America's Road to Wealth

2001.

June 24th.

Today is the annual draft night for the NBA, one of the four major sports leagues in the United States.

The NBA Draft is an annual event for the NBA to select new players.

In the draft, 30 NBA teams can select young male players who want to join the NBA.

The selected player is called an NBA Rookie.

All American players can automatically enter the NBA draft after they graduate from college, or they can declare for the draft between after they graduate from high school and when they complete college.

There are some restrictions on international players, but they can still participate in the NBA draft day.

After the regular season of each season, the NBA will conduct a lottery draw.

Participated by 14 teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs.

The specific rules of the lottery system are that 14 small balls are labeled with the numbers 1 to 14 respectively and put into the rolling vessel.

If 4 number balls are randomly rolled out, regardless of the order of drawing, there will be 1001 different situations.

Like the Houston Rockets, their "luck" is better this year.

Among these 1,001 situations, the No. 1 pick that is most beneficial to the Rockets was drawn.

That is, the first pick in the first round can be the first to pick the basketball player the team likes.

This year’s NBA draft will be held at Madison Square Garden.

The draft was about to begin, and there were already a sea of ​​people outside the arena, and the traffic was very congested.

A large number of NBA fans who bought or were given tickets for tonight are eager to see today's draft show.

Like many black people, the young black man Kanye West also accompanied his boss, the famous American superstar Jay-Z, a black man formerly known as Sean Corey Carter, to Madison Garden today. square.

Different from ordinary fans.

Big-name stars like Sean Corey Carter came to watch the draft and bought the most expensive tickets, so they would have special access.

This passage is also the passage for players and staff to enter and exit on weekdays.

Usually when a competition is held. Most reporters will wait outside this passage.

Because you can catch big fish and get enough big news.

Today is a special draft day.

Naturally, there are also many sports reporters and entertainment reporters here to photograph the entrance of NBA stars and entertainment stars.

Sean Corey Carter, Jay-Z's nanny car, had just pulled up at the door.

There were many paparazzi reporters who recognized the identity of this nanny car.

"Jay-Z is here!"

Someone yelled.

Soon many reporters gathered around. They held up their cameras and microphones, wanting to interview this well-known hip-hop superstar.

The driver's cab and passenger's cab of the nanny car are open.

Bodyguards and drivers came down and blocked the reporters outside.

Kanye West serves as music producer for Jay-Z's Roc-a-Fella company.

He also works as a temporary driver for his boss today.

At this time, temporary bodyguards and another professional bodyguard naturally appeared, keeping the reporters outside with expressionless faces.

Jay-Z, the big boy in the car, waited until the situation outside stabilized before opening the door and getting out of the car.

The black hip-hop superstar gets out of the car. The cameras in the surrounding reporters' hands flashed wildly.

The light of the flash made the eyes of Kanye West, who was wearing black glasses, a little blurry.

Kanye West, who is 24 years old this year, is very envious of this.

Black young people especially hope that one day they can become a hip-hop superstar and have the glamorous treatment that Jay-Z has at this time.

Amidst the sound of cameras flashing.

Jay-Z got out of the car coolly and accepted interviews from reporters coolly.

The hip-hop superstar simply said a few words and took some photos along with it.

Then he was protected by bodyguards, assistants, and the company's music producer and temporary driver Kanye West.

Walk into the special passageway of Madison Square Garden Arena.

When passing the first line of security, Jay-Z's star team went very smoothly.

After just checking the tickets and looking at Jay-Z's star face, the security guards let them in.

This makes Kanye West jealous again.

Kanye also wants to have such treatment. Just by swiping his face, he can pass through the VIP celebrity channel that ordinary fans cannot enter.

Kanye West couldn't help but clenched his fists, he really wanted such treatment.

He really wants to be famous and become a superstar.

Just Kanye West looking at Jay-Z.

Until now, the boss has not promised Kanye West or helped him release his album.

Kanye West already feels like he can’t wait any longer.

I should probably leave Sean, he only sees me as a tool.

There was no chance of success for me at Roc-a-Fella.

Kanye West thought to himself.

But at this time, the star team was blocked by the second security procedure inside.

This security procedure requires body searches of Jay-Z and others.

