America's Top Player

Chapter 29 Nothing is more fun than dumplings
"Don't worry about the money. You make so much money, what do you have to worry about?"

"You're hanging out with those Mexicans and Salvadorans. Imagine what would happen if people knew you were a singer."

Upon hearing this, Li Ang glared at Phil fiercely, "You forgot that I still have to pay the damn personal income tax!"

But what Phil said actually makes sense. Illegal immigrant crimes in New York have indeed become more and more rampant recently.

Those Central American gangs even brought the glorious tradition of dismemberment and intimidation from their home countries to the streets of New York.

Although Leon is rich, his net worth is only over 90,000 US dollars, including the donation from JAY-Z. Given the housing prices in Brooklyn Heights, the rent alone is enough to give him a headache, not to mention other living costs.

"How about this apartment?"

Li Ang took the picture and looked at it. It was a top-floor apartment on Henry Street.

Although it is only 800 square feet and a standard studio apartment, it is fully furnished and ready for you to move in.

The most important thing is that it is very close to the Roc Building, only about 20 minutes' walk away. According to the house information, you can even vaguely see the Manhattan skyline across the East River.

Asking price is $8500 a month.

This price may sound shocking at first, but considering the location and area, it is very cost-effective.

Li Ang did not intend to waste any more time on renting a house, and readily asked the agency staff to take him to the site to see the house.

After a rough observation, although there were some differences in details from the picture, it generally met his psychological expectations.

After signing one lengthy agreement after another, he came to the floor-to-ceiling window and could actually vaguely see the Manhattan skyline.

"It's getting late, we have to go see JAY-Z!"

Big shots tend to have weird tempers. For the King of New York, JAY-Z, he probably can't accept a small-timer like Leon being late for even a minute.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Li Ang arrived at ROC's headquarters building in Brooklyn.

The company has offices in New York City, London, Nashville, and Los Angeles, but JAY-Z remains firmly headquartered in Brooklyn, where he grew up and made his fortune.

As soon as he stepped into the door of Roc Company, Li Ang couldn't help but feel his blood boiling when he saw the dazzling array of photos on the wall.

The photo wall records the whole process of how JAY-Z struggled from a low-level drug dealer to a legendary superstar.

There are many photos with famous figures, such as President Obama, Madonna and Michael Jackson.
What caught Li Ang's attention most was a photo of JAY-Z and the late gangsta rap legend Tupac.

In this photo taken in the 90s, Tupac and JAY-Z hug each other and look very close.

But according to in-depth investigations by many news media, JAY-Z and P. Diddy were likely the masterminds behind Tupac's shooting in 1996.

The more Li Ang looked at the smile in the photo, the more he felt the chills run down his spine. The dark side of the entertainment industry was clearly revealed in this photo.

He took the elevator to the 23rd floor, and under the guidance of the staff, he met JAY-Z in an office on the innermost floor as he wished.

The luxury of this office left Leon speechless with shock. It was estimated to be over 3000 square feet. This was in Brooklyn Heights, where every inch of land was worth a lot of money.

The office is randomly filled with precious antiques and celebrity items that JAY-Z found at auctions around the world.

He casually hung priceless works of art by masters like Paul Gauguin and Picasso on the walls of his office.

The cabinet behind him is filled with the dazzling achievements he has won at the Grammy Awards and MTV Music Awards over the years.

The most unbelievable thing is that he actually kept a 150-pound jaguar in his office. The jaguar, which was originally lying at JAY-Z's feet like a docile kitten, immediately stood up when it saw a stranger, staring at its prey with a fierce look in its eyes.

Phil was so scared that his legs went weak and he tried to get closer to Leon, "Fuck, get this guy away from me!"

JAY-Z crossed his fingers and smiled, "Don't be nervous, it's my wife's pet, she's a gentle lady."

Leon gave Phil a helpless look, pulled off the other's arms that were tightly holding him, walked to JAY-Z, pulled a swivel chair and sat down.

JAY-Z's smile was obviously even happier at this point. "I like young people like you. Look at how ambitious you are. You resemble me when I was young."

As he spoke, JAY-Z took out a stack of documents from the drawer. This was the contract prepared for Li Ang.

Li Ang was very satisfied with most of the contents of the contract, especially the one-year short-term contract, which coincided with his ideas.

Any contract that is like a contract of selling oneself has potential risks. Once you become really famous, the long-term contract will instantly turn into a shackle.

The contract is also quite fair on the issue of copyright ownership. The copyright of the singer's independently created works belongs to the author himself, while the copyright of the works provided by the company belongs entirely to the company.

Li Ang breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this. Many record companies would demand a portion of the copyright income from an artist's work, even if the work was created entirely independently by the singer himself.

The only thing that made him dissatisfied was the share of record sales. Roc was only willing to offer 20% to newcomers.

Li Ang was very dissatisfied with this. You know, a singer of Beyoncé's level can easily take away at least 40% of the record sales share no matter which record company she is with!
He asked this question in front of JAY-Z: "Boss, can the share of record sales be increased a little bit?"

JAY-Z's face darkened quickly. "Originally, the company stipulated that new employees' contracts were 15%, but because my wife appreciates you, I've increased it to 20%."

"What else are you dissatisfied with?"

Phil was also winking frantically and tugging at the corner of Leon's clothes, "Quit while you're ahead."

Just accept it when you see it?

This principle obviously does not exist in Leon's world. He only believes that all benefits must be obtained through one's own efforts.

Just as he was about to try to continue his routine with JAY-Z, a woman's deep and beautiful voice came from outside the office door.

"Mimi~mimi, you are here, right?"

After hearing the woman's call, the jaguar under JAY-Z's feet responded quickly, brushing past Leon's body and rushing towards the door.

The office door opened, and a tall and fit woman in a tight white skirt suddenly appeared.

She has long dark blond hair, slender and powerful legs, and although her skin is black, her face doesn't have many black features.
The tall headlights danced restlessly, as if they were about to burst out of the clothes at any time. The already slender legs, set against the backdrop of high heels, made her height increase to over 1.8 meters.

"Mimi~ You little rascal always makes your mother worry~" The woman squatted down and hugged the jaguar tightly, with a doting look on her face.

When squatting, the woman's domineering taillights, which are more deadly than her long and beautiful legs, are more conspicuous under the outline of the tight skirt, and the visual impact is maximized.

When a woman and a leopard are together, the woman exudes an amazing queen aura.

"Beyoncé?!" Phil looked like he had seen some incredible treasure. After working in this industry for many years, he had always dreamed of becoming the agent of such a phenomenal queen.

At this time, Li Ang had slowly stood up and walked towards Beyoncé under the gaze of JAY-Z.

He extended his right hand to Beyoncé, with the corner of his mouth raised forty-five degrees, "Hello, sister-in-law."

(End of this chapter)