Empire is one of the best shows that have ever been on the FOX Broadcasting Channel. Empire has everything a successful TV shows needs to be a hit. It has amazing original songs, explosive plot twists and highly appreciated actors that will leave you wanting more and more.
Empire is a rags-to-riches story about Lucious Lyon (Terrance Howard), a drug-dealer-turned-rapper who is trying to make his record label, conveniently named Empire, publically traded.
When Lucious is diagnosed with a Lou Gehrig’s disease and given a minimal amount of time to live, he must make a decision on which of his three sons will run Empire.
Hakeem Lyon (Bryshere Y. Gray) is a rapper like his father. He creates many problems for his father due to his narcissistic tendencies.
Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett) is a musical genius who is being sabotaged by Lucious because he is gay.
Andre Lyon (Trai Byers) is the CFO of Empire. Lucious is cautious of the fact that Andre is bipolar and is married to a white woman. The music on Empire is written and performed by some of the best people in the industry today.
Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) is Lucious’s ex-wife. She took the fall for Lucious and went to prison for 17 years for him so he could get Empire (the music company) up and running.
“My music expresses my world, that’s how I grew up, where you either sold drugs or you watched children go hungry, where half of your family is locked off in prison. Our music is more of a narration of an oppressed people. You see the empire artists are telling the next generation that even though they live in a world where Trayvon Martin can get shot down like a dog without…while there’s hope in the fact that these kids are expressing their anger with music and poetry and not with a 12-gauge shotgun.”
This quote is from an interview where Lucious is asked if his music influences violence and if he himself advocates that practice. It is just one of the many amazing quotes that sum up Empire’s plot.
A majority of the songs are written by the 17- time Grammy nominee Timbaland. Timbaland is one of the most critically acclaimed hip hop artists of the 20th century.
Empire directed and produced by Lee Daniels. Daniels has directed movies like Precious and The Butler. Reese Witherspoon and Eva Longora also co-produce Empire.
Empire stars amazing artists Terrence Howard, Gabourey Sidibe, Jussie Smollett, Trai Byers, Bryshere Y. Gray, Sarayah and Taraji P. Henson among many other greats.
Some of the incredibly talented guest stars that have appeared on Empire are Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Hudson, Raven Symone, Rita Ora, Patti LaBelle and Cuba Gooding Jr.
If you missed season one of Empire, you can watch online at FOX.com or with the FOX app.
Season two of Empire premieres in the 9 to 10 p.m. slot on Wednesdays next fall season.
