Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion

Driving up to Hollywood Boulevard, I arrived at the outdoor café outside the cinema, where I ran into Selena, who had arrived early.

Dressed in a blue off-shoulder dress, her long curly dark brown hair cascading over her shoulders, and paired with her round cherubic face and delicate collarbones, she gave off the impression of a young woman coming into her own.

"What took you so long, I've been waiting here for ages."

Selena's eyes lit up as she saw me coming but then she pouted, expressing her dissatisfaction.

"Wow, whose princess is this, and how can she be so beautiful?"

Link eyed her up and down, expressing his admiration.

With a light huff, Selena raised her chin and slowly stretched out her hand in front of him.
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Link smiled gently, took her hand, and they walked onto the red carpet in front of the cinema.

The premiere of "Fighter" was held at the Laser Theater at Universal Studios. The premiere was not a large-scale event, but it still attracted dozens of journalists and thousands of fans waiting to enter.

Seeing Link walking with Selena, fans started to shout out loud.

"Where's Taylor? Why didn't you invite her?"

Arm in arm with him, Selena walked and asked.

"She has been recording songs in the studio recently, and I haven't seen her for three days," Link said, waving to the fans at the side of the venue.

"She's too strong, such great creative talent and so hardworking, what are we peers supposed to do? And you're the same. Netizens say that the music scene wasn't so competitive before, but since you and Taylor joined, it has become very, very intense, especially in the pop music field," Selena complained in a soft voice. Hearing fans in the audience area shouting 'Selena', she quickly flashed a sweet smile and waved to the fans, quite the little actress.

"You should be complaining about Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Britney, Rihanna, Adele, Avril Lavigne... okay, the competition among you female pop singers is indeed fierce," Link said, listing the active female pop singers of 2009 and realizing that they were all formidable.

Compared to that, the competition in the male pop singer arena felt less daunting.

Male singers often debuted in groups like Super Boys, Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Linkin Park, Coldplay, Maroon 5, Green Day Band, most of them rockers.

Solo male singers were mainly in country music and rap, like Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Kanye, Eminem, etc.

In the pop field, there were few solo male singers, but if successful, they could become very popular, from Elvis Presley, MJ, to Justin Timberlake who successfully transitioned after the millennium.

And now there was Link, as well as the still-growing Justin Bieber.

For Link to have come this far in the fiercely competitive music scene was no small feat.

Apart from high album quality, a boxing star background, good looks, decent singing ability, and great promotion, the continuous cycle of news hype was indispensable.

Others, lacking these conditions, naturally couldn't reach the same level.

"But you're amazing too, runner-up in the first week album sales, selling 600,000 copies in the United States in the first month, that's incredible, nowhere near my debut performance," Link praised.

Hearing his praise, Selena's eyes nearly squinted shut with joy as she clutched eagerly at his arm, saying:

"I think I'm pretty amazing too. To sell six hundred thousand copies of my first album in the United States in just one month, six hundred thousand—you know what that means? It means that over six hundred thousand people are willing to spend money to listen to me sing. It feels just fantastic."

As Selena was talking, her body could hardly keep from bouncing up, as if she wanted to jump, forcing Link to place his hand on her shoulder to prevent her from making a scene in front of the media and journalists.

"Yes, you're amazing, and in the future, you'll become a great singer like Britney, Taylor, or Lady Gaga, performing concerts everywhere, and everyone will call you superstar Selena. Then, when I ask you out to watch a movie, you won't have the time," he said.

"Haha, that won't happen, I'll make time just for you," Selena said affectionately, clinging to his arm.

Link smiled softly, thinking that the Selena of the present was just fine, simple and happy, hoping she could always stay this joyful.

"Mr. Baker, may we interview you for a moment?"

Outside the red carpet area, a few journalists called out loudly.

Link nodded and walked to the side of the field with Selena.

"Mr. Baker, your first North American tour has just concluded. When will the next round start?"

The Hollywood Reporter journalist asked.

"It is anticipated to be around April or May of next year."

