Month: March 2016

  • Shinagami, Hot New Artist

    Shinagami

  • Trai Byers Grace Gealey 10 Times TRACE Made Us Swoon

    Cookie and Lucious have certainly made us swoon plenty of times but there’s a real-life Empire couple that fans are quickly falling in love with!

    In March 2015, the couple was super affectionate display during a wedding led to many to believe that the two were dating.  Byers popped the question in July 2015!

    Grace confirmed their engagement in October 2015.  Last year, Gealey visited FABLife where her and Tyra discussed dating coworkers.  Gealey explained:

    “I think that if two people are mature and they’re able to understand that if this doesn’t work out, cause first, I’m not a fan of flings when you work cause that’s where it gets a little dangerous.  I think that if you do get involved, I keep wanting to say on set, I think that if you do get involved at your workplace you have to know that this is something that you want to be invested in, and this is not just something that is frivolous and fleeting.”

    Empire is back and better than ever! Lets take a look at a couple that we absolutely adore: Trai Byers and Grace Gealey aka TRACE!

    When he put a ring on it:

    Grace Gealey Ring Tyra Banks

    When we can’t wait for them to become parents:

    Trai and Grace Byers
    When Trai is rushing to the restroom and Grace fully understands:
    Trai Byers Grace Gealey
    When they strike a pose:
    Trai Byers Grace Gealey
    When Trai helps Grace with the last shot:
    Cheers to the very last shot of season 2 people!!!! We made it! 🍸
    A video posted by Kaitlin Doubleday (@kaitlindday) on Mar 3, 2016 at 10:22pm PST
    When Trai is mesmerized by her beauty:
    Trai Byers Grace Gealey
    When Grace is focused on desert and Trai understands:
    Trai Byers Grace Gealey
    When they look into each other’s eyes:
    On this day, I married the love of my life. Here’s to a lifetime with my angel.❤️
    A post shared by Trai Byers (@traibyers) on Jun 5, 2017 at 10:00am PDT
    When they teach us how to foxtrot:
    Trai Byers Grace Gealey
    When they’re spending quality time at the beach:
    r⃘e⃘s⃘t⃘i⃘n⃘g⃘ b⃘e⃘a⃘c⃘h⃘ f⃘a⃘c⃘e⃘
    A post shared by Grace Byers (@ladygracebyers) on Apr 25, 2017 at 12:16pm PDT

    What do you think about TRACE? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

  • ‘Empire’ Season 2, Volume Soundtrack Has Release Date

    With the rest of Empire Season 2 premiering so soon, it’s time to get ready for not only new episodes of our favorite drama series on March 30, but new music as well. The rest of the season is bound to give fans lots of new music to stream on repeat. Billboard reported that Empire: Original Soundtrack Season 2, Volume 2 is set to be released on April 29. Songs that will be included on this 20-track album are: “Never Let It Die” (Jussie Smollett and Yazz), the Yo Gotti remix of “All Nite,” and a whole bunch of new tunes you’ll be listening to during the rest of Spring.

    Empire Season 2 Soundtrack

    Smollett and Yazz recently sang “Never Let It Die” during a guest appearance on Fox’s American Idol. Spoiler: The “It” they refer to is…the music.

    Check out the tracklisting below.

    1. Freedom (feat. Jussie Smollett)
    2. Crown (feat. Jamila Velazquez, Raquel Castro, Yani Marin)
    3. Look But Don’t Touch (featuring Serayah)
    4. Good People (featuring Jussie Smollett, Yazz)
    5. Like My Daddy (featuring Jussie Smollett)
    6. Shine On Me (featuring Jussie Smollett, Bre-Z)
    7. All Nite (featuring Yazz, Serayah, Jamila Velazquez)
    8. Body Speak (featuring Serayah)
    9. Last Night (featuring Jussie Smollett, Bre-Z)
    10. Get It Started (featuring Jussie Smollett, Kelli Wakili)
    11. Got That Work (featuring Yazz)
    12. Good Enough (Negrito Remix featuring Jussie Smollett)
    13. Chasing The Sky (featuring Terrence Howard, Jussie Smollett, Yazz)
    14. No Competition (featuring Yazz, Serayah, Jussie Smollett)
    15. Hemingway (featuring Jussie Smollett)
    16. My Own Thang (featuring Jussie Smollett, Bre-Z)
    17. Turn Around (featuring Bre-Z)
    18. Fabulous (featuring DMK)
    19. Never Let It Die (featuring Jussie Smollett, Yazz)
    20. All Nite (Yo Gotti Remix) (featuring Yazz, Yo Gotti, Serayah and Jamila Velazquez)

