Television’s first great hour-long musical drama of 2015, Empire, has become a water cooler conversation initiator after making its debut earlier in January. Starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, the FOX series has already been dubbed Hip Hop’s equivalent to ABC’s insanely popular country music-based Nashville. Focused on record label and media company Empire Enterprise, Howard stars as Lucious Lyon; former drug dealer turned rapper who has built the American dream through even more questionable means. This is where Henson’s portrayal of ex-wife Cookie Lyon comes in. Recently released from prison after a seventeen year sentence for drug charges, Cookie wants half of Empire Enterprise as cash gained through illicit dealings funded the company’s early beginnings. A huge bulk of the drama also comes through Lucious’ recent diagnosis of ALS and which of his three sons get control after his eventual death. This leads to an interesting power struggle between executive eldest son Andre, singer/songwriter middle child Jamal and hot-headed aspiring rapper and youngest sibling Hakeem.
Already a hit with both viewers and critics, Empire takes inspiration from news and rumors that have spread throughout Hip Hop for decades. Those with both underlying and surface level knowledge of the culture are bound to have a grand time naming those varying aspects. With that in mind, DX will be presenting a weekly series based around the show entitled “Empire State of Mind” which will recap episodes and offer insight into possibly inspired scenarios among others.
This week, DX Senior Features Writer Ural Garrett tries to convince Features Editor Andre Grant the importance of Empire to Hip Hop.
Empire Continues The Long Line Of Great Family Dramas But Through Hip Hop
Andre: Full disclosure, I have not seen an episode of Empire, and according to their ratings, I may be the last black man left in America who hasn’t. Still, why the hell would I watch a Hip Hop soap opera?
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Ural: There’s never been a television show that understands the intricacy and absurdity of modern Hip Hop like Empire. Before Fox’s hit television series, most mainstream looks into the culture mainly limited itself to dated ideas like Method and Red or Thugaboo. Considering many important figures within Hip Hop from Jay Z to Pharrell have reached areas as high as Wall Street and The White House, there’s no doubt that popular culture have wholeheartedly embraced the once neglected sub-culture. This is what Empire does so well; paying homage to Hip Hop’s past and present while presenting a family centered soap opera in the vein of Dallas in addition to Glee’s musical splendor. Easily, the show is entertaining as hell and has an excellent cast behind it.
“Empire” Is Introducing Hip Hop’s Inner Machinations To A Mainstream Audience
Andre: Dallas? That’s not gonna make me watch anything. I get the whole Hip Hop has grown up thing, and I relish that. And, apparently, it makes for good entertainment as ratings keep soaring each week. But other than Cookie being finer than four decade old scotch, haven’t I seen this stuff play out in real Hip Hop life?
Ural: Of course you’ve seen this stuff played out in real life. However, there are over millions of weekly viewers whose knowledge of today’s Hip Hop is probably expanded past preconceived notions. The culture isn’t just struggling rappers seeking fame and fortune. Today’s elite emcees are mega moguls with liquor brands, shoe deals, multimillion dollar management agencies and more. This is something that Empire gets absolutely right about Hip Hop though it gets things wrong as well. The show does a great job of displaying where it is today to people who’ve dismissed it for something as degenerate counter-culture.
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Empire Is Showing The Black Family In A Positive Light
Andre: Okay, Hip Hop is everything now. As Kendrick just proved, it’s all genres colliding together to create great stuff, and I get that. Introducing a wider audience to the hilarious yet very familiar familial struggles present whenever power changes hands is always a great hook. But like I said these tropes aren’t new. Why should I care?
Ural: It’s actually great that you mentioned Kendrick Lamar because if To Pimp A Butterfly is the perfect example of black nationalism on both social and institutionalized levels, Empire does the same in some respects. Essentially, both are very important to today’s racial climate. The last prime time television show to feature a black family of prestige was The Cosby Show and they were upper middle class. Keep in mind that the structure to the Bill Cosby vehicle was a sitcom. However, the Lyon family is a part of the one percent and come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds; something more aligned with most rags-to-riches narratives within Hip Hop. The soap opera nature is obviously going to lead to family drama. Dame Dash mentioned in a previous interview with The Breakfast Club that he works for his last name and not his first. If anyone understands that, it’s Lucious Lyon.
Lucious Lyon Is A Rare Black Anti-Hero In A Mainstream Drama
Andre: I get it. The man’s an inspiration. Letting his wife do time for his misdeeds so as to continue the Empire. Then grabbing that bright, ambitious, amazing Anika to share his bed while he comes down with a debilitating illness. Then not even imagining a way to properly divide his fortune should tragedy strike. Sounds like a real role model. Still, I’m hating, but what makes Lucious more interesting than say, watching old episodes of Diddy’s “Making The Band?”
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Ural: Well, no one said Lucious was perfect. In fact, he’s an outright monster in moments throughout the season. These are qualities that historically have made a great anti-hero which makes Lucious the most human black man in a dramatic series ever. Technically, Lucious’ ex- wife never did time for his misdeeds, she was imprisoned for her role in their drug ring which funded Empire Enterprise. This is why Cookie is the most beloved character on the show; Taraji P Henson portrays a woman who’s a full on bad ass and simply fine as all fuck. Not only did she not snitch(similar to Lil Kim and Kareem Biggs), Cookie’s multilayered relationships with her offspring is touching.
Cookie Is The Series’ Heart And Soul
Andre: Okay, okay. You may almost have me. I like anti-heroes as much as the next guy and Terrence Howard was smooth in Hustle & Flow. But the real star of the show is Cookie, right? Is she well rounded or just a show piece?
Ural: Actually, she’s both. It’s no secret that Henson is becoming the premier African American actress of today and she makes Cookie one of the most multidimensional black female on television. In the first episode alone, she goes from beating her disrespectful younger son to defending her middle’s alternative lifestyle. There are a lot of emotions that Cookie goes through during season one of Empire and Henson pulls it off without error. On a physical level, Henson got that same bad body she’s had since that one scene in Baby Boy. Remember that part about tacos? During the episode where Lucious announces his eventual failed nuptials with Anika, Twitter caught on fire once Cookie showed her “cakes.” That alone makes Cookie, in essence, the heart of the series.
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Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few different properties on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He’s also trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones.
Ural Garrett is an Los Angeles-based journalist and HipHopDX’s Senior Features Writer. When not covering music, video games, films and the community at large, he’s in the kitchen baking like Anita. Follow him on Twitter @Uralg.
