Tonight on Empire, Lucious succeeds in poaching Titan from his arch rival, Baretti. Jamal is living in a horrible apartment in Bushwick with his boyfriend Michael, but finds inspiration in neighborhood street life that he never could in Manhattan.
When Lucious can no longer hide it, he reveals his ALS diagnosis to Anika. Cookie takes over Tiana’s career at the singer’s request. She realizes that Cookie is the real deal, and begins to look up to her as a mother figure. Meanwhile, Tiana catches Hakeem taking a bath with his older lover, played by Naomi Campbell…and we learn how mercenary she really is. She knows that “Takeem”–the moniker given to their PR union by fans–is propelling both their careers.
Lucious and Hakeem continue to disagree on career next steps. Hakeem wants to shoot a video and party. Lucious wants him to go into the studio and get serious. If Hakeem doesn’t buckle down, the album won’t be ready for the day that Empire goes public.
And of course, COOKIE CRASHES ANOTHER MEETING! She bursts into Lucious’ office, demanding a fancier business digs. In fact, she wants Anika’s office. And pretty much her job too. I have no doubt she’ll eventually get it. These two going toe to toe is just delicious. It’s scrappy Cookie, born of the streets, vs the privileged, yet cunning, Anika.
Meanwhile, Tiana drops by Cookie’s office, looking for advice on her new demo. She’s sure there’s something missing. Anika wasn’t consulted because she’s only “a suit.” Tiana really dug the song Cookie pulled for Jamal. Delighted, Cookie sees a way to instantly hit back at Anika, who has been, thus far, in charge of Tiana’s career.
In order to teach lazy ass Hakeem a lesson, Lucious grabs his son’s all access passes to Titan’s upcoming show, and hands them off to assistant Becky. Titan is always in the studio, always creating something new. Hakeem is no Titan. This is the way Lucious manipulates his sons. Not only does he pit them against each other, but against other artists as well. “Prove to me you’re as bad as Titan,” says Lucious.
Lucious teaches Hakeem a Lesson
http://youtu.be/yQhAZp_ux9A
At the club, Becky is digging the show. In the VIP lounge, just feet away from Titan, she watches him beef with and then shoot a rival. Titan ends up languishing in jail. Baretti refuses to help him, using his incarceration to leverage upcoming contract negotiations. This is not very smart, with Lucious waiting in the wings like a vulture.
Back home, Lucious’ hands are shaking so bad, he can’t shave himself. With his ALS symptoms getting worse, he can’t keep the secret from Anika any longer. He spills the truth. ALS. Three years to live. Anika shaves him as her eyes well up with tears.
http://youtu.be/b9ZXR6XaYD0
Before Anika even makes her A&R staff meeting, Cookie has taken over. She’s there to announce her new management deal with Tiana. Anika is all HELL NO, but realizes there’s not much she can do, unless Lucious is willing to step in. He’s not.
Cookie Crashes Ankia’s Meeting
http://youtu.be/maX2_ndwqsQ
Lucious joins the meeting to announce plans to grab Titan from Baretta. The lawyer handling Empire’s IPO is not happy. “Unsavory business practices” could torpedo the company’s plans to go public. Mr. White Lawyer Suit Guy does not understand that controversy drives the business, and poaching is part of the deal. Wall Street may not be ready for Empire.
Wanting to prove that she’s more than a “bougie debutant,” Anika insists she be the one to meet Titan in jail. Supporting her, Lucious offers to go with her.
Meanwhile, Jamal struggles to settle into a decidedly more humble lifestyle in Bushwick with Michael. The apartment is dirty, noisey and altogether crummy. But he’s stubborn. He won’t even take cash from Cookie. Like his brother Hakeem, Jamal has no songs ready to record, and Cookie is pissed. “Pull yourself together!” she warns.
Cookie reads Jamal the Riot Act
http://youtu.be/2opoNYeNyGg
Hakeem and Tiana are now a fierce power couple known as “Takeem” to their legion of fans who keep tribute pages devoted to their love. Anika has scored a deal with the Teen Choice awards. They want to shoot the nomination announcement at Leviticus. “I’m not watering my music down for no tweens,” says Hakeem. Lucious advises him not to be afraid of mass appeal. Hakeem grumbles that Jamal would never cater to kids. ‘That’s why Jamal will never be as big as you,” Lucious shoots back. Tiana runs the idea by Cookie via text, much to Anika’s chagrin. Cookie suggests Hakeem rap on one of Tiana’s hits titled “Keep it Movin.”
Taking the Titan situation into her own hands, Cookie visits his mother, who is a hard core follower of the Nation of Islam. She’s bitter because Baretti lured her son away from the faith. Cookie says Lucious has an “army of lawyers and he wants to help.”
