"But there's no need to hire a lawyer! How about I go talk to Scott?"

Luo Ji asked in confusion, "Why do you have such an idea?"

Taylor's father spoke up: "I am a shareholder in the company, and my relationship with Scott Borchetta is okay."

Luo Ji asked in confusion: "You are a shareholder, why did Scott Borchetta give Taylor such conditions?"

"I only own 3% of the shares and do not participate in daily management."

Luo Ji thought for a moment, winked at Taylor, then walked to the bedroom with his cell phone and closed the door to chat alone.

"Mr. Swift, I'm holding my phone to the side so Taylor can't hear it right now."

"Why do this?"

Luo Ji said directly: "Because what I say next will destroy the omnipotent image of my father in the eyes of my daughter. It may also make you feel a little uncomfortable, so I need to talk to you alone."

Taylor's father was very surprised and said loudly: "What did you say?"

Luo Ji said nothing and waited quietly. Taylor's father was silent for a while and said, "Logic, go ahead."

Luo Ji spoke calmly: "You said that your relationship with Scott Borchetta is okay. I think it's just a superficial relationship. He doesn't respect you at all, otherwise how could he give Taylor far less than the market price? contract. This is obviously really squeezing him."

"Can……"

Luo Ji continued: "How can you get good terms from someone who doesn't respect you?"

"But it was Scott Borchetta who made Taylor what he is now. He was very helpful to Taylor at the beginning. He is a very gentleman. He is also very nice to Taylor."

Luo Ji said, "You are wrong. It was Taylor who composed the songs that made Big Machine Records possible. Without Taylor, Scott would just be a failed entrepreneur. Now that Taylor has become famous, he is no longer unknown. He actually dares to continue to exploit Taylor. You must have understood what he is thinking. Taylor deserves a better contract."

Taylor's father thought for a while and finally recognized the reality: "I understand, they don't respect me, but they will definitely respect the most famous lawyer in Nashville."

"Ah."

"Then I'll hang up first."

"Goodbye, Mr. Swift."

Mr. Swift, who comes from a middle-class background, does have similar thoughts to ordinary people.Most people may be confused by Scott's behavior, but if they don't compromise on the core interests, everything is empty talk.

Luo Ji hung up the phone and thought about whether the phone call just now would affect their relationship.

Luo Ji thought for a while, in Omi culture, everyone is God's people, and the only authority is God. The concept of family, and the status of elders are indeed not as strong as in East Asia.There are many occasions when sons-in-law and father-in-law quarrel with each other.

Thinking of this, Luo Ji suddenly lost his worries and returned to the living room.

Taylor walked up immediately: "What did you just say to my father?"

Luo Ji sat on the sofa and said calmly: "We had a conversation between men. I won't tell you!"

"Hmph. I don't like hearing it yet." Taylor continued to ask: "Then did he agree?"

"accepted."

Taylor was suddenly excited, then a little worried, and a little panicked.Walk around the room.

Luo Ji looked at Taylor. After all, she was a little girl now and couldn't keep calm.Luo Ji's last confrontation with Universal was much more intense than this.

"Stop spinning, calm down, and look at the resumes of these singers to divert your attention."

"Okay." Taylor sat down on the sofa.

Luo Ji continued to look through the singer resumes sent by the company, and suddenly found a familiar face. He turned out to be the face of an East Asian male who appeared in Tianqi's Marvin Gaye cover video.

Luo Ji thought in his mind: "So his name is Jason Chen, and his Chinese name is Chen Yitong."

He looked at his resume calmly.Chen Yitong is 21 years old this year, a junior student in the Department of Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is proficient in multiple instruments, including piano, violin, guitar, and cello. He is also a YouTube cover singer.

Taylor saw Luo Ji dazed with his resume in his hand, so he looked closer and asked, "What's wrong? Is there anything special about him?"

Luo Ji said calmly: "He is a YouTube blogger just like me."

Taylor smiled and said: "After you became famous, there were more and more cover singers on YouTube. Everyone wanted to copy your path to success." "Haha, they are welcome to inject new vitality into the music scene."

Taylor thought of a funny thing: "I was on Myspace and saw a British street singer who, like you, performs on the street with a cat. His cat is also named Bob, haha."

"Really? Let me search it."

