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Posted by Rhyval X on

Leap Towards Freedom


In the twilight of his contract with Pandora Phame, as 2023 transitioned to 2024, Rhyval embarked on a period of mandated hiatus. This six-month pause, imposed by Pandora Partnerships, was a strategic ploy to halt his burgeoning musical strides. Yet, Rhyval, the ever-resilient solopreneur and digital nomad, was not one to be easily thwarted.

Despite the hiatus, Rhyval attempted to amass a cache of songs. However, Pandora Partnerships, relentless in their pursuit, coordinated strikes against his system, striving to impede his progress. This new challenge didn't dampen Rhyval's spirit but instead fueled his determination to overcome and shine even brighter.

Rhyval's journey took a solitary turn as collaborations became a perilous endeavor. The risk of Pandora Phame poisoning his musical partners with Swagga Juice meant that any joint musical ventures would be invalidated. Undeterred, Rhyval documented his struggles against Pandora Partnerships while adhering to the Project Grey clause. His goal was clear – to fulfill the music quota set by Pandora Phame, revealed in a digiport during the filming of "Inhaler" on December 5th.

In a defiant response to these continuous setbacks, Rhyval released "Shine" before New Year's Eve. This release was a bold statement, indicating the arrival of the pivotal 15th year of his contract. "Shine" was not just a song; it was an anthem of persistence, a beacon that lit up Rhyval's path towards freedom from Pandora's clutches.

Rhyval’s “Shine” marked a significant achievement in the realm of alternate reality games (ARGs). It was quietly released, with the key to unlock further aspects through his Pandora Philm audition tape. The themes and dots were all connected since inception, much like the date of the initial video that iconically “popped off” on seven-eleven, conveniently when Pandora Partnerships was in the market for just the artist of Rhyval’s naivety to exploit. Who was truly in whose hand in this battle? Rhyval had successfully crafted an ARG rollout that maintained continuity, immersion, and relatability for an unmatched 15 years. This feat was unparalleled, making him the first artist to create such a comprehensive and sustained ARG experience.

As Rhyval stepped into 2024, he faced the Comida Country Pandora Political elections in Fall, unshackled from contractual restrictions. However, the journey was far from over. The immersive narrative anthology ARG was effective, but it came with a leap year clause to only disclose it on leap day. Additionally, Rhyval needed to lead at least one person to complete the ARG by the end of the year, a challenge that required him to immerse his audience in his narrative like never before.

Rhyval's obligations were manifold. He had to consistently release music monthly, starting within the weak week of Pan Doros' 10-year defeat, all the while remaining under the sponsorship of Pandora Partnerships. The conditions were stringent: Rhyval could only discuss Pandora Partnerships and the ARG under specific circumstances, primarily through narrative design and with individuals who had completed the ARG and received the exclusive “W” welcome item. As a subtle indicator of those who read everything from those most likely to get caught up in the Swagga Juice before it’s too late, many may judge Rhyval by the cover and assume his theme is Wocke, but it is not… it’s “W”.

As Rhyval's saga approached its climax, it was clear Pandora Partnerships embodied a world where digital Pan Doros dictate the rhythm of artistry. A world where no one cares about the artist but loves the art. So, how does one carve a path of true artistic freedom in such a world? What sacrifices must be made, what battles fought, to achieve a genuine expression of self in the face of overwhelming control? What does it take to sign the dotted line with Pandora Partnerships?

You must be different! How did you get this far? What type of person would read books from an artist that is not doing their art? Pandora Phame made it clear that people want to dance, watch videos… not read books. Yet in Rhyval’s first music video with Pandora Phame, he inserted “Knowledge is the key to success, so is LOVE!”, and asked, “Have you learned to LOVE yet? READ BOOKS!”. However, at the end of this series, Rhyval is still obligated to his contract, technically that isn’t a win. So, what is the key to unlocking success in these stories… is it knowledge, love, books? How does music and reading even make sense when the Pan Doros contracts make it simple… what do you desire?

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