Prologue: Ca$h Rules Everything Around Me
C.R.E.A.M “Cash Rules Everything Around Me! C.R.E.A.M.! Get the money
2010
Arielle Banks acecff
“Here’s the forms you requested.” I spoke shyly passing over the job application, birth certificate and other forms I needed to get this job. Basically raising myself in Jersey was hard as hell. Yeah I had my grandparents to lean on if shit really got rough but knowing the person I was I knew it wouldn’t feel right to take anything from anyone including them.
“Sign here and here.” They lady spoke breaking me from my thoughts. “And this one right here.” She smiled showing off her pearly white teeth with the gold cap that settled on one of her side teeth.
“Does this mean-“
“Yes dear.” She smiled holding out the forms and my uniform. “Monday morning sharp.” She winked waving her finger. “I don’t take too kind to newbies being late either.” “Welcome to the postal service.” She smiled waving me away.
Concealing the smile on my face, I moved out into the crisp warm air of New Jersey. Hearing the bullshit ass cat calls as I walked to the bus stop irritated the fuck outta me. Niggahs here didn’t respect shit if you wasn’t about to give them what they wanted. Which was something I wasn’t giving up easily especially to any of these hood niggahs. Like any other girl, I wanted love and a real relationship but seeing how everyone else around me acted for love turned me off from the shit.
Rolling my eyes towards the bullshit, I sat on the bench plugging my ears with the headphones humming along to the music was honestly everything I needed. From the longtime dream of moving to Cali to the Jeep Patriot I wanted to be sitting outside of the dream house I worked so hard for. Sighing at the dreams I need desperately to become my reality out of this hell hole of a state, I made my way on the bus continuing to listen to WuTang.
“Who explained working hard may help you maintain. To learn to overcome the heartaches and pain”
Keenon Jackson
“Just take dis shit to da house, iight?” I sighed throwing the duffle bag at her feet looking up at her small framed body.
“I gotchu, G.” She mumbled pulling the red plaid shirt over her head then lacing up the chucks.
Rolling my eyes out of frustration, I turned the radio on in attempts to bag the rest of the weed I had to get out today. Hustlin’ was all ah niggah knew growing up in Bompton. Really wasn’t shit anybody could tell when I came to how I treated these hoes and how I handled my business. Cash ruled everything around me and I was defiantly gon get all the cash I needed and wanted.
“Forreal Monica!” I barked knowing how the fuck she could be. “Take it straight to yah brib!” “Don’t stop for nun or talk to nobody!” Hearing her mumble slick shit, I moved towards her snatching her thin but long frame up. “The fuck you say?” I growled in her face causing her to wince under pressure.
“I-I-“ She stuttered under my grip.
“Don’t talk shit, blood!” I barked flinging her on the floor. “Take the shit tah yo brib!” “Imma catch up wit you later.”
“Where you going, G?” She mumbled brushing her clothes nd’ shit.
“Going to go chill wit the homie for ah minute.” Me and her both knew what the fukk I meant by that shit but I knew she was too scared of me to sum shit about it.
Tuning back into the song, I rapped the lyrics “Rollin in MPV’s, every week we made forty G’s.” “Yo brothas respect mine, or anger the tech nine.” That shit described my life perfectly.
Tyra Ware tyracharacter1
“So are you sure you have the business plans, Tyra?” My father asked as I trailed alongside him while we made our way to his office.
“Yes, sir.” I mumbled trying to catch up to him but unfortunately the black 4” Louboutins wouldn’t allow me to.
“What?” His strong voice echoed causing me to shake a little. Watching him pause then turn his head back at me I shook mines slowly. “If you want to make it in the business world you have to have a stronger opinionated voice.” He ordered more than suggested.
Allowing a small hint of bass to my low toned voice I agreed just to save and argument. Truth was I didn’t want to be a business women for my family’s corporation. I loved my family but I wanted to set my own goals and make my own money not just inherit it. Although most would disagree, being privileged wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. I hated being known as the daughter of a multimillionaire CEO who owned stock in everything from dollar stores to basketball teams to other multimillionaire’s corporations.
“Are you listening?” He asked breaking me from my thoughts.
“Yes.” I lied quickly hoping to get this meeting over with sooner. “I say you should handle this one, dad.” I smiled flashing my pearly whites towards him before the long oval meeting table filled to capacity.
“Very well.” He agreed. “Doesn’t seem like your head is really into it this morning.
“Exactly!” I yelled nearly out of the door. Taking my heels off in the car, I slide the dress over my head quickly changing into my regular clothes that I usually wore to my normal spot. Saying I loved the hood was an understatement. I knew being here would get me in trouble by my parent but I really didn’t care. From the fast money, fast cars, and hood niggahs it was honestly my own little heaven.
Quincy Hanley
“Niggah, I’m on Fig.” I spoke blowing out the thick smoke vibing to WuTang as I bagged the oxy n’ xany balls in da small Ziploc bags.