"Hey~ Are your eyes broken? Man, didn't you recognize that this is Jay-Z? I've never heard of people who use the VIP channel having to go through security checks!"

Jay-Z's manager Richard came forward.

Jay-Z has a dark face and is in a bad mood. Even if he is in a good mood, his face is still dark.

This is a race-specific skin special effect that outsiders cannot envy.

But the staff of the second security procedure said expressionlessly:

"No matter who comes in today, they will be subject to security checks. This is the rule."

The agent became angry and wanted to speak.

Jay-Z had already become the boss and started his own company. Jay-Z, who already knew certain social risks, stopped the agent's move - this agent was a relative of Jay-Z and was also black.

"Gentlemen, I am Jay-Z. You may not know me, and you may not have heard my songs. It doesn't matter. It is a matter of personal aesthetics. But I am a star and a public figure. I cannot accept body searches casually."

Jay-Z said: "This is not the first time I have watched the NBA draft. I have watched it four or five times, and every time I walked through the star aisle, I was never searched. But this time, I can think that you guys are. Are you targeting me? Are you targeting black people? Gentlemen?"

"I'm sorry." Among the security personnel, a white bodyguard stood up.

"We didn't deliberately target anyone. Just now, Mr. Michael Jackson also entered through here. He also accepted our security check, but he didn't have as big a reaction as you."

Michael Jackson is here too today?

Several black people present were a little surprised.

Even though he has been somewhat quiet in recent years, the name MJ still plays an important role in the American entertainment industry.

Michael is top notch, there is no one like him.

"Really?" Agent Richard was a little skeptical.

"I don't have to deceive you." The white bodyguard said, "You will know when you get in."

Jay-Z opened his mouth to say that Michael Jackson is also black, and you are targeting black people.

Before he could speak, at this moment, a tall black man who looked stronger than the average NBA athlete walked out.

The strong black man said to the white bodyguard: "Andrew, what happened?"

"Director Lincoln, this Mr. Jay-Z and his people are unwilling to cooperate with our security search." The white bodyguard said to the tall black man.

"Oh? Let's see who it is, Jay-Z, a hip-hop superstar."

The extremely oppressive Lincoln came out and stood in front of the tall Jay-Z and others, like a slightly smaller Shaquille O'Neal.

"No matter who it is today. Even if Anderson or Krueger are here. The two leaders of the Blood Gang and the Crip Gang will still be subject to our search! Jay-Z? Are you more ruthless than Anderson, or more ruthless than Krueger? fierce?"

Lincoln's words matched his tall, strong figure and sinister expression.

All the members of the black hip-hop circle present fell silent.

Kanye West thinks this trumpet "O'Neal" is so fierce.

The names Anderson and Krueger. It will be relatively unfamiliar to white people, Asians, Hispanics, or black people above the middle class.

But for black people at the bottom who are in gangs, or black people like Jay-Z who are in the hip-hop circle.

The names of these two men are like the name of the godfather to the Mafia gang in Sicily.

Of these two black men, one is currently one of the most famous senior leaders of the Blood Gang.

The other is one of the most famous senior leaders of the Crip Gang.

As for what the Crips and the Bloods are, turn right or left when going to Chicago.

Looking at Lincoln's fierce look, the "security guards" next to him were getting stronger and stronger, and some even had weapons on their waists.

In the corner, Jay-Z even saw someone exaggeratingly pointing a submachine gun at his side.

If this wasn't Madison Square Garden, Jay-Z would have thought he and others were involved in a fight between two gangs.

After a moment of silence, Jay-Z raised his hands and said, "Okay, OK. Don't be nervous, man. I don't know who you are. But I accept your inspection. After all, this is Madison Square Garden. This is not Chicago, right?" "

As soon as Jay-Z's words of resignation came out, the fierce expression on O'Neal Lincoln's face suddenly disappeared.

"Haha~ Right, that's what it's like. Sean, I like to listen to "Heartbreaker" you sang with Mariah Carey. Hey, that little white girl, she's so sexy when she twists~ Tell me, Did you have sex with her?"

Lincoln burst out laughing, and Kanye West, like Jay-Z, relaxed.

But young Kanye West thought this big guy who looked like O'Neal was so cool.

Looks like a bodyguard.

