IM JUST DOING MY JOB

I put out about a million applications before i got my first job. nobody ever called me back.i never applied for fast food though cause ive never heard anything remotely positive about slingin burgers and fries. finally I walked into a music store close to the crib i had never seen before,i couldnt explain it if i tried but it just felt right. Back when music was good (what the fuck does wipe me down even mean?) i was an expert.not just on rap either, i used to listen to aerosmith,leann rimes,beach boys etc. This wasnt any stuffy ass hurry up and buy music store either.the cashiers had piercings and tats and all that professional shit.they even had a listening station where theyd open whatever cd you liked and you could sit there and listen long as you liked long as there wasnt a line.I asked if they were hiring and they were. WOO HOO!!!

I showed up to my interview in my church suit.i looked like someone was getting married.my manager said i got the job just off that alone.i got the job and i was soooooo happy.i would be (somewhat) financially independent,i could upgrade to what i REALLY wanted to be (better clothes,could take girls out)and most of all i had a reason to not be in the house (another story). I really enjoyed working there helping people find music. My favorite part was when someone would come in with a song stuck in their head but they aint know the name.

customer: you heard a song where the dude keep saying you need like a mackavelli or some shit like that? thats my shit right there

me: oh yeah thats Splackavellie by Pressha.im suing him cause he wrote that about my life without consulting me


Of course the job came with downsides too, i never had time for homework.i would get out of school by like 2 or 3 and my shift started at 4.my grades had started slipping but i didnt care.i was living in hell and that was the only escape.another issue i had was what happens anytime someone starts doing better at anything, HATING!! my sister would get on me cause she said i acted too good to eat at home anymore.we'd also argue cause she would try to tell me how to handle my money and i didnt think that concerned her. i offered to contribute to groceries but she said no,after that what i do with my stacks is my business.

after my first friday i went to get my check and my manager (who is like family to me these days) laughed and explained how it would take like 2 weeks to get my first check.huh? but i been working there a full week!!!!

finally i got my first check and you couldnt tell me shit. $88.73 snitches. BAAAAAALLLLLLLIIINNNNNNNNNNNNN !!!!!!! man you would have thought i had found Jay z's wallet the way i put on.I went to the little hood check cashing spot and got my scrillers,minus 2% :( .then i went to the mall and got me some fried rice and bourbon chicken.

**break** previous to this the only time id ever had that was the little sample on a toothpick but i always swore when i got my money right i would blaze them up

after that i picked up like 2 $7 t shirts (this doubled my wardrobe lol)and blew a stack ($5) at the arcade. THIS IS LIFE. i miss those days.we used to could read the magazines free in the break room.i could buy stuff out the vending machine at school like the cool kids,i felt like an adult. it even seemed like i got more respect at home cause i had a job like everyone else.i no longer had to ask my sister for an allowance anymore, if i wanted something i just copped it.i even felt more adult than some of my friends

friend: you saw that new show MTV got called TRL? they had this white girl on there i think her name britney something, when i tell you that ho so fine dawg...

me:oh naw i aint see that,i had to work and my boss dont play about being late.

friend: oh...you could buy me some m&m's



it was such a change of lifestyle cause as a kid all i used to do was watch tv all day and i had nothing but free time but now i never had time to do anything.if i wanted to see the WB wednesday id have to tape it and watch it saturday.but i didnt complain cause i loved my little job.we were a ticketmaster outlet and i was pretty good at that.we even had in store signings too and i met jon b and public announcement when they went solo from kells.the music that was out then played a big part of my life obviously cause it was a music store.I witnessed the Backstreet Boys come out and murder everything moving,then nsync and britney,christina aguilera and 98 degrees came after and jacked their whole swag.Master p was HUGE then too (UGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!) almost every tuesday he had a new album out.

so.....what was your first job?