There are more than seventy concerts in the Americas, divided into three stages according to the plan, with one round every half a year, and the closing ceremony of the world tour will also be held within the United States.

"Mr. Baker, yesterday the singer T.I. was sentenced by the Atlanta district court for illegal possession of firearms, and last month the singer Lil Wayne was found with a large quantity of drugs and firearms in his car and was arrested by the police. There is online speculation that these incidents are related to you and a continuation of your competition with East Coast rappers. Do you acknowledge this point?"

The USA Today journalist asked.

Link shook his head with a smile, "It sounds very interesting, like a Hollywood movie plot, but I don't have a role in it."

"Mr. Baker!"

The Los Angeles Times journalist passed the microphone and asked, "At Justin Bieber's album release for 'My World' last week, a reporter suggested that his album style had many similarities with 'Keep On Movin',' and that he was influenced by the musical style of 'Keep On Movin'.'

Justin Bieber denied this, claiming he prefers songs by Jay-Z and Kanye, Lil Wayne, and that his album style is more influenced by them. Mr. Baker, have you heard Justin's new songs, and what do you think?"

Link was somewhat surprised; he had been busy with concerts last week and hadn't heard this news, nor had Anna mentioned it.

Moreover, he hadn't listened to any songs from 'My World,' so couldn't judge whether the style was similar to 'Keep On Movin',' but even if it was, it wouldn't be abnormal.

Both artists are in the pop music domain, 'Keep On Movin'' was very successful, and there were more than one follower afterward.

It's said that after the success of 'The Fighter' and 'Keep On Movin',' there were dozens of albums with similar styles and even names on the European and American music market, unfortunately, not many were successful.

"Link, that guy named Justin is just riding on your coattails, don't mind him," Selena whispered.

Link pulled her hand slightly and said to the journalists, "Yes, I know Justin Bieber, and I've seen his cover videos on YouTube. He's a very promising young man. As for his new album, I've been on tour recently, and unfortunately haven't heard it. I'll give it a listen when I have time."

"Mr. Baker, some people believe that when Justin Bieber answered the reporter's questions, he deliberately mentioned Jay-Z and Kanye and others, taking a stand with the East Coast rappers in their competition with you. What's your opinion on this?"

The American Express reporter asked.

"Such controversy is unnecessary, and besides, today is the premiere of 'Fighter.' I would prefer to answer questions related to the movie, please gentlemen, cooperate," Link waved his hand and said.

When the journalists heard him say this, they reluctantly ended the previous topic and shifted to ask about the movie, while also asking Selena some questions related to her new album.

After answering seven or eight questions, Link and Selena finally entered the cinema's lobby, Selena's little face also turned red from the Los Angeles sun.

"Humph, that guy named Justin is just leeching off your popularity, so annoying," Selena said, puffing up her cheeks.

Link chuckled softly, thinking of the long, turbulent relationship between Selena and Justin Bieber, the next pair of star-crossed lovers in the music world.

If Selena disliked Justin Bieber over this, would they ever get back together in the future?

"He's just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old kid, it's not worth it to take him seriously. His album style and attitude come mainly from his manager's guidance. His head manager, Scooter Braun, was Kanye's former manager and has good personal relationships with Kanye, Jay-Z, and others. In this matter, of course, he sides with Kanye."

Besides, Justin Bieber's mentor is Usher, a famous African American R&B singer.

Usher's mentor was Puff Daddy.

Puff Daddy is a big name in the New York rap scene.

In the early nineties, he founded 'Bad Boy' records and cultivated many famous singers, including B.I.G., Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Latin diva Jennifer Lopez, diva Mariah Carey, and others.

Because of his manager and mentor being closer to East Coast rap, Justin Bieber is also greatly influenced by this group of people.

His several hit songs have a distinct African American music style, making him a 'white and black' type of artist.

Given these points, when Justin Bieber publicly said his album style is closer to Jay-Z, Kanye, and others, he was telling the truth.

However, by voluntarily mentioning Jay-Z on such an occasion, Bieber indeed had the appearance of taking sides.