Bryshere wouldn’t be half as fly if it wasn’t for his personal stylist @increasecomesnow, the man behind the magic!
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| Hakeem Baby Bella Empire |
Hakeem lost custody of baby Bella and he broke up with Tiana. He loves Bella and misses her dearly. Hakeem has been following Anika and Bella around and spotted them with Angelo. Hakeem looked furious and we all know about his horrible temper. Luckily, Thirsty intervened before Hakeem could do anything.
Hakeem has two older brothers: Andre and Jamal and one younger half sister: Lola. While all of Cookie and Lucious’ sons experienced difficulties growing up Hakeem may have had it the worst with his mother being sent to prison when he was a baby.
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| Hakeem From Empire |
This article will explore Bryshere Y. Gray’s life before Empire and analyze Hakeem’s relationships with the show’s other characters. Use the content section below to navigate to the section of your choice.
Content
Hakeem’s Real Name
Yazz the Greatest
Honor Thy Mother
Spider-Man
Drip Drop
Tiana Brown
Camilla Marks
#FindHakeem
Anika Calhoun
Valentina Galindo
Laura Calleros
Chicken
Timbaland
Empire’s New Leader
Lucious Lyon
Freda Gatz
Cookie Lyon
Lyon Dynasty
Jamal Lyon
Andre Lyon
Hakeem’s Empire Songs
Bryshere Y. Gray is currently 22 years old.
Here are some pics from Empire’s March 30 episode. It looks like Hakeem has Camilla handling the paper work…You Mad? You got your Empire!?
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| Hakeem From Empire |
Hakeem looks bothered. He is probably wondering if Empire without family is possible. He got his company yet he betrayed his family.
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| Hakeem From Empire |
What is Hakeem wearing!?
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| Hakeem From Empire |
One thing we love about Hakeem is the fact that he prays. The last time we saw him praying is after he found out his father was sick…#miracles
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| Hakeem From Empire |
Who looks better with that gold lion’s head: Hakeem or Jamal?
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| Hakeem From Empire |
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| Jamal Lyon Empire |
Lucious may have spun basketballs on his finger while he was in charge but I bet his old tail can’t hop up on this table!
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| Hakeem From Empire |
Hakeem is very similar to Lucious and he’ll need to work on that if he wants to be a successful artist.
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| Lucious Lyon Empire |
Hakeem’s Real Name
Hakeem Lyon’s real name is Bryshere Y. Gray. Gray was born on November 28, 1993 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Gray has one sister and was raised by his single mother.
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| Bryshere Y. Gray As A Baby |
Gray grew up in Philadelphia’s worst hoods forcing him to be strategic in order to survive. Growing up in Philadelphia made Bryshere stronger enabling him to read people and identify those with his best intentions in mind.
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| Bryshere Y. Gray As A Child |
Yazz the Greatest
Gray took the name Yazz the Greatest and devoted all of his time to improving his music. Yazz started rapping on the streets of West Philadelphia where he earned money to help his mother. The young star was also working at Pizza Hut at the time but was eventually fired for writing songs on the job.
Yazz worked hard and he eventually started to get noticed. The young rapper’s tenacity led to numerous opportunities including a performance at Jay-Z’s Made In America music festival. While performing at a showcase in Philly Yazz caught the attention of Will Smith’s friend Charlie Mack who eventually became Yazz’s manager.
Mack informed Yazz about the audition for the role of Hakeem so Yazz did a video audition and sent it to Lee Daniels who loved it. Daniels flew Gray to L.A. where he auditioned with Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson and the rest is history!
Yazz recently appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden where he delivered a hot freestyle:
Honor Thy Mother
Cookie Lyon isn’t the only amazing mother in Bryshere Gray’s life, there’s also his actual mom who he speaks to on a regular basis to keep himself grounded. In the following video a reporter asks Gray how he spends his money and the talented actor explains that it’s all about his mother!
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| Bryshere Y. Gray Mother |
Spider-Man
When Brian Michael Bendis created Spider-Man (Miles Morales) he made it clear that the fictional superhero was a teen of Black Hispanic descent. Despite his description Morales is played by white actor Tom Holland.
Yazz has been campaigning to become the next Miles Morales posing for Paper magazine in the superhero’s costume. In the article Yazz explains that he is young, pretty and connected to America’s youth.
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| Bryshere Y. Gray Spider-Man |
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| Bryshere Y. Gray Spider-Man |
Drip Drop
Drip Drop was one of the first Empire songs that fans could not stop singing! Empire’s music producer, Jim Beanz, teamed up with producer Justin Bostwick to create the unforgettable track. Drip Drop is one of the few Empire songs with the legs to make it without the show.
