[ WP ] Magic is discovered and it 's channeled with music . Modern nations dissolve and new countries rise in their place divided by the preferred music . In the frozen north lie the Metal kingdoms . Far to the south are the countries of Soul etc .

**EXACT LOCATION REDACTED** 
 
 *Somewhere in New York City* 
 
 `` It does n't look good.'' 
 
 Nasir stroked his goatee as he looked down at the territory map. All around him were men with grave looks on their faces. 
 
 `` The Midwest is a madhouse. Country is stronger than ever, I doubt we can hold it for much longer.'' 
 
 `` Nah, dog, fuck that''. 
 
 Marshall stared at the floor with that intense look that seemed glued to his face. 
 
 `` We're stronger than that, man. You wo n't lose us.'' 
 
 `` Bullshit.'' 
 
 Shaun had been gazing out the window over his old neighborhood. He did n't even turn around as he continued. 
 
 `` Y'all have no hope. You do n't stand a chance now that Ye is gone.'' 
 
 Nasir looked up with an old hatred in his eyes. 
 
 `` Okay, mister positive. Call back when your work is relevant again.'' 
 
 Shaun wheeled around and matched Nasir's glare. 
 
 `` Look who's talking. Boy, everybody forgot about you just as soon as we buried the hatchet. You should be thanking me.'' 
 
 Nasir angrily stepped forward. 
 
 `` *You* buried the hatchet. I had you on the ropes and you know it.'' 
 
 The two old warriors were now toe-to-toe, and the looks in their eyes were almost sharp enough to cut through the tense air. Suddenly a diminutive figure jumped between them. 
 
 `` Chill, chill, chill!'' Kendrick yelled. `` Y'all know what's going on. You are n't helping anything.'' 
 
 Shaun stared bug-eyed at Kendrick. Then Nasir. Then back at Kendrick again. He muttered something under his breath and the two men awkwardly returned to their corners of the large room. 
 
 Jermaine and Aubrey had been conversing quietly off to the side. Finally Aubrey broke the room's silence. 
 
 `` We need a status update.'' 
 
 Nasir studied the map for a minute before he replied. 
 
 `` Like I said. Not good. Y'all already know about those autotuned bastards in the South. We ca n't call them our own anymore.'' 
 
 Jermaine spat. A tear of resentment shone in his eye as he thought of his homeland. 
 
 `` Alt-rock forces allied with the metalheads out west. They already got the Northwest and they're going down the coast from there.'' 
 
 `` Where are they?'' asked Earl worriedly. 
 
 Kendrick took a deep breath. 
 
 `` We lost San Francisco. Vallejo... they did n't make it. Oakland is a war zone.'' 
 
 Earl did n't reply. 
 
 `` We'll hold LA'', said Andre with confidence. `` Always do.'' 
 
 `` Fuck,'' exclaimed Marshall. `` All these motherfuckers telling us we are n't'real music' and now we ca n't even hold our ground and prove'em wrong!'' 
 
 `` Not if I have anything to say about it,'' muttered Shaun. `` Marshall, Nasir. Get on the next flight west. I want y'all in LA by tomorrow.'' 
 
 `` Why us?'' snapped Nasir. 
 
 `` You're the best lyricists we've got,'' replied Shaun with a dismissive look on his face. `` When it comes to battle rapping and utterly destroying somebody, nobody can top y'all. *I sure as hell know it. * We need your magic right about now.'' 
 
 Nasir looked up and his eyes locked with Shaun. They exchanged nods of respect. 
 
 `` Now get the fuck out of here. Y'all have metalheads to defeat.'' 
 
 Marshall and Nasir got up and left the room. 
 
 Shaun did n't miss a beat. He was a businessman after all, and he had to plan his next move. 
 
 `` Aubrey. Come with me to the midwest. We can rally our people. When we talk, they'll listen. Start thinking of some catchy lines about country. We are their voice.'' 
 
 `` Yo, I ai n't missing out on that,'' Kendrick interjected. 
 
 Aubrey and Shaun exchanged glances. The three had n't exactly been best of friends in the past, but now was the time to save their culture. 
 
 `` Sounds like a plan.'' 
 
 Shaun turned his attention back to his western counterpart. 
 
 `` Dre, what do you think?'' 
 
 Andre shrugged. 
 
 `` I grew in Compton, ca n't think of a better place to be right now.'' 
 
 `` Go for it,'' replied Shaun. 
 
 Andre looked up at his old friend, bandana adorning his bald head, immortalized in a painting high on the wall. Tupac Shakur seemed to be watching over them all. 
 
 `` If only you were here now,'' he whispered. 