  • 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Empire

    Think you know everything about Fox’s hip-hop drama series? The infographic below may prove different.  Are you familiar with Lee Daniels and Terrence Howard disagreeing about Lucious’ hair? How about Bryshere Y. Gray using FaceTime to land his role as Hakeem Lyon on the show?

    Check out the following infographic for 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Empire.

    Empire Fox Facts Infographic

    Embed this infographic:

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  • Empire Fox Infographic

    Empire Fox By The Numbers Infographic

  • Trai Byers, Andre From Empire

    Empire returns soon so there’s no better time to discuss she show’s talented stars.  In the show’s first season Andre Lyon roared to life, and a star was born, Trai Byers, the amazing actor that helped shed light on bipolar disorder.

    Trai Byers

    Trai Byers is also one of show’s sexiest stars! Hailing from Kansas City, Kansas Byers’ father was in the U.S. Air Force enabling Trai to see numerous parts of the world at an early age.  The following video shows Trai’s debut appearance on Ellen:

    Byers attended Andrew College, a religious institution, where he received his Associates Degree in Theater.  Byers then attended the historically black college, Prairie View A&M University before transferring to the University of Kansas.

    At the University of Kansas, Byers earned his bachelor’s degree in communications.  The actor was then accepted to the prestigious Yale School of Drama where he earned his master’s degree in acting.

    Trai Byers is from Kansas City, KS but currently resides in Los Angeles.

    This article will first discuss Trai Byers and then it will analyze the character he plays on the Empire TV show, Andre Lyon.  Use the contents section below to navigate to the section you wish.

    Contents

    Trai Byers

    Trai Byers Age
    Trai Byers Wife
    Trai Byers Singing
    Trai Byers Height
    Trai Byers Shirtless
    Trai Byers Movies and TV Shows

    Andre Lyon

    Andre and Rhonda
    Mental Health
    Vernon Turner
    Andre and Lucious
    Andre and Cookie
    Andre and Jamal
    Andre and Hakeem
    Deputy Alvarez
    Baptism
    Empire Entertainment
    Gutter Life Records
    #WhoPushedRhonda

    Trai Byers

    Trai Byers Age
    Trai Byers was born on July 19, 1983 therefore he is 32 years old.  Trai is a Cancer, known for being optimistic, compassionate and sensitive.

    Trai Byers

    Trai Byers Wife
    Grace Gealey and Trai Byers are engaged.  The wonderful news came in July 2015 with the couple revealing that they were dating in March 2015.  Byers proposed to Gealey on her birthday, July 26.

    Grace Gealey and Trai Byers

    Gealey, who plays Boo Boo Kitty on Empire, has been showing off her amazing ring! The couple got engaged during a romantic getaway to Chicago.

    Grace Gealey Ring

    Trai Byers Singing
    While Trai Byers may not sing on Empire, the actor has a beautiful voice that we would love to hear on the show! The following video shows Byers singing Stevie Wonder’s “Lately”:

    Trai Byers Height
    Trai Byers is 6′ 2″ and weighs 170 pounds.

    Trai Byers Shirtless

    Trai Byers Shirtless

    Trai Byers Shirtless

    Trai Byers Shirtless

    Trai Byers Shirtless

    Trai Byers Movies and TV Shows

    • Ceasar and Otto’s Summer Camp Massacre as Chip (2009)
    • All My Children as Mookie (2011)
    • 90210 as Alec Martin (2012)
    • Destination Planet Negro as B-12 (2013)
    • Jayhawkers as Nathan Davis (2014)
    • Selma as James Forman (2014)
    • Empire as Andre Lyon (2015-present)
    • Americons as Theo Jones (2015)
    Trai Byers

    Andre Lyon

    Andre Martin Lyon is Cookie and Lucious’ oldest son.  In Empire’s first season Andre is Empire Entertainment’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO).  Andre is very smart, helping his father plan strategically to ensure Empire’s fiscal strength.

