On The Rise

KJ sat at his desk, the soft glow of his computer screen illuminating the room. His fingers hovered over the mouse, but he didn't immediately click—he knew what he was about to see. He was about to take a look at his earnings and stream numbers for the past few weeks, but he wasn't sure if he was ready for the full weight of it.

His phone buzzed on the desk, a constant reminder that the world kept moving, even when he had his head down working. He glanced at it briefly, but his eyes quickly flicked back to the screen. The numbers. They were finally coming in, and they were more than he could have imagined. He clicked on his account dashboard for his music streaming services, feeling the rush of anticipation as the page loaded.

First, "Unbreakable." The song was sitting at 1.5 million streams across all platforms—Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and the rest. KJ knew this track had legs, but seeing the number on screen made it feel real. His heart raced. The song was touching people, resonating with their struggles and triumphs, and he knew that was the most important thing. But the numbers didn't lie—this was bigger than he'd expected.

Next up was "Rise." The message in this song had come from deep within. KJ had written it as an anthem for anyone who felt like they were on the edge, struggling but determined. It had barely been out a month, and yet, it had already crossed 500,000 streams. This song wasn't just gaining numbers; it was building an audience. The feedback from his fans was overwhelmingly positive, and it felt like he was connecting with people on a level he hadn't even known was possible.

Then, there was "Legacy." A song that felt like a milestone for KJ. It was the anthem of everything he was working for—not just his career, but for his family, his community, and his future. It had only been out for three days, but it had already reached 300,000 streams. The comments were pouring in from all over the world, fans saying how much it meant to them, how it inspired them. For KJ, that was worth more than any number on the screen.

His eyes flicked to the other tabs—his YouTube account. "Unbreakable" had now crossed 750,000 views. The rawness of the video, the pain in his delivery, and the authenticity in his lyrics were hitting home. His fans were reacting to it. They were talking about it. And they were sharing it.

"Rise" had already climbed to 400,000 views in just under a month. The video was simple, just KJ performing in the streets of his neighborhood, capturing the essence of where he came from. People could feel it—the struggle, the fight, the grind. He was telling their stories too.

But the real surprise was "Milli"—the track with Lil Baby. He had known it was going to be big, but he never imagined it would hit the heights it had. In less than a week, the video had crossed 2 million views. Every time KJ checked, the numbers just kept rising. It was crazy to think that just a year ago, he was making mixtapes in his bedroom. Now, he had a collaboration with one of the hottest artists in the game. The validation was surreal, but he wasn't going to get complacent. There was more work to do.

But the numbers weren't just about streams and views. They were also about the earnings—the real fruit of his labor. KJ clicked over to his banking app, where he had the most recent transactions listed. He had to admit, he had been so focused on the music, he hadn't paid much attention to his balance in a while. But now, as he looked, it made him pause.

He had already received $10,000 for his performance at the Rhythm Events concert. That was the initial payment from the show itself. Then, the merch sales had kicked in. $5,000 from the shirts, hats, and other gear sold during the concert had been added to his earnings. The combination of the two had already left him with a hefty amount sitting in his bank account. When he combined it with the $6,000 he had been sitting on before the concert—the savings that had been building up slowly over time—his new total was looking healthier than it had ever been before.

He felt a rush of excitement. He had just hit the $21,000 mark in his account, something that felt surreal given where he had come from. That was more money than he had ever seen in his life. But it wasn't just about the number—it was the fact that it meant he was building something. He was making real money off his music, and for once, he didn't have to rely on anyone else to get by.

His mind wandered to his parents. They were in their room, watching TV like they usually did in the evenings. His dad had worked hard all his life, grinding in construction to put food on the table. His mom had cleaned houses and done whatever she could to make sure KJ and his siblings had what they needed. They had sacrificed so much for him to chase his dream, and now, here he was, starting to see the results.

He tapped his phone, pulled up the transfer app, and sent them $2,000. It wasn't much compared to what they had done for him, but it felt like a step in the right direction. He wanted them to know that he was making good on the promises he'd made all those years ago. They had given him everything they had—sacrificing for his future—and now it was his turn to return the favor.

The sound of the front door opening startled him from his thoughts, and KJ looked up to see his little brother, Jaden, walking in with a basketball in hand.

"Yo, KJ, I heard your new song with Lil Baby. That's wild! You're blowing up, bro!" Jaden said with a grin.

KJ smiled, putting his phone down. "I appreciate it, man. But I'm just getting started. I got a lot more in store."

Jaden's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I can see it. Everyone at school is talking about you. You're a legend now."

KJ laughed, ruffling his younger brother's hair. "You're hyped, huh?"

"You know it," Jaden replied, tossing the basketball from hand to hand. "I told all my friends you're gonna be on TV next. Just wait."

KJ chuckled and looked out the window, letting his brother's enthusiasm sink in. This was more than just about the streams or the views. It was about proving something to the people who had believed in him from the start, and to himself. He had chosen his own path—one that wasn't dependent on major labels or the promises they made. He had walked away from the easy money and the shortcuts, deciding to grind it out on his terms.

And now, the results were starting to speak for themselves.

With his growing success, KJ knew that this wasn't just a flash in the pan. This was the beginning of something bigger. The people were listening, and the fans were connecting with him. But it wasn't just about the music—it was about the authenticity. The stories he was telling. The truths he was speaking.

As KJ stood up from his desk, he glanced back at his phone one more time. The numbers were impressive, but he knew that if he kept grinding, kept pushing himself to create and innovate, the sky was the limit.

He was ready for whatever came next.

Earnings Breakdown:

"Unbreakable": 1.5 million streams = $6,000"Rise": 500,000 streams = $2,500"Legacy": 300,000 streams = $1,500"Milli" ft. Lil Baby: 2 million streams = $8,000

Total earnings from streams alone: $18,000

Add the $21,000 from his concert pay and merch sales, KJ's current bank balance was sitting at an impressive $39,000. This was just the beginning, and the best part? KJ hadn't even released his full album yet. The hustle was paying off, and KJ could finally see the dream he'd been working for coming to life.