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| Hakeem From Empire Drip Drop |
Tiana Brown
Tiana Brown (Serayah McNeill) is an artist signed to Empire Entertainment in the show’s first season. Tiana and Hakeem have a brief relationship but the two break up after Hakeem finds out she is sleeping with India!
In Empire’s second season Tiana leaves Empire Entertainment and signs with Lyon Dynasty. Tiana and Hakeem have remained friends and Hakeem even asked her to help him transform Laura into a star.
Camilla Marks
Camilla Marks (Naomi Campbell) is Hakeem’s bae in Empire’s first season despite the fact that Cookie and Lucious both dislike her. In Empire’s “Our Dancing Days” episode Camilla is upset with Hakeem because he refuses to be seen with her in public. Camilla explains to Hakeem that she is not his backstreet slut.
Camilla also bring up Hakeem’s relationship with Tiana and Hakeem attempts to convince her that Tiana meant nothing to him. Lucious eventually bribes Camilla, convincing her to return to England.
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| Camilla Hakeem Empire |
Empire’s midseason finale marked the return of Camilla! After Mimi Whiteman manages to take over Empire Entertainment she announces that Camilla will assume her responsibilities and Camilla names Hakeem CEO of Empire Entertainment.
#FindHakeem
In Empire’s second season Hakeem is kidnapped and taken to a hideout where the assailants beat him up and we see the cattle tattoos on their backs. After Hakeem is freed he acts much different and even blames his family for being kidnapped.
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| Hakeem From Empire #FindHakeem |
Anika Calhoun
Anika Calhoun (Grace Gealey) is Lucious’ love interest in Empire’s initial season. This all changes after Anika catches Cookie and Lucious having sex.
Both Anika and Hakeem end up hating Lucious so they find creative ways to get revenge. After Hakeem finds out that Lucious bribed Camilla he hooks up with Anika and Lucious catches them in the act!
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| Hakeem Anika Empire |
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| Anika Hakeem Empire |
Valentina Galindo
Valentina Galindo (Becky G) was the lead singer of Hakeem’s girl group before signing with Empire Entertainment. Hakeem falls in love with Valentina’s singing and rapping skills during her audition leading him to sign her to Lyon Dynasty.
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| Valentina Hakeem Empire |
Laura Calleros
Laura Calleros (Jamila Velazquez) is Hakeem’s love interest but that may change now that Camilla has returned from England. After Valentina leaves Lyon Dynasty Hakeem replaces her with Laura who he discovers singing at a bar.
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| Hakeem and Laura Empire |
Hakeem is very attracted to Laura and lets her know how he feels. Initially, Hakeem comes on too strong intimidating Laura who is new to the business. Laura knows that Hakeem is a player and she doesn’t want to become another one of his toys. Hakeem is eventually able to convince Laura that he doesn’t want to hurt her so she gives him a chance and we are guessing she’s gonna regret it.
Hakeem has developed Laura into the leader of Mirage a Trois but the two will most likely break up now that Camilla is back. It will be interesting to see what Cookie decides to do with Hakeem’s former project.
Chicken
Chicken (AzMarie Livingston) is Hakeem’s best friend and DJ. Chicken is by Hakeem’s side when Lucious punches Hakeem for the lyrics he delivered alongside Snoop Dogg.
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| Chicken and Hakeem Empire |
Timbaland
Timbaland is Empire’s executive music producer who appeared on the show alongside Hakeem at Leviticus. Hakeem and Timbaland perform “Bout 2 Blow” after interrupting Pitbull and Jamal’s performance.
Empire’s New Leader
The former Prince of Empire is now the King. Hakeem has come a very long way. A short season ago the spoiled playboy was insulting President Obama and peeing on the floor of an upscale restaurant.
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| Hakeem From Empire |
Hakeem has not had any additional public instances and more importantly he has been able to develop a relationship with his mother. Some forget that Hakeem spent his most impressionable years without Cookie unlike Andre and Jamal.
Lucious Lyon
Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) is Hakeem’s father. Throughout the show’s first season Lucious gives hints that Hakeem is his favorite son. When the two are in the studio together Lucious pushes Hakeem because he knows he has the potential to be great.
Lucious sees himself in Hakeem yet Hakeem does not respect his father. Hakeem has made it clear that he knows Lucious killed Bunkie. While Hakeem wants Lucious to support his career he doesn’t approve many of his father’s actions.
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| Lucious and Hakeem Empire |
After Hakeem’s attempt at a hostile takeover fails he joins his mother to create Lyon Dynasty. As a result, Lucious spends a majority of the show’s second season trying to convince Hakeem to return to Empire yet Hakeem is fed up with his father.
