"The plan?"
"Yeah, fam. You're making a track, shooting a video. What comes next?"
Amias considered this. Beyond what he though of earlier. Beyond creating REDEMPTION and HYB. What came next? "Keep improving, I guess. Make more songs, get better."
Capari shook his head slightly. "Nah, that's not a plan. That's just vibes. You need structure."
"Like what?"
"For one, you need a proper engineer," Capari said. "Someone who can make your sound professional."
From behind them, Tyler chimed in. "What about that Kevin guy? The one who mixed your track?"
Amias shook his head. In his mind, he compared Kevin's work to what he'd heard from Taz. No comparison. "Nah, I'm thinking bigger. I don't know anyone as good as Taz who's from around here so maybe outside Shepherd's."
"Always could look for sum white man," Capari laughed. "They run the industry, innit?"
"Where do you record anyway?" Lexus asked from further behind. The conversation taking a new tone. "Jordan told me your cousin has a studio?"
"Well yeah, but I've got my own setup, at home." Amias replied
Dyno, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "Nah, you're gonna have to organize proper studio time. Bedroom setups only get you so far. Plus your mumsy will eventually get rid of you for playing music all the time."
As they turned onto a side street, a group of young men came into view, posted up outside a block of flats. Amias recognized them immediately—Ekene, Chibuike, and Taiwo, along with a few others. Two of them moved weight for him.
"Yo, is that the mandem?" Ekene called out, his Nigerian accent thick as he raised a hand in greeting.
The groups converged, exchanging daps and shoulder bumps. Ekene nodded toward Amias' braids. "New look, Amias. Looks clean broski."
"Appreciate it," Amias replied, conscious of the time ticking away. "You man good?"
"All good," Chibuike said, before lowering his voice. "Heard about the situation with them man from earlier. That's peak."
Amias tensed. News traveled fast in these ends. "Yeah, we'll be handling it."
Taiwo glanced at Tyler's bruised face. "Looks like they handled you first Ty'."
Tyler scowled. "It ain't over."
"Heard Apannii's after you for a debt," Chibuike continued. "Twenty-five hundred, right?"
"We'll be sorting it." Amias said firmly, not wanting to discuss business on the street. They'd have a group up soon enough.
"Zane told us," Ekene said, nodding toward the figure approaching from around the corner.
Zane, as if he were a genie called upon by hearing his name, quickened his pace to join them. "Yo, you lot getting ready for the shoot?"
"What shoot?" Chibuike asked, eyes widening.
"Music video," Jordan explained proudly. "Our boy Amias is dropping a track."
The news rippled through the group, expressions changing from surprise to interest.
"For real?" Taiwo asked, his eyes wide. "Since when could you spit Amias?"
"Recent development," Amias said, feeling both embarrassed and pleased by the attention.
Lexus checked his watch again, clearly anxious. "We need to move. That security guard's break is coming up."
They said their goodbyes, promising to link up later. As they continued toward the abandoned office building, they noticed a police car parked outside, officers standing near the entrance.
"Shit," Lexus muttered. "Somethings going on over there. We definitely can't risk it."
They altered course, walking casually past the officers. One of them, a white officer with a hard face, watched them suspiciously.
"Evening, lads," he called out. "Bit late to be wandering around, isn't it?"
"Just heading home, officer," Capari replied smoothly, his voice taking on a more polished, less street-edged tone. "Been at my cousin's birthday."
The officer's eyes lingered on their group—14 young Black men walking together at night. His suspicion was both palpable and evident from the way his face contorted.
"Make sure you go straight home," he said finally. "No hanging around."
They nodded and continued walking, nobody speaking until they were well out of earshot.
"Pigs," Dyno spat once they were clear. "Always profiling."
"Let's try the gas station on Harrow Road," Lexus suggested, redirecting the conversation. "Should be quiet this time of night."
As they walked, Amias noticed a small outdoor seating area outside what looked like a closed café. String lights hung overhead, casting a warm glow over empty metal tables.
"What about there?" he suggested, pointing.
Lexus stopped, considering the space. "Actually... that could work. Good lighting, urban feel but not too grimy."
They approached the area, finding it deserted. The café was closed, but the outdoor seating remained, along with the ambient light that created a perfect atmosphere for filming.
"This is it," Lexus decided, already unpacking his camera. "We'll start in that alley, then move here for the main section."
The group quickly organized themselves, some taking positions against the wall of the narrow alleyway leading to the café area, others helping Lexus set up his equipment.
"Alright," Lexus said, camera in hand. "We'll start with a closeup on Amias, then pull back to reveal everyone. North, you ready?"