    Andre and Rhonda

    Rhonda Lyon (Kaitlin Doubleday) is Andre’s wife.  In high school, Rhonda worked three jobs to make it to the Ivy League.  Both Rhonda and Andre are very ambitious, business savvy individuals with dreams of leading Empire Entertainment.
    In Empire’s first season Rhonda proved that she would stop at nothing to help Andre become Empire’s new leader.  Rhonda met Andre at Wharton while she was dating someone else.  She eventually kicked the guy she was dating to the curb and fell in love with Andre.
    Andre Rhonda Bib Empire

    Andre and Rhonda got married and quickly became one of New York’s most powerful couples.  Rhonda and Andre team up to turn Hakeem and Jamal against each other to improve Andre’s chances of becoming Lucious’ successor.

    In college, Andre was diagnosed with bipolar disorder yet Rhonda did not let Andre’s health condition negatively impact how much she loved him.  Rhonda is right by Andre’s side while he’s struggling through his mental breakdown.

    Mental Health
    In the show’s first season Andre avoids taking his bipolar medication and even flushes his pills down the toilet.  Rhonda gets very upset at Andre on multiple occasions about his condition.  Rhonda tries to persuade Andre to take his medication and see his doctor but Andre refuses leading his condition to grow worst.

    Empire is on lockdown after Lucious finds out that Anika is doing business with Baretti (Judd Nelson) leading Andre, Jamal and Hakeem to get stuck on the elevator.  Andre has a meltdown on the elevator but luckily Jamal and Hakeem are able to calm him down.

    Andre Lyon Suicide Attempt

    The second season of Empire shows that Lucious’ mother suffered a mental illness leading her to commit suicide.  Lucious is having difficulties separating his mother’s past condition from his son’s current condition leading him to treat Andre differently than he treats Jamal and Hakeem.

    Andre Lyon proves that people with mental health conditions can be successful.  Andre graduated from a very competitive institution and has done a magnificent job with Empire’s financial affairs.

    Vernon Turner
    Vernon Turner (Malik Yoba) was one of Lucious’ good friends and the Lyon brothers considered him their uncle.  Vernon is Chairman of the Board at Empire and Lucious relies on him for advice and support.

    Andre’s wife, Rhonda, kills Vernon in the first season’s finale episode by hitting him over the head with a candlestick.  Andre and Vernon were fighting and Rhonda panicked, ultimately murdering her husband’s uncle.

    Andre and Vernon Empire

    In order to be accepted back at Empire Lucious tells Andre that he has to give him something that no one else could provide.  After Prosecutor Roxanne Ford (Tyra Ferrell) lies about having Vernon in custody Lucious is convinced that his legal problems will go away if he can make Vernon disappear forever.

    Lucious and his lawyer, Thirsty Rawlings (Andre Royo) track down Andre and Rhonda’s car and find them digging up Vernon’s body.  Lucious is pleased and allows Andre to return to Empire.  Lucious puts Vernon’s dead corpse in Roxanne Ford’s car.

    Andre and Lucious
    Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) is Andre’s father.  Andre is Lucious’ only son without musical talent so Andre believes that Lucious treats him differently than he treats Jamal and Hakeem.  Lucious has experienced his mother’s bipolar condition and she ended up committing suicide so he finds it difficult to trust Andre.

    Andre and Lucious Empire

    In the show’s second season Lucious allows Andre to return to Empire after Andre digs ups Vernon’s body.  When Lucious finds out that Rhonda is pregnant he buys the couple a house proving how much their relationship has improved.

    Andre and Cookie
    Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) is Andre’s mother.  At the end of the show’s first season Andre, Cookie, Hakeem and Anika plan a hostile takeover to remove Lucious as CEO.  The plan blows up in their face thanks to Mimi Whiteman.