Hakeem voted to have his father removed from his position as CEO of Empire Entertainment but Lucious is not the type to go down without a fight. Empire’s return is certain to include unforgettable moments between Lucious and Hakeem as Lucious attempts to regain control of his company.
Freda Gatz
Freda Gatz (Bre-Z) is Frank Gather’s daughter who Lucious signs to Gutter Life Records. In the second season Lucious releases a track by Freda challenging Hakeem to a battle for the Lyon name.
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| Empire Rap Battle Hakeem Freda |
Cookie Lyon
Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) is Hakeem’s mother. Cookie was locked up during most of Hakeem’s life so when she is released Hakeem disrespects her like she is a stranger. Cookie uses a broom to show Hakeem that she does not tolerate disrespect and their relationship has been improving ever since.
In Empire’s first season Hakeem complained that Cookie loved Jamal more than she loved him but Cookie assures him that she loves all her sons that same yet she knows Jamal better. Lucious never took Hakeem to see his mother while she was locked up yet Jamal stayed in touch with throughout the 17 years she spent in prison.
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| Hakeem and Cookie Empire |
Cookie and Hakeem always have strong feelings about each other’s love interests. When Hakeem realizes that Cookie has fallen for Laz (Adam Rodriguez) he throws the promoter shade leading Laz to shove Hakeem. Cookie reminds us just how much she loves her son by slapping Laz silly!
Lyon Dynasty
After Cookie, Hakeem and Andre’s plans to takeover Empire Entertainment fail they start their own label, Lyon Dynasty. The label is not Andre’s cup of tea so he decides to return to Empire, leaving Cookie and Hakeem.
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| Hakeem Cookie Tiana Empire |
Jamal Lyon
Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett) is Hakeem’s older brother and the two have teamed up to create numerous classic tracks. In the show’s first season Hakeem and Jamal team up to perform “No Apologies” which becomes the first successful performance of Hakeem’s blossoming career.
In an attempt to improve his chances of being chosen as Lucious’ successor to head Empire Andre turns his brothers against each other by sending Hakeem’s friends to rob Jamal while Jamal is recording at Ghetto Ass Studios.
Jamal ends up fighting Hakeem, punching him very hard in the stomach. The two eventually make up yet their relationship continues to go experience ups and downs throughout the show’s entire first season. In the first season’s finale, Hakeem is very upset after Lucious hands over the company to Jamal.
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| Hakeem and Jamal Empire |
Check out “No Apologies” by Jussie and Yazz:
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| Andre Hakeem Empire |
Empire’s Season 1 soundtrack featured numerous popular songs from Hakeem aka Yazz the Greatest. “No Apologies” was the first Empire track released by Columbia Records to build excitement about the show’s initial season. The song features Jussie Smollett and Yazz and was written by Timbaland and Jim Beanz.
Yazz also teamed up with Jussie Smollett on the following tracks: “Live in the Moment”, “Money for Nothing”, “You’re So Beautiful” and “Whatever Makes You Happy”. Yazz and Jussie joined Estelle, Terrence Howard and Serayah McNeill for the full cast version of “You’re So Beautiful”.
“Keep It Movin” was also written by Timbaland and Jim Beanz and the song was performed by Yazz and Serayah McNeill. #Takeem performed the track at the Teen Choice Awards Nominations concert leading many Empire fans to wish the former couple would have stayed together.
Empire’s Complete Season 1 Soundtrack featured numerous tracks that Yazz delivered by himself including “Right There”, “Armani”, “Can’t Trust ‘Em” and “Power of the Empire”. Yazz joined forces with his bae Camilla on the track “Nothing But a Number”.
Empire’s Season 2 Soundtrack Volume 1 features the track “Bout 2 Blow”. Yazz teamed up with Timbaland to deliver the track which Yazz wrote with Dwayne Murchison. Timbaland produced the track. Yazz and Timbaland also collaborated to deliver the song “Dynasty” which was also written by Murchison and Gray.
Yazz and Jussie Smollett joined forces to create “Ain’t About the Money” written by Shaffer Smith, Sixx Johnson, Jason Lee York, Jesse “Corparal” Wilson and Reynell Hay. The song was produced by Ne-Yo and Jesse “Corparal” Wilson.
Yazz, Jamaila Velazquez, Raquel Castro and Yani Marin joined forces on “Runnin” written by J.R. Rotem, Joshua Kindlan Mulvey, Marty James, Raja Kumari, Claudia Alexandria Feliciano, James Robert McCall, Candice Shiels and Dwayne Murchison. The song was produced by J.R. Rotem.
