Leon learned from Phil that although Cardi B was young, her background was anything but simple.
The girl was born and raised in the notorious Bronx, where crime rates were ridiculously high. Back in the 70s and 80s, probably only Chicago could compete with it.
If Brownsville was just a rough neighborhood, the Bronx was a kingdom where criminals bred and thrived.
Since the new millennium, New York law enforcement had intentionally cracked down harder on gang crime in the Bronx. But no matter how much the cops emptied their clips, the crime rate remained stubbornly high.
The reason was simple: wipe out the Blacks, and the Latino immigrants swoop right in!
Under the wave of immigration in the new millennium, Black gangs and Latino gangs fought like gladiators in a jar across the 42 square miles of the Bronx.
Although there weren't many Chinese people living there, the melodious sound of gunshots rang out non-stop every day, making it feel like Chinese New Year year-round.
Growing up in such an environment forged Cardi B's erratic and extreme personality, often pulling a gun at the drop of a hat.
She joined the Bloods at 16, led by her cousins. Half the male members of her family were currently serving time in prison.
Earlier, Cardi looked like a lone female warrior, but in reality, her cousins were probably already speeding down from the Bronx.
But even if Cardi really was a ruthless character from a gang family, Leon still couldn't relax.
In this conflict, if Cardi won, she'd face a judge; if she lost, she'd face God.
Neither outcome did Leon any good.
After thinking for a moment, an idea suddenly struck him. The corners of his mouth tilted up 45 degrees as he stared at Phil without saying a word.
Phil's heart skipped a beat. Once Leon made that face, it meant someone was about to suffer.
After about a minute of silence, Leon knocked on the table. "Go to Chester Street right now and bring Cardi back."
"Me?!" Phil's eyes widened to the size of lightbulbs. "WTF? Are you kidding me?!"
His inner monologue at that moment was: If I actually go, my own mother probably won't be able to identify the body!
"What? You expect me to go?" Leon leaned forward, trying to pressure him.
"That's not it... I just think neither of us can solve this problem by going there."
"Sht! Didn't you say you treat Cardi like your own daughter, you scumbag? Now your daughter is about to get chopped into pieces by a bunch of nrs, and you don't care?"
Phil lowered his head in silence, but Leon was dead set on making the old bastard go get Cardi.
"Calm down, Leon... neither of us should be impulsive."
"Impulsive? I've thought this through very carefully. You'll be fine."
Be fine?
Phil sneered internally: It's one thing to gaslight me at work, but now you want to gaslight me into risking my life?
Leon lit a cigarette and said in a low voice, "I'm not asking you to go alone... Don't you know a lot of paparazzi in New York?"
Phil nodded blankly.
Having been in the industry for over 20 years, he was familiar with everyone from professional journalists at major newspapers to unscrupulous paparazzi at tabloids.
"That's right... Call up two reporter friends right now."
"Preferably those paparazzi who specialize in hip-hop gossip. Tell them big news is about to break on Chester Street."
"A rookie female gangsta rapper is about to bloodbath a Chester Street gang hideout."
"They'll definitely be interested."
Hearing this, Phil frowned, still unsure of Leon's intent. "Fk... bringing two cops might not stop those bastards like George. What use are paparazzi?"
Leon took a deep drag and exhaled smoke, saying gravely, "I'm starting to suspect all your 50-plus years of life experience were wasted on women..."
"Use that big smart head of yours and think... Who dares to open fire in front of a group of reporters?"
Phil finally realized. Even Al Capone wouldn't dare unleash a Chicago Typewriter in front of a pack of reporters armed with long-lens cameras.
"You don't have much time... Call those paparazzi, floor the gas pedal..."
"Go solve this mess!"
"Now!!"
Phil still hesitated, but under Leon's furious urging, he chose to believe him.
He grabbed his car keys and walked out of the office, swaying like a zombie.
Leon leaned back in his swivel chair, flashing a sinister grin of success.
If Cardi B could retreat from Chester Street unscathed this time, and the incident happened to be reported by the media, it would be a massive boost to her reputation!
Hip-hop isn't just music; it's a lifestyle and attitude.
For a gangsta rapper, the persona is more important than the work itself!
A rapper of Snoop Dogg's level could release a song that sounded like sht, and a huge wave of listeners would still praise it mindlessly.
They would brainwash themselves into imagining a terrible song was a creative leap to another level by the boss.
Because Snoop Dogg's "Rap OG" persona was deeply rooted in people's hearts.
Ruthless gangsta, barely 18, stripper, raised in the Bronx... and most critically, a female rapper.
With all these buffs stacked together, it would be unreasonable for Cardi B not to blow up.
Building a successful persona is a more effective promotional tool than throwing money around.
---
About two hours later, Phil finally returned to the office with Cardi B.
Just looking at his disheveled appearance, you didn't need to ask to know what happened.
Leon quickly got up and looked his "big treasure" up and down.
Cardi B looked unharmed; even her fragile manicure was intact.
He patted Cardi's butt and said to Phil, "Looks like it went smoothly. You did great."
"Smoothly?!" Phil downed a large glass of whiskey before his breathing steadied. "That crazy girl called over a dozen damn nrs from the Bronx. Her cousin was even carrying an AR-15 on his back..."
"Can you imagine that scene? It was crazier than GTA: San Andreas!"
"If I had been five minutes late, Chester Street would have turned into a damn Iraqi war zone..."
Hearing this, Cardi B immediately retorted arrogantly, "If you hadn't brought a bunch of bastards with cameras, I would have sent T-Ray and George, those two idiots, to meet God already!"
Leon didn't care about the details of the conflict. He hurriedly asked Phil if the paparazzi had captured the fiery scene.
Phil said, "Those paparazzi were thrilled. The circle hasn't seen a real gang conflict like this in a long time."
Rappers package themselves as tough guys in lyrics, but in reality, most are fake gangstas who have never fired a gun.
"Good... Go contact Z100 Radio. let them hear the demo."
Phil was startled: When did this greedy devil become so generous?
Dropping $5,000 on radio promotion was definitely a big move. But the shock Leon gave him didn't stop there.
"We're going to rent a screen in Times Square to show Cardi's nasty ass to tourists from all over the world."
"Let them see what 'Made in America' really means!"