EMPIRE is a bizarre programme but it’s been a huge hit in America; why?
I occasionally work with a charming chap who, for privacy reasons, I will call… ‘Clint’. ‘Clint’ is a white, teetotal, forty year old non-smoker, grew up in prosperous Surrey and now lives in Sutton, a lovely, leafy suburb of London. ‘Clint’ is a bit of a history buff, he is especially interested in the Titanic (although isn’t a fan of the Leo and Kate film version) and the Kray twins (although isn’t a fan of the Spandau Ballet film version). I thought I had ‘Clint’ sussed out… until recently I overheard a conversation he was having with another colleague. When posed the question, “what music do you like, Clint?” he answered, “Hip Hop, Gangsta Rap, Grime…” Wow, I think that is what they call in America, ‘a curve ball’. ‘Clint’ elaborated, without a trace of irony; he is a mega fan of N.W.A, the seminal Compton Hip Hop group featuring Dr Dre and Ice Cube, loves the knarly-voiced DMX and has recently started listening to Grime, particularly enjoying the rap battles between artists like Kano and Wiley.
My stereotyping and preconceptions of ‘Clint’ were blown out of the water; I just couldn’t help but say to the man, “what the hell does a white, middle-class bloke from Surrey relate to in Hip Hop music? You couldn’t be further removed from the culture surrounding Gangsta Rap that informs the lyrics, it’s a whole different world; Compton and Sutton might as well be on different planets.” ‘Clint’ said, unequivocally, that it didn’t matter a jot. He loves Hip Hop because of the cultural differences and I think that is a wonderful example of how music can be so transcendental and inclusive. Therefore, I’m sure ‘Clint’ was excited to watch EMPIRE; a U.S. melodrama centered on the Hip Hop industry and entertainment mogul, Lucious Lyon (played by Terrence ‘Rhodey from IRON MAN’ Howard) which after it’s initial run on Fox in America has now found it’s way onto E4 in good ol’ Blighty. Unlike ‘Clint’, I don’t have a huge knowledge of the musical genre, despite flirtations with Dre and Eminem as a teenager, so approached EMPIRE with slight trepidation; would I be completely out of my depth with cultural references flying over my head and industry lingo proving impenetrable? Do I need to love Hip Hop to enjoy EMPIRE?
Lucious Lyon dealt drugs on the mean streets of Philly before breaking big as a rapper; now he is the CEO of Empire Entertainment, a music mogul in the Jay Z mould. He is diagnosed with ALS and this is the catalyst for the story… he must decide who will be the successor of his business empire between his three sons; Andre (Trai ‘Alec in 90210’ Byers), Jamal (Jussie ‘Terry in THE MIGHTY DUCKS (!!)’ Smollett) and Hakeem (Bryshere ‘Yazz The Greatest’ Gray). Thrown into the equation is the larger-than-life ex-wife of Lucious and mother to the three boys, Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson AKA Queenie in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON), who gets outta the big house after 17 years on drugs charges. Melodrama and musical numbers ensue.
Honestly, I watched the first episode of EMPIRE in a strange state of disbelief, laughing and cringing and shouting, “what the hell?!” at the ridiculousness of it all. I scoffed at the contrivance of Lucious’ ALS diagnosis. As I did, with the slap-you-in-the-face characterisation of each son; Andre, the eldest son: A University-educated, power hungry manipulator, scheming to take over Empire Entertainment from his father. Jamal, the middle son: A talented singer-songwriter who has a strained relationship with Lucious due to his homosexuality and is determined to succeed because of this. Hakeem, the youngest son: A wayward, wannabee rapper who wannabee as famous as his dad but can’t help downing Champagne and misbehaving instead of grafting. I cringed at the music being shoehorned in, particularly ‘Live in the Moment’, a kind of mash-up of John Legend and Drake performed by Jamal and Hakeem on a luxury yacht. And then there’s Cookie, the aforementioned ex-wife of Lucious; cleavage-clinging leopard skin dresses, floor-length fur coats and salacious, sassy attitude. She is something. In fact, for all the HOLLYOAKS fans out there; she is Mercedes McQueen. This realisation, that Cookie was like Mercedes, was when it all clicked…
EMPIRE is a Soap Opera. The bombast, the caricatures, the melodrama, the cliff-hanging scenes; it is HOLLYOAKS set in the American Hip Hop industry. Further research confirms this. Co-creator Lee ‘Director of PRECIOUS’ Daniels has said a major influence for EMPIRE was the Joan Collins starring, 80’s shoulder-pads-athton DYNASTY. This revelation opened my eyes; I powered through the second and third episode and have to say EMPIRE is wildly entertaining, sometimes very funny and, above all, addictive in the same way all the best Soap Operas are.
To answer an earlier question, no. You don’t have to love Hip Hop to enjoy EMPIRE. However, if you do love Hip Hop then you will probably enjoy EMPIRE. So if you don’t have to love Hip Hop to enjoy EMPIRE, and if you do love Hip Hop then you will probably enjoy EMPIRE, then that means everyone and anyone could and should enjoy EMPIRE. Hell, I’m sure the producers like thems odds. Roll on Episode 4.
The next episode of EMPIRE is on Tuesday 19th May at 9pm, E4 Watch the first three episodes now on All 4.
