After airing failed TV shows like Mulaney and Gracepoint, FOX now has a new breakout hit, Empire. Empire focuses around the Lyons, a family centered around major hip hop label, that fight to win power over the family entertainment company. This show has sass, incredible music, and murder all jammed into one hour of great television. There’s no denying why Empire has only gained more views each episode. Before sitting down to watch this hit, here is an introduction to the Lyon family.

Lucious Lyon

Lucious is the patriarch of the Lyon family, the CEO of Empire Enterprises, and a famous hip hop rapper. Lucious grew up on the streets and sold drugs to feed his family until he later rose to fame as a hip hop mogul. At the beginning of the series, Lucious learns that he has been diagnosed with ALS and turns to his three sons to battle it out in order to find the new CEO of Empire. To keep the company on top, Lucious will do anything he