    Andre and Cookie Empire

    Andre and Cookie have a great relationship.  Andre initially teams up with his mother and Hakeem to create Lyon Dynasty but he quickly realizes that he belongs at Empire.  Cookie did not get upset, instead she supported Andre’s decision.

    Andre and Jamal
    Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett) is Andre’s younger brother.  In the show’s first season Andre gets Hakeem’s friends to rob Jamal while he is recording at Ghetto Ass Studios.

    Andre and Jamal Empire

    Andre tells his brother that he set up the robbery in order to get baptized.  While Hakeem hesitates before forgiving his brother, Jamal immediately forgive Andre for his mistake showing how much he loves and supports him.

    Andre and Hakeem
    Hakeem Lyon (Bryshere Y. Gray) is Andre’s younger brother.  In the show’s first season Andre leaks a video of Tiana (Serayah McNeill) making out with her girlfriend humiliating Hakeem.  Andre also sends Hakeem’s friends to rob Jamal leading Jamal to believe Hakeem set up the robbery.

    Andre and Hakeem Empire

    In Empire’s second season Andre confesses his past mistakes to his brothers in order to get baptized.  It will be interesting to see if Andre and Hakeem will be able to work together now that Hakeem is Empire’s new leader.

    Deputy Alvarez
    In the show’s first season Lucious sends Andre to meet Deputy Mayor Alvarez, Lucious’ connect in City Hall.  Lucious needs information from her regarding the witness in Bunkie’s case and Andre knows just how to get it:

    Andre and Deputy Alvarez

    In the show’s second season Lucious attempts to send Andre to the Deputy again to get Freda Gatz’s charges dropped yet the process plays out differently this time.  Andre blackmails the Deputy! Many Empire fans believe that the Deputy is #WhoPushedRhonda

    Baptism
    In Empire’s second season Andre decides to get baptized but must first get forgiveness from his family for his sins.  He informs Jamal and Hakeem that he convinced Hakeem’s friends to rob Jamal because he was so desperate to be chosen as Lucious’ successor.

    Andre Lyon Baptism

    Hakeem has difficulties forgiving Andre but after Jamal forgives him Hakeem does the same.  Lucious asks Jamal to see Deputy Alvarez again but Andre decides not to have sex with her this time because he knows its wrong and is devoted to living a sin-free life.

    Empire Entertainment
    At the end of the show’s first season Andre, Hakeem, Cookie and Anika plan a hostile takeover to remove Lucious as CEO of Empire.  After the plan blows up in their face Cookie decides to create a new label, Lyon Dynasty which Andre initially agrees to join.

    Andre Lucious and Mimi

    Soon after, Andre realizes that Empire is where he wants to be.  Lucious makes it difficult for Andre to return to Empire but after he digs up Vernon, Lucious invites Andre to return.  To welcome Andre back to Empire Lucious throws him a party with alcohol and strippers.

    Gutter Life Records
    Gutter Life Records was a defunct label that Lucious decided to buy, making it a division of Empire Entertainment.  Lucious’ vision for Gutter Life is to promote artists from the street, including his coveted rapper Freda Gatz.

    Lucious appoints Andre the president of Gutter Life Records.  Andre is certain Lucious is testing him so he does not let his position upset him.  Andre is worried about the label’s image, especially how the artists appear to Empire’s stockholders.

    Gutter Life Records

    Andre meets with every artist on the new label to analyze the character of each individual.  Andre is very satisfied after meeting J Poppa, a Gutter Life artist who explains that the “J” stands for the “Book of Job” one of the Writings of the Hebrew Bible.
    J Poppa is dating Becky Williams (Gabourey Sidibe) Empire’s A&R rep.  Andre convinces the rapper to incorporate the word in his lyrics and J Poppa does so at the record label’s showcase.

    #WhoPushedRhonda

    In the show’s midseason finale Andre’s wife Rhonda is pushed down the stairs of their home.  Rhonda is pregnant with the couple’s child therefore Empire fans can’t wait to see if Rhonda and her unborn child survived the fall.
    Who Pushed Rhonda?
    Andre has been seen in the show’s promo videos scream as though he found out horrible news and we are praying the couple did not lose their baby.  Between Lucious, Cookie and the rest of the Lyon-gang, the person that pushed Rhonda down the stairs will be take care of.

