Empire: Cast of “My Bad Parts”

Episode 8 of “Empire” (Season 2, 11-18-2015) was called “My Bad Parts.” . Lucious released a rap by Freda Gatz calling Hakeem “Daddy’s little girl.” Hakeem took her on in a rap battle despite Cookie’s reservations.

“Music is a part of Pepsi’s DNA”: Jaime Lynn Henderson played Caitlin Peters, a Pepsi executive who told Lucious that Jamal had a real shot at becoming the new face of Pepsi. She said they were really only out to 10 other artists. Lucious thought that was a “damn cattle call.” Jamal set out to “marry” Lucious’ beat and bassline with Cookie’s flutes and keyboard in his song. It wasn’t easy but he did it and he got the Pepsi gig.

Funkmaster Flex played himself as the MC at the rap battle between Hakeem and Freda Gatz (Bre-Z). Freda got in some good licks while Cookie had mixed reactions of admiration and dismay. But Hakeem took Jamal’s advice and played to the crowd. “The Dalai Lama of Hip Hop” blew Freda out of the water on the old school gem the Funkmaster dropped. Hakeem also knocked out the lights on his last name, announcing that from now on, he was only going by his first name.

Cookie’s sister Candace was played by Vivica A. Fox. Candace calls Cookie by her real name “Loretha.” She came to tell Cookie that their sister Carol dropped her 3 kids off and went on a bender. The note Carol left said it was all Cookie and Jermel’s fault. Cookie was shocked and said “C’mon, we gotta go to Philly.”

More Notes:

• Mimi and Andre had different stances on the merger with Jago Locke, who wanted more money once he was off the morphine drip. Mimi wanted to go-go-go but Dre was cautious. Thirsty’s assignment to dig up dirt on Jago didn’t pan out and Lucious ended up signing the deal as is, while muttering that he will own everything in 6 months anyway.
• Laura and Hakeem were about to get it on for the first time when Laura informed him that it was literally her first time. “You’re going to be following me around like a puppy,” Hakeem observed. Laura instantly regretted telling him. Hakeem reassured her with bling– a custom made diamond bracelet featuring their initials. Then the Freda challenge interrupted everything. That’s the least of it.
• Cookie and Laz tried to dissuade Hakeem from falling into Lucious’ trap, but Hakeem put Laz in his punk ass promoter place. When push came to shove, though, Mama Lyon slapped Laz hard in the face and warned him never to touch her son.
• A thoroughly depressed Anika learned she was pregnant and wasn’t overjoyed about it at all until meeting up with the pregnant Rhonda, also carrying a Lyon heir. Rhonda revealed how her relationship with Lucious has changed entirely because he is crazy about kids. Anika now sees her way back in and that spells far bigger trouble for Laura and Hakeem’s love. And then, yo, Anika shows up in the driver’s seat of the car that is taking Laura home from the rap battle after-party. Well, she does have that one thing going for her now– Cookie will be in Philly when she makes her move.

The Stars of Empire:
Terrence Howard – Lucious Lyon
Taraji P. Henson – Cookie Lyon
Bryshere Y. Gray – Hakeem Lyon
Jussie Smollett – Jamal Lyon
Trai Byers – Andre Lyon

Also in this episode:
Kaitlin Doubleday – Rhonda Lyon
Grace Gealey – Anika Calhoun
Jamila Velazquez – Laura Calleros
Gabourey Sidibe- Becky
Adam Rodriguez – Laz Delgado
Andre Royo – Thirsty Rawlings
Marisa Tomei – Mimi Whiteman
Shannon Brown – Little Dwight Walker
Azmarie Livingston – Chicken
Patrick Mulvey – Jago Locke
Tyler Ravelson- Tay-O
James T. Alfred – Tyree
Lihtz Kamraz = Homeboy
Francisco Posada – Trap
Richard Daniels – Band Leader