“First off, I’m not yah niggah Quincy so chill!” Her voice spat.
Chuckling at her lil attitude, I pressed the speaker on the phone allowing me to finish bagging this shit. Selling drugs wasn’t sum I really wanted to do but the shit kept me and my sister straight and kept us laced in nun but the finer brands.
“Are you even fucking listening to me, Mathew?” She huffed again knocking me off my count of the pills.
“Fucc’ yah won’t, girl.” I was getting irritated by ha. “And what I tell yah bout my middle name?”
“Really Quincy? You know what? Fuck you!” Before hanging up.
Chuckling a lil’ bit, I went back to counting and smoking. Ah niggah loved being lifted. Sum’ bout the mix of drugs and lean made me feel like all this hell I went through in Cali would eventually pay off in the end.
“No question I would speed, for cracks and weed. The combination made my eyes bleed.” I mumbled the lyrics as I finished.
Everybody had an addiction mines just happened to money and drugs.
AnBiya Hanley bambeecharacter
Settling down on the full sized bed, I dragged another box to unpack. Coming back to Bompton after years felt weird. I wasn’t trying to get into any more trouble like I did in Atlanta. Hearing my phone sound off, I grabbed it coming into clear view of the person who was known for trouble. Shaking my head, I tossed the phone onto a pillow getting back to work as the Pandora changed. Moving slightly to WuTang, I went back to unpacking boxes.
17 boxes and 3 hours later, I was finished. Changing out of the dingy grey shirt I made my way out of the house to lord knows what but knowing me and who I was it probably was trouble. Watching everyone I grew up wit still not doing shit with their lives made me want to change but in the Westside shit wasn’t that easy. Cash ruled everything in these streets.
“Ayyyy Bam!” A voice yelled turning my attention to a slender girl. Realizing who it was set me off but I knew there was nothing I could do.
“Whats up?” I asked scratching at the braids.
“Nothing, G told to me to give you this.” She smiled handing over a bag. Looking down at it I was reluctant to take the shit especially from Catelyn but I knew G had my back so of course I had his. “Take it.” She smiled. “He said he’ll be by tonight to get it from you.”
Nodding my head, I watched her leave before making my way back into my house. Deciding not to go back out into the scorching weather, I chilled on the bed falling into a deep sleep. Hearing a bang on my bedroom door and sirens flashing from my bedroom window, I scattered across the room attempting to hide the duffle bag full.
“Damn.” I mumbled hearing my door break from the hinges and the footsteps approach me.
“A dream with plans to make C.R.E.A.M. Which failed; I went to jail” Replayed in my head as the squad car sped off with me in the back.
Jermaine Cole
“Are you sure NYU is the right choice, baby?” My mother questioned for the fifth time in a matter of seconds on the call.
“Wasn’t nun in North Carolina for me, ma.” I defended myself yet again. “Can’t make dreams come true if it ain’t nun to get you started.”
“I see that fancy university isn’t teaching my son how to speak correctly.” She chuckled. Hearing her laughing made me smile. It made a niggah feel like all this hell I was going through was gon make her proud.
Truth was I loved the city of New York and getting ah real education but college wasn’t helping a niggah with the bills and the money I needed right now. I was so tempted to go back to the old ways I knew of the hood in Carolina but I knew being the starving freshman now would pay off later.
Shaking the thoughts, I listened to my mother talk about all the shit that was going on in North Carolina. Between the gang banging, murder, and other shit made me realize I wasn’t just doing this shit for me but I was tryna make a difference for my family and my ‘hood.
Hearing the voice of WuTang in my mother’s background spoke life and encouragement into me. Cash ruled a lot around me but I knew the difference in money and what people do for it. “Leave it up to me while I be living proof .To kick the truth to the young black youth.”
I was tryna be the niggah who got his cash the right way no bullshit or extra string attached to show everybody a young black niggah could do shit other than sell drugs and rob to be successful.
August Jones
Hustling was in ah niggah blood. Money was the root of all thing not just evil and growing up on the Southside made that shit clear to me. Thinking on how I allowed money to define my whole existence, I thought of my childhood.
"August, I said getcha lil’ butt dressed for church." My mama New O’lans accent kicked in pushing the tiny dress shoes towards me.
Nodding my head I pulled the blue button up around my body, “Mama, why I gotta go tah church n’ Melly don’t?” I questioned earning a smack and ah eye roll.
"Cuz yah not out n’ dese streets tryna be all GANG-sta! You the son das’ gonna make me proud. My doctor or law’yah or sum." She grinned pulling the tie up around my neck. "See there, yah already lookin’ good in this suit, baby. Now remember to check in with Miss. Watson so I know yah made it!"
"Yes ma’am." I smiled grabbing my bracelet that allowed my keys and safety badge to hang off of it.