"Amias." He corrected. "I'm ready." He nodded determinedly, taking his position. His heart was pounding, but not from fear—from excitement. This was really happening. He was about to shoot his first music video.
"Hit the track," Lexus instructed.
The beat filled the alley, Amias' voice following seconds later. Lexus's camera focused on his face, capturing his intensity as he matched his lips to the recorded vocals.
"Trap phone's buzzing like a wasp nest, paranoia's my new perfume..."
As the verse continued, Amias walked slowly down the alley, the camera following him as he moved. When he reached the line about loyalty, the camera pulled back, revealing the rest of the crew lined up against the wall.
Amias continued toward them, dapping up each one as he passed, fingers interlocking in practiced gestures. The energy built as he reached the end of the alley, turning to face the camera while the others moved into formation behind him.
"Cut!" Lexus called. "That's perfect for the intro. Now let's move to the main area for the chorus."
They shifted to the café area, setting up for the next shot. Lexus directed them with surprising professionalism, positioning each person for maximum effect.
"Capari, Dyno, you stand here," he instructed. "Tyler, Jordan, on either side of Amias. The rest of you, spread out behind them."
As they prepared for the next take, Amias quickly changed into the red hoodie, pulling it over his t-shirt. Lexus nodded approvingly.
"That works. Changes the vibe, keeps it fresh."
The shoot continued, Lexus capturing different angles, different configurations of the group. For the second verse, Amias switched to the leather jacket, its golden horse emblem catching the light as he moved.
Between takes, the atmosphere was electric. This wasn't just a group of friends messing around—there was a seriousness to their focus, a shared understanding that they were creating something real.
"Yo, this is actually looking sick," Jordan said, reviewing some footage on Lexus's camera. "Like, proper professional."
Amias couldn't help but smile. The braids, the clothes, the video—it all felt right. Like he was becoming the person he was meant to be.
As they filmed the final chorus, Lexus had them gather around Amias in a tight circle, the camera circling them as they all moved to the beat, energy at its peak.
"Tryna see how much bread I can bake,
Why'd you think I'm bruckin' this weight?"
The words hit differently now, performed with the crew around him, with purpose and direction. Amias felt something shift inside him—a certainty that this was only the beginning.
When Lexus finally called it a wrap, they gathered around to review some of the footage. Even on the small screen, it looked impressive—the lighting, the framing, the energy all coming together.
"When can you have this edited?" Amias asked.
"Give me two to three days," Lexus replied. "I'll have a rough cut by Thursday, final by Saturday."
Saturday. The same day as Apannii's deadline. Amias made a mental note—he'd need to sort that situation before then. And a conclusion was already conceived, he would not part with twenty-five thousand.
Not with Mason's killer.
As if reading his thoughts, Tyler leaned in. "We still need to talk about the Apannii thing."
"Later," Amias promised. "Let's finish this first."
They packed up the equipment, the collective high of the shoot still buzzing between them. As they walked back toward the main road, Capari threw an arm around Amias' shoulders.
"You did good, cuz," he said, a rare note of pride in his voice. "Looking like a proper artist out there."
Amias nodded, the weight of his cousin's approval settling comfortably on his shoulders. "Thanks for making this happen."
"Nah, you made it happen," Capari corrected him. "We just showed up."
As they reached the main road, the group began to disperse, heading in different directions toward their homes. Lexus promised to send updates on the editing process, and Capari offered to drive Amias home.
In the car, with just Capari, Dyno and the previous carpoolers for company, Amias felt a strange sense of calm. The day had been full of unexpected turns yet somehow, it all felt right. Like pieces falling into place.
"So," Capari said as they pulled up outside Amias' building, "what's next for North?"
Amias considered the question seriously this time. "I need to sort out proper distribution. Get the track on Spotify, Apple Music, all that. And I need to think about branding."
Capari nodded, impressed. "Thinking like a businessman. I like it."
"It's all part of the game," Amias replied, echoing Shanelle's words from earlier. "Treat it like a business, not just art."
As he stepped out of the car, Capari called after him. "By the way, them braids? Proper look. You might actually make it in this thing."
Amias smiled, touching the intricate pattern on his head. "That's the plan.".
Inside, the flat was quiet, his mother already asleep. Amias moved silently to his room, catching his reflection in the mirror. The braids, the outfit, the whole look—it came together in a way that felt authentic, not forced.
Amias smiled, a quiet confidence settling in his chest. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be, doing exactly what he was meant to do.
{Reference Video: 1Flow by Nemzzz}
{Note: He used Nemzzz's flow on IM TRYNA and with the additional lyrics it's far better than the original song}