Becky G | Empire

• Genre: Music drama
• Created by: Lee Daniels, Danny Strong
• Starring: Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Bryshere Y. Gray, Jussie Smollett, Trai Byers, Grace Byers, Malik Yoba, Tasha Smith, Kaitlin Doubleday, Gabourey Sidibe, Ta'Rhonda Jones, Serayah, Morocco Omari, Xzibit, Bre-Z, Rumer Willis, Terrell Carter, Andre Royo, Nicole Ari Parker, Chet Hanks, Rhyon Nicole Brown, A. Z. Kelsey, Vivica A. Fox, Meta Golding, Mario, Katlynn Simone, Wood Harris
• Composers: Fil Eisler, Rodney Jerkins, Ester Dean, Jim Beanz
• No. of seasons: 6
• No. of episodes: 102
• Executive producers: Danny Strong, Brian Grazer, Robert Munic, Francie Calfo, Ilene Chaiken, Sanaa Hamri, Lee Daniels, Dennis Hammer, Brent Mahoney
• Producers: Attica Locke, Malcolm Spellman, Loucas George, Dianne Houston
• Production locations: Chicago, Illinois, New York City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Cinematography: Andrew Dunn, Paul M. Sommers
• Editors: Joe Leonard, Zack Arnold, Raúl Dávalos, Natalie A. Boschan, Matt Barber
• Running time: 42 minutes
• Production companies: Imagine Television, Lee Daniels Entertainment, Danny Strong Productions,Little Chicken Inc.,20th Television
• Network: Fox
• Release: January 7, 2015 – April 21, 2020

Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) is a hip hop mogul, former drug dealer, and CEO of Empire Entertainment. Informed of his own imminent early death from ALS, Lucious is forced to choose, from amongst his progeny, a successor who will control his dynasty after his demise. He begins working to groom one of his three sons to take over the family business – Empire CFO Andre (Trai Byers), R&B singer-songwriter Jamal (Jussie Smollett), and rapper Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray). In the process, Lucious pits them against each other. Lucious' ex-wife Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) is released from prison after serving a 17-year sentence, and also pulls for control of both the company and of her sons.

 

"Without a Country"

After Jamal chased them out of Empire, Cookie, Andre, Hakeem and Anika decide to start their own record label named Lyon Dynasty, but Cookie kicks out Anika after they disagree on how to lead it. Hakeem leaks his new album online rather than allowing Empire to release it and decides to cast a girl group for Lyon Dynasty to prove that he can be more than just an artist. He becomes romantically involved with his hot Latina lead singer Valentina Galindo (Becky G). Rhonda asks Jamal to take Andre back. Lucious has some altercations with Prison Officer McKnight (Ludacris), but his new lawyer Thirsty Rawlings helps him record a track in prison and also wins the bail hearing against Roxanne Ford.

"Fires of Heaven"

Much to the dismay of prosecuting attorney Roxanne Ford (Tyra Ferrell), Lucious is freed on bail, but he's not allowed to enter Empire Entertainment. Lucious tries to reunite his family at a dinner, but Cookie doesn't forgive him and wants to pursue Lyon Dynasty. Lucious tries to ally with Anika, but she also wants to take revenge on him, so she teams up with Cookie and helps her crash a party for Lucious at Laviticus, where Cookie presents a performance by Hakeem, which is a huge success for Lyon Dynasty. Hakeem is producing his girl group Mirage à Trois and sleeping with the lead singer Valentina. When the girls keep fighting, Cookie takes over the training. Lucious wants to sign Frank's daughter Freda (Bre-Z) for Empire to get her out of the ghetto, but fails. Andre tells his parents that Rhonda is pregnant, but Lucious won't have him back at Empire. Lucious remembers his bipolar mother Leah Walker (Kelly Rowland). Lucious buys Apex Radio to control the music outlet and signs Valentina to Empire.