"August, no funny business now!" She chuckled kissing my forehead.
Moments later and two blocks, my little 8 year old legs stood there looking for Miss Watson. “My baby made it!” She smiled walking behind me. “Go take ah seat before Pastor starts the sermon.”
"Miss Watson, I gots tah pee." I mumbled holding my private wiggling my legs around.
"Well go take care of yah business hun. I’ll see you inside."
Walking to a stall I stripped from the blue collar shirt climbing on top of the stall I pushed the small window open makin’ my way to dah hot streets of New Or’lans.
"Bout time, Yungin’." Melly whispered pulling from dah blunt. "Les go’! We got sum rounds tah handle before I getcha home."
Watching Melly make money and buying me whatever I wanted made me look up tah my bru’dah. I ain’t know why Mama hated what Melly did but then again maybe I was to young tah understand. Sitting on the corner wit my Melly’s best friends that wore red I knew I wanted it. Fast money was good money.
"Les getcha home!" Melly called grabbing mah hand hours later. Walking me ah block away, I watched him pull out money handing it to me. “Reme’ba dont tell Mama.” He smiled dapping me up walking off.
Pulling my shirt back on I walked in the house hearing Mama cookin’. “How was church baby?”
"Good Mama! I can’t wait fah next sunday." I smiled.
"Thats mah baby. Reme’ba Aug … to be successful and have good money yah gots to have God, ah good job, and happiness." She smiled. "Money doesn’t rule everything.”
Alexis Jackson lexcharacter
“Goddamn girl!” I heard throughout the streets as I swayed my hips down Crenshaw. I hated that catcalling shit. It was disrespectful but I honestly used it to my advantage. I wouldn’t say I was as thick as most but from what I was told I was pretty fine.
Rolling my eyes as I entered the store, I searched for one person and one person only. Hearing his voice then seeing his lanky foreign beautiful figure made me smile.
“Hey baby.” I mumbled grabbing his waist standing on my tiptoes for a kiss.
“Wass good, baby?” He asked grabbing my butt causing me to moan but feel uncomfortable all at the same time.
Shaking my head, I sat in a chair near Nip waiting for his business to commence. Unfortunately growing up in the hood made me appreciate hood niggahs and their money a little too much. Was I a gold digger? Hell no. I knew what hard work was and how to do it but I just preferred for it to be done for me. Some called me a hoe but I knew my boundaries and only 3 people knew the real me. I wasn’t as confident as most girls who had a “boss” as a boyfriend but I never let it show. I allowed my looks and my slick charm to speak for me but sometimes it gave off the wrong vibe.
Turning my attention back to Ermias and his gang of niggahs, I watched his “business” meeting take place. I had dreams that didn’t involve hustling or getting dudes I knew could be here one day then be in jail or 6 feet under the next to do shit for me but cash ruled everything especially in these streets. Either you were wit the shits or you wasn’t and if you wasn’t then yo life wasn’t too important.
Feeling the buzz in my pocket, I fished for my phone seeing the message. Rolling my eyes but smiling all at once made me feel some type of way. I loved playing these games with Q only because he saw the real Lex and not some “hoe” everyone tried to label me as. But unfortunately we both knew it wouldn’t end well if one of us ever pursed the other. For now, cash was the only thing I was trying to get.
Monica Ingram monicacharrie
Sitting on the sofa, I prepared for Kee and his mouth about his “homie” getting her ass thrown in jail. Smiling at the thought, I really thought I would feel bad about giving Bam the duffle bag full and then calling the cops but unfortunately I didn’t. Its not like I hated her I just didn’t like the fact that her and my man had something more that a friendship. I tried playing dumb at that fact that she liked him and unfortunately they fucked around a few times but honestly enough was enough.
Hearing the door slam, I jumped up instantly at the sight of Kee charging towards me.
"Mo, tell me yo ass got that bag!" He huffed pulling my hair a little. "You better have dat shit!"
"Ba-I-"
"Let that shit the fukk out man!" He huffed throwing me on the sofa.
"Bam spotted me and told me she’ll keep the bag for you since you were going to see her." I spat trying to convince him.
"Mo, she locked up." "Fukk!" He mumbled pulling me down on the sofa. "Why the fukk would she take it, man?" "I told yo ass don’t stop!"
"Baby she asked me". I sighed.
"Still man … fukk would she do that for?"
"Babe, she’s like a puppy." I consoled him. "She wants you to love her and show you she’s your rider but we both know you would never love her young ass. I mean she’s the same age as your little sister. " I smirked kissing his lips before he could protest.
"How about we go get sum food and then I’m definitely sure I can get your mind off of jail bait." I chuckled grabbing between his legs.
"Yeah fukk her dumb ass." He smirked. "Let’s go baby."
Sliding my heels into the chucks and grabbing my purse, I followed MY man out the door. I wasn’t going to share G with no one especially a young hoe.
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