  • ‘Empire Season 2 Recap: Andre & Rhonda Lyon So Far

    In less than a week, Empire Season 2 will return to our TV screens with new episodes and boy am I excited. You should be, too, because the Lyons have been gone for too long, and to be honest, what else is there to watch? Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Season 2 isn’t on Netflix yet, you’re probably done with House of Cards Season 4, and American Crime Story: The People V. OJ Simpson is sadly almost over on FX. It’s time for Empire to return.

    Next up in our Empire Season 2 recaps are Andre and Rhonaa Lyon. They ended Season 1 with two big secrets: They accidentally killed Vernon and Rhonda was pregnant. Here’s where they went from there…

    Empire Season 2 Recap: Andre & Rhonda Lyon So Far

    Cookie tried get Andre to join the new Lyon Dynasty, but he found that his heart lied with Empire. But Lucious was totally skeptical about Andre, due to his bipolar disorder, which caused Lucious to have many flashbacks about his own mentally ill mother. Andre even tries to tell Lucious about Rhonda’s pregnancy to try to gain favor with him, but Lucious sees right through him.


    via GIPHY
    Andre and Rhonda decide to produce Vernon’s body in order to clear up Lucious’ legal situation. And it’s a crazy move that actually works to put Andre back in Lucious’ favor and back at Empire as the head of the label Gutterlife Records. He and Rhonda even get a new mansion from Lucious.

    But then Andre’s own religiousness seems to become an issue for Empire and his father. Andre confesses his sins before his baptism, but he also seems to have some trouble getting the Lyons to attend, due to their own issues. Eventually, they all do show up to the event.

    As for Empire. Andre encourages a rapper to embrace his Christianity in his music, which is a controversial decision. When Andre has to visit a government official he used to sleep with for favors, he decides to stop those shady tactics and he gets his way through legitimate means.


    via GIPHY
    As for Rhonda, she runs into Anika at a smoothie shop and unknown to her, Anika is bonding with her over her pregnancy. It gets super weird and then in the finale, someone (Anika?) pushes Rhonda down the stairs. Uh oh….

  • Jussie Smollett as Josie(Underground)

     

  • Jussie Smollett guest stars as Josie on Underground

    Jussie Smollett guest stars as Josie this Wensday, March 30th 10 pm after the Season return of Empire!! Be in the house and tune into WGN after Empire!!

  • ‘Empire’ x Cover Girl Collaborate On Makeup Line

    Ever wanted your makeup to look as fabulous as Cookie Lyon? Well, your time has come. Cover Girl and Empire are collaborating on a makeup collection, which was announced on Tuesday, reported The Hollywood Reporter. Cover Girl posted the announcement to their Instagram account on Tuesday with glamorous images of Grace Gealey (Anika), Serayah (Tiana), Kaitlin Doubleday (Rhonda), and Gabourey Sidibe (Becky). I’m going to assume they’re saving Taraji P. Henson’s (Cookie) best for last.

    “Power, drama & intrigue rule the Empire…but not your makeup bag,” the post said. “Excited to announce that COVERGIRL has partnered with Empire on a limited-edition product collection & four stunning yet easy breezy beauty looks inspired by the hit show’s leading ladies. Stay tuned for the commercial, and keep it here all season for more on how to #GetThatGlam.”

    Power, drama & intrigue rule the #Empire…but not your makeup bag. Excited to announce that COVERGIRL has partnered with @EmpireFox on a limited-edition product collection & four stunning yet #easybreezy beauty looks inspired by the hit show’s leading ladies. Stay tuned for the commercial, and keep it here all season for more on how to #GetThatGlam. Spring season premieres Wednesday March 30th on FOX. (Empire TM & © 2016 Fox)
    A photo posted by COVERGIRL (@covergirl) on Mar 21, 2016 at 6:14pm PDT

    The glam Fox TV show has attracted many fab collabs over the past season, pairing up with Deborah Lippmann, Hood by Air and Saks Fifth Avenue for some Empire-inspired fashion.

    Here’s hoping it’ll be out once the rest of Empire Season 2 premieres on March 30.

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