Kanye West thinks that when he becomes a hip-hop superstar in the future. You must also find a bodyguard like this!

Jay-Z and others quickly underwent security checks, and two pistols were found on the bodyguards and managers.

"Oh, good stuff." Lincoln laughed and held two pistols. "I'll give them back to you when I come out later. But you can't bring them in tonight. My boss is in there tonight."

At this time, Jay-Z also began to wonder who Lincoln's boss was.

What kind of person can have a bodyguard like Lincoln who even mentions Anderson and Kruger with disdain on his face.

Is it the commander-in-chief of the United States?

Jay-Z, who hasn't read much, feels that only a big shot like that could disdain the Bloods and Crips.

Not only Kanye West, but Jay-Z also wants to talk to Lincoln right now.

But Lincoln was already laughing and pushing them in with a smile, and had no intention of having more contact with Jay-Z and others.

After these black people entered, only themselves were left in the passage for the time being.

Lincoln spat "tui", "Hey, a bunch of guys with low taste. What's so good about hip-hop music? Now I listen to oriental music to cultivate my sentiments! Fake oil!"

While talking and cursing, he also pointed two fingers at the backs of Jay-Z and others.

At this time, someone else walked in through the star passage.

Lincoln said to the white bodyguard who just stopped Jay-Z and the others:

"Hey, man, why are you standing still? Go on, I'm here. No matter who comes, we don't have to be afraid. Who are we? We are Rock Security, we are Abel Smith's rock! No matter who comes, we don't have to be afraid. !”

On the other side, Jay-Z, Kanye West and others have entered the infield.

Bodyguards and managers find seats. Big stars also bought tickets, but their seats were better in the front row because they bought high-priced front-row tickets.

But Jay-Z has lost interest in tonight's NBA draft.

The black hip-hop superstar is more interested in who is coming tonight.

And who is the boss of trumpet O'Neal just now? He can actually use such a bodyguard.

Is that guy really not afraid of Anderson or Kruger, and really ignores the Bloods and Crips gangs?

Jay-Z was at a loss for words and wanted to find someone to talk to, so he approached Kanye West who was next to him.

Kanye West was actually very curious at the moment, and the two started chatting immediately.

It's a pity that both of them are figures in the American black hip-hop circle, which is notoriously uneducated.

When the two of them got together, they couldn't come up with anything.

Fortunately, although they are uneducated, they are not fools.

They all speculated that because tonight's NBA draft security is so strict, there must be someone big coming.

If a big shot is coming, a big shot from the NBA will definitely accompany him.

Then we only need to find Stern and the others where they are tonight.

You can probably find out which big shot is coming to the scene tonight.

Jay-Z and Kanye West thought this was a good idea, and the two black men began to search for Stern.

Soon the sharp-eyed Kanye West found Stern's figure.

"Over there." Kanye West pointed in one direction.

"Oh, I saw it." Jay-Z also said, "Look who is next to Stern."

"See. An old white man? Fakeyou, another old white man." Kanye West couldn't help shouting.

Jay-Z, who has become a boss and opened a company, is quite knowledgeable.

Being older, he recognized the identity of the old white man who made David Stern look a little groveling.

"West. That old ghost seems to be Buffett."

"Who is Buffett?"

"Stock God, Stock God Buffett!"

"What*Fake? Is Warren Buffett here?" Kanye West naturally knows Buffett.

Some adult Americans may not know the name of the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, nor do they know who the Secretary of the Treasury or other ministers are.

But it is impossible not to know the names Soros and Buffett.

Both of these two were new beacons in the 1990s.

The publicity back then was extremely high, and every American knew them.

Kanye West and Jay-Z had the same reaction, they were very surprised.

Saw Buffett at the NBA draft.

This is equivalent to suddenly seeing Xiao Ma + Lao Ma + Xiao Xu and Lao Wang before they were defeated in China's CBA.

It’s equivalent to the sum of these four people.

He is a Chinese, so if you see him on the spot, you will certainly be surprised.

"What the Falk!" Kanye West couldn't help but said: "Did Buffett acquire the NBA?"

Jay-Z is also at a loss. Black people have never heard of this level of rich people appearing in the NBA.

"Wait a minute." Kanye West, who had better eyesight, saw a young man next to Buffett.