Luo Ji searched the Internet and found it.He also appeared on a local news program. There was a video link. Luo Ji opened it and watched it carefully.

In the video, there is a thin white man with a guitar and an orange cat sitting on his shoulder. This orange cat is more beautiful than his own cat and seems to have a better personality. It sits on the man's shoulder. at every turn.

The British reporter took the microphone and asked: "What is your name?"

The thin white man spoke: "James Bourne"

"What's your cat's name?"

"Bob."

The reporter continued to ask: "Are you deliberately imitating Logic? Before he became famous, he also performed on the streets with an orange cat? It just so happened that his cat was also named Bob!"

The man said sincerely: "I picked up this kitten at the beginning of this year, and I called him Bob. It wasn't until I performed on the street later that people said I was imitating Logic. Only then did I know that our experience was indeed very similar."

Taylor yelled: "How could there be such a coincidence?"

As the video continues, the British reporter continues to ask.

"So, you think it's just a coincidence that you didn't imitate Logic?"

The man continued: "Yeah, I know a lot of people don't believe it, but what I'm trying to say is, it's really a coincidence. I swear to God."

After Luo Ji watched the video, he did not doubt the words of the man in the video.Instead, he believed him.

Because Luo Ji had a vague feeling about the kitten when he first saw it, and then he came up with the idea of ​​taking the cat to perform on the street.

Luo Ji believed that his frequent flashes of inspiration were probably influenced by his previous life.

Luo Ji read all the interviews with the man and said to Taylor, "He sings well."

"Aren't you disgusted with him? He obviously imitated you, but he still refuses to admit it."

Luo Ji said nonchalantly: "It's okay, this kind of performance is not my patent."

More than two hours later, Luo Ji had read nearly two hundred singer resumes.Then he found someone who appeared in the MV, the black female singer in the "We are young" MV.

Her name is Janelle Monáe. She is 23 years old and graduated from the American Musical and Drama Academy. Like Aunt Sha, she is also an opera singer.

She also has her own leather bag record company. She once released an unofficial album to debut, but it was eventually scrapped.Currently performing and working in Atlanta.

Today's harvest was very good. Luo Ji thought for a while and picked up the phone and called Jeff Busker directly: "I found two very good singers, Jason Chen and Janelle Monáe. You can sign them directly. , forget it, let them come directly to Los Angeles to find me. I will meet them in person, and the hotel will reimburse the travel expenses!"

Jeff Busker said in surprise: "The two of them are indeed good at singing, but they are not among the top batch of applicants. Don't be so anxious!"

Luo Ji didn't know how to explain it, so he said calmly: "Are you questioning my decision?"

Jeff Basker was stunned for a moment: "No, no, I will notify them two to come over."

Luo Ji called Fiona again and showed her the news about the British street singer and the orange cat.

Fiona looked at Luo Ji blankly: "What's wrong?"

Luo Ji said: "The news said that his current situation is not very good. I want you to contact him. Does he want to become a singer in the company? If he is willing, you can buy him a ticket and let him come to the United States. Cats can also do it. bring it here."

Fiona said in surprise: "Is there something wrong with your brain? You actually want to sign a contract with a street singer who imitated you and refused to admit it. Are there a lot of such bad people?"

Luo Ji looked directly at Fiona: "I asked you to contact her. Where did you get so many questions?"

Fiona rolled her eyes: "Okay, okay, nephew."

Luo Ji said, "Can you respect me and be more obedient when you first came to my side? Look at what you look like now."

Fiona raised her middle finger and turned to leave.

Luo Ji said, "Don't forget the company's documents."

Fiona picked up the file bag on the table and gave Taylor a smile. Then she glared at Luo Ji and pointed to her head: "A brain is a good thing, but it's a pity you don't have one!"

"you……"

"Hahaha." Taylor laughed happily when he saw this scene: "Hello, nephew! Where did your brain go?"

"Don't call me nephew!"

Taylor laughed for a long time before she stopped, and then she said: "What on earth are you thinking? Why do you plan to sign a contract with someone who imitates you?"

Luo Ji said casually: "His voice is very good."

Luo Ji considers himself a good person who repays kindness, so he will give sufficient care and respect to these "Apocalypse people" who have helped him.

(End of this chapter)