Meanwhile the detective is back to ask questions about Bunkie’s demise. They found his car. And by the way, he’d like to know where Lucious was at the time of the murder. After stumbling for an answer, Andre smoothly steps in and offers an alibi. They were together at Lucious’ place watching sports, he says. Here, we flash back to a young Andre, instinctively hiding Lucious’ gun when the cops pull up to question him. Covering for and protecting Lucious has been Andre’s job for a very long time.
At a seedy looking bar, Anika and Lucious meet with a cousin of Titan’s to discuss the rapper’s situation. Suddenly, a hail of bullets from a drive by shatters the windows. Lucious decides, in that moment. to take Anika off task in order to protect her.
Cookie meets with Lucious to share the details of her meeting with Titan’s mom. Her involvement with The Nation makes things more complicated, as the group is responsible for the murder of Lucious’ father. He basically hates them, but is determined to put his feelings aside for the sake of signing Titan.
Hakeem is pissed that Cookie has to sign off on the Teen Choice duet. “I can’t make you love your mother. But you will respect her,” warns Lucious, “Because she’s lived through a hell that you have to understand if your music is ever going to elevate to the place of poetry where it resonates in the hearts of its listeners.”
“Like your boy Titan,” Hakeem says bitterly. The family drama continues as Jamal stops by the office to give back the check the label paid him to sing with Hakeem at Leviticus. No charge, no strings, he says. “Always take the money,” is the first rule of music, says Lucious. “I believe in my talent. It’s mine. It’s worth much more than you got,” Jamal says proudly as he turns to go.
Baretti shows up at Leviticus. These two have a complicated history. Lucious got his start as one of Baretti’s artists. But he signed a bad deal. While Baretti believes Lucious owes him everything, Lucious is rightfully angry because the executive took credit on songs he didn’t write. He feels Baretti robbed him. “You will never be an artist,” Lucious says, before he threatens to rescue Titan from jail. Baretti has threats of his own. He will dig up all the dirt and and bury Empire and everyone associated with it If Lucious doesn’t call off the IPO. “I’m going to change the name of this place,” threatens Baretti. “I’m going to call it Cookies.” He definitely knows the dirt.
Cut to Hakeem and his older lady taking a sexy bubble bath together. Tiana bursts into the apartment and catches them. No talking his way out of that! Tiana storms out. After, Hakeem visits Jamal at his horrible Bushwick digs. Big brother advises him to get his ass to the Teen Choice soundcheck and behave like a professional.
Back at Leviticus, Cookie is ready to kick his ass. Tiana is pissed too, but not for the reason you think. She doesn’t care that he’s effing around. She’s mad that he blew off a meeting with his mother. He can screw whomever he likes on the side, but he won’t be screwing her over. Our Tiana is ruthlessly ambitious. She’s in it for the fame and the money. “Let’s get it really tight and bring this house down,” Tiana says cooly. Hakeem can’t believe it.
Jamal roams his Bushwick neighborhood and is inspired by the life teeming outside his door. No longer cocooned in his 12K SoHo loft, there’s a whole new world to inform his creativity. He’s thinking of lyrics. Singing them out loud. “You can keep your money,” Jamal croons. He smiles. The seeds of his next record are planted.
Hakeem and Tiana hit the floor at Leviticus for Teen Choice and kill it. Make no mistake, Takeem are a badass team–professionally, at least.
The star struck cop at the county jail does not hesitate to escort Lucious to Titan’s jail cell after hours. Once inside, Titan is not impressed. Lucious lost his soul a long time ago. “Have you seen a man die?” asks Titan. Lucious nods. “Did you kill him?” No answer.
“If you stay with Baretti long enough, he’ll sell your soul too,” says Lucious. “After he’s robbed you and broken you. Like he tried to do to me.”
“So you want to use me to get back at him,” says Titan, figuring out the score. Lucious learned from Cookie that the man whom Titan shot burned down the neighborhood community center. Lucious offers to rebuild it AND cut a generous signing bonus. He also slides a phone across the table for Titan’s use to record his first song. Lucious has won him over.
Cookie attempts to make amends with Hakeem “I can’t get back the 17 years we lost. But I’m here now.”
“Too late,” says Hakeem.
The musically prolific Titan put the cell phone to use right away. It was Becky’s idea! She wonders if Lucious would allow her to shadow him as a career building experience. Sure, why not? says Lucious. Becky has ambitions of her own!
The episode ends with Lucious and Cookie talking old times. “You and I always made a really great team,” says Lucious. “Don’t forget that I make you better.” says Cookie. He can’t argue with that. She DOES make him better and he knows it.
Enjoy a few teases from Episode 4 (click to check out a longer preview)!
Empire Episode 4 – False Imposition Preview!
http://youtu.be/tQscukXVgMk
What Do You Really Want Tonight
http://youtu.be/fu7EAlNK7Kk
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