David Stern after talking to Buffett.

At this time, he was talking to the young man with a smile like a bitch.

"That...that seems to be Abe Smith?" Kanye West said uncertainly.

Jay-Z recognized it at a glance. It was the latest prehistoric Titan to enter the American media and entertainment circles.

"That's Abel Smith! What the Faker!" Jay-Z said:

"Abel Smith and Buffett are here. No wonder the inspections outside are so strict! Falk! I guess even if the commander-in-chief is here, that's it, right?!!"

Compared to the old lamp beads that are already a bit dim.

The lighthouse’s new bead, Abel Smith.

He is now more popular in the United States than Soros and Buffett combined.

What's more, he is also a super media and entertainment tycoon.

An industry giant associated with the careers of Jay-Z and Kanye West.

The two black men were naturally more familiar and knowledgeable about Abel's affairs.

"Oh, I remembered it." Kanye West said excitedly:

"I remember there was a news report. Abe Smith purchased an NBA team! It seems to be the Houston Rockets. Is he here to watch the Rockets draft?"

"That's how it should be." Jay-Z also said:

"He may have brought Buffett here. The white people's news said that these two people were good friends who worked together."

Kanye West nods:

"Yes, that's right. That should be it. Otherwise, how could an old white man like Buffett come to see the NBA!!"

Jay-Z said enviously: "Hey, I really want to buy an NBA team. Just like Abel Smith."

Kanye West thinks you're not even close to Abe Smith.

He is one of the super rich people ranked by Forbes.

He is a super tycoon in Hollywood. He has a film company, a music company, and even an oil company.

He seems to be the vampire boss of Wall Street.

For such a top big shot, you Jay-Z is a hip-hop star and a stingy boss.

Also want to be like Abel Smith and daydream.

Of course, Kanye West won’t show it.

Two practitioners in the black hip-hop circle brought the topic to Abe Smith.

While chatting, Jay-Z came to DreamWorks Music of MGM Entertainment.

Jay-Z said disdainfully:

"Abel Smith, a white guy, let David Goffin, a gay guy, acquire the Hipgnosis label. Do they think they can enter the hip-hop circle and grab a living? Hey, hip-hop is exclusive to us black people. Territory! White guys, get out of here!"

"Hipgnosis was acquired by Abe Smith?" Kanye West wondered.

Hipgnosis is a well-known hip-hop music label in New York. It focuses on black hip-hop and is considered one of the major labels in the industry.

Anyway, it’s much better than just Jay-Z, the star of Roc-a-Fella.

Such a large music company is unattainable in the eyes of Kanye West at this time.

When it comes to acquisition, it was acquired by Abel Smith.

Kanye West is truly envious.

"Yes." Jay-Z lowered his voice and said:

"The young guy started DreamWorks Music at MGM. In half a year, he acquired more than 20 music labels! Now in terms of scale, it has surpassed BMG!"

This is the first time Kanye West has heard anything like this.

As a young man, he was still a producer focusing on music.

"Wow, more than twenty music labels? Are they all of Hipgnosis's size?" Kanye West asked curiously.

Jay-Z said: "Absolutely. Anyway, I heard that the worst ones are similar to my Roc-a-Fella company."

After finishing speaking, Jay-Z lowered his voice again.

This hip-hop superstar is also afraid that when he says something small about others, it will be passed on to others.

If Abel Smith really wants to deal with himself, Jay-Z doesn't think he can handle it.

Jay-Z whispered: "Hipgnosis, which was acquired by that guy, is said to want to become the number one major label in our circle. It has recently begun to recruit people. Hey, they are wishful thinking! Some people are already boycotting them and waiting for us to join forces. Get up and teach this little white guy a lesson! Let these white guys know that playing hip-hop is only for black people!"

Jay-Z said excitedly.

Kanye West listened and his heart moved at the same time.

Hipgnosis recruiting troops?

Black singers need to boycott.

Doesn't this mean that it is an opportunity for myself?

A young music producer had an idea in his mind.

This made Kanye West couldn't help but look up in the direction of Abe Smith.

perhaps

Kanye West thought.

Would this be a good choice?

Young black men aren't so sure, but Kanye West doesn't lack for courage.

He has made up his mind.