{"id":176436542,"date":"2014-05-13T01:46:44","date_gmt":"2014-05-13T06:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/?p=176436542"},"modified":"2014-05-13T01:46:44","modified_gmt":"2014-05-13T06:46:44","slug":"video-empire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/2014\/05\/13\/video-empire\/","title":{"rendered":"VIDEO: Empire"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"shadow<\/a><\/p>\n

MAY 12, 2014<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Watch First Trailer For <\/span><\/h1>\n

Lee Daniels’ ‘Empire’ <\/span><\/h1>\n

Starring Terrence Howard, <\/span><\/h1>\n

Taraji P. Henson, Jussie Smollett<\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n<\/a><\/p>\n
BY\u00a0TAMBAY A. OBENSON<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"(L<\/a>

(L to R) Trai Byers as Andre, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie, Terrence Howard as Lucious, Jussie Smollett as Jamal and Bryshere Gray (aka rapper Yazz the Greatest) as Hakeem.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Here’s a first trailer for\u00a0Lee Daniels’\u00a0hip hop\/family drama series\u00a0Empire<\/i>, which is set up at\u00a0FOX, for a\u00a02014\/2015debut.<\/span><\/p>\n

Terrence Howard,\u00a0Taraji P. Henson,\u00a0Jussie\u00a0Smollett,\u00a0Macy Gray,\u00a0Bryshere Y. Gray\u00a0(aka rapper\u00a0Yazz The Greatest),\u00a0Trai\u00a0Byers,\u00a0Gabourey Sidibe,\u00a0Malik Yoba, and\u00a0Grace Gealey\u00a0make up the starring cast of a\u00a0drama that centers on a family-run hip-hop empire, hence the title.<\/span><\/p>\n

The project, which reportedly sparked a bidding war among the 4 major broadcast networks last year, has received a series commitment from\u00a0FOX.<\/span><\/p>\n

Howard plays\u00a0Lucious Lyon, a charismatic, but tough chief of a record label titled\u00a0Empire Entertainment, which is on the verge of an IPO.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Henson is\u00a0Cookie Lyon, the ex-wife of Lucious Lyon, who’s described as a “total badass” with a prison record (she served 17 years for dealing drugs, and used the money to help finance Lucious’ growing music empire, when it was still in its early days).\u00a0She’s now out of prison, and has come for what’s hers!<\/span><\/p>\n

Jussie Smollett plays their son,\u00a0Jamal, a fledgling rapper himself, who is also gay – something that Lucious, the father, has a problem with.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Macy Gray will appear as\u00a0Tasha, a woman having an affair with\u00a0Bryshere Y. Gray’s character,\u00a0Hakeem\u00a0Lyon, Lucious’ other son, the youngest, and Lucious’ favorite, and the frontrunner to take over his father’s empire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trai Byers will play\u00a0Andre, Lucious\u2019 oldest son, described as tall and brilliant, but with a dark side, and Grace Gealey will play\u00a0Anika, the head of A&R for Empire Entertainment, and Lucious\u2019 current girlfriend.<\/span><\/p>\n

Malik Yoba will play Lucious’ longtime friend from the streets and business associate, who is now Empire Entertainment\u2019s chairman of the board.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, Gabourey Sidibe will recur as Lucious\u2019 hard-working assistant\u00a0Becky.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let all the family drama ensue!<\/span><\/p>\n

Lee Daniels, who is directing, is collaborating with his\u00a0The Butler<\/i>\u00a0writer,\u00a0Danny Strong, on the project, with\u00a0Brian Grazer\u00a0also producing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s your first look at the trailer:<\/span><\/p>\n