Antebellum by R. Kayeen Thomas

on all da lights and see who sittin’ where...”
    Phil Winters could have a conversation about Armageddon and still keep a smile on his face. This little conversation about race was no different. It was interesting to watch him keep his cheekbones high and his pearly whites showing, but it wasn’t a surprise. The surprise was from looking in his eyes up close, during this conversation, and seeing the fear flash through them like the lights on top of a police car.
    â€œNo, no, that’s not necessary,” he said.
    The host still had his smile, but he couldn’t hide the red cheeks and forehead.
    â€œBottom line is—” I began to get heartburn as I was talking, “—I don’t believe we got no more racism in America. All dat stuff was back in the past, man.”
    Phil Winters broke character for about a half a second, and looked at me completely shocked before he caught himself and put his smile back on. Clearing his throat, he took in a deep breath and kept going.
    â€œSo...getting down to business, you’ve had an amazing couple of months, have you not?”
    He was desperate to change the subject, as was I.
    â€œYeah, most definitely. Last few months have been crazy.”
    â€œCan you tell us how everything got started?”
    He was talking about the diss record, but I saw an opportunity to be coy. I couldn’t pass it up.
    â€œWell, it all started back when I was eight, and I heard my first rap song on the babysitter’s radio...”
    I could hear the chuckles from the crowd. Winters smiled at the lighthearted joke.
    â€œAs much as we’d all love to hear your life story, I was talking about your musical career. Specifically, the record you made that had such a big impact on the hip-hop world. What is it called again?”
    I had to smile slightly as I recounted the name I’d given the song.
    â€œPiss On The Silenzas.”
    Phil leaned forward and rested his chin in his palm.
    â€œAnd we know who it was about, but tell us the story of how it came to be.”
    â€œWell, I got word one day that Trigga and Barrel were makin’ a diss record ’bout me...”
    â€œTrigga and Barrel would be the two members of P. Silenzas, right?”
    â€œYeah, yeah, dat’s them.”
    â€œAnd who did you hear about their diss record from?”
    â€œSome of my inside sources let me know ’bout it.”
    â€œCare to share any names?”
    I gave Phil a look and shook my head. Not wanting to break the momentum, he picked back up with his next question.
    â€œOkay, so, you decide to make ‘Piss On The Silenzas.’ Did you know when you were making it that it would be such a huge hit?”
    â€œNaw, I had no idea. I mean, it just took off. Label put it out as a single, and it was curtains from there.”
    â€œWhat do you think made it such a big hit?”
    I paused for a second to think.
    â€œIt was all ’bout the timing, Phil. They was getting ready to release their first single, which happened to be ’bout me. Matter-of-fact, my label was so slick wid it that we got my single put out the day after their single came out. Made it seem like we was sittin’ back waitin’ for these niggas to make da first move.”
    â€œAnd the name of their single—and I know we can’t say the real name on the air—but the title of the song they made...?”
    â€œâ€˜B-word Nigga’ was the name of their song. Don’t worry, Phil, I’m not gon’ cuss on ya show. I’m not tryin’ to get you in no trouble.”
    â€œWell, I appreciate that. Why do you think they named their song that, though?”
    â€œWell, I’m Da Nigga, so I guess maybe they was tryin’ to be creative. Somebody shoulda told ’em they was messin’ with da wrong one.”
    â€œWell, I would guess that they know that now. We’re going to show a quick clip from the