By Nandee Mignon
Staff Writer
On Jan. 7, Fox premiered their newest show, “Empire,” a music-drama series that focuses around Hip-Hop music, entertainment and culture.
The series follows the company’s founding family and their rise to the top of the industry. As well as all of the lies, illegal, backstabbing and money hungry things they do. The show stars Taraji P. Henson (Cookie Lyon), Terrence Howard (Lucious Lyon, Cookie’s ex-husband), Trai Byers (Andre Lyon, Cookie and Lucious’ 1st son), Jussie Smollett (Jamal Lyon, the middle child), Bryshere Y. Grey (Hakeem Lyon, the youngest son) and Grace Gealey (Anika Gibbons, Lucious’ girlfriend and A&R for Empire Entertainment).
Right off the bat, the first episode will fill you with suspense, drama and loads of music. It introduces its audience to the infamous studio moments, Lucious being a homophobic father and being diagnosed with ALS. During this time, ex-wife Cookie is being released from jail after taking the fall for Lucious and serving seventeen years in prison.
The show is filled with complex character structures dealing with love, loss and being independent while still being part of a family. The relationship between Lucious and Jamal is a touchy one. Jamal is often referred to as the most talented musician out of the three boys but to his father’s disappointment has “chosen” to be a homosexual. The story follows Jamal and his relationship with his father, as they struggle to understand each other.
Hakeem, being the youngest of the three boys, does not remember his mother at all before she went to jail. The first time Cookie and Hakeem have any real interaction is when he ends up calling her a b****. That scene introduces the struggle between the two characters for love, while the other wants distance.
The writers do a wonderful job of following the complicated relationships that are in each of the character’s lives while still having a cohesive plotline.
While some people have criticized the show for not being authentic or over dramatizing the Hip-Hop industry, others have praised the portrayal of the music industry and the accuracy of the show.
Of course there has to be some kind of drama going on, and extra people involved, because that’s what makes a good television series. However, as far as the basics, of back stabbing musicians, industry rivalry and controversy around homosexuality in hip-hop is all too real.
The show has already been renewed for a second season and they are only four episodes in. That should tell you something about the quality of the show. If you are hungry for good music, and good old fashion drug controversy with a dash of sibling rivalry, tune into “Empire,” every Wednesday at 9 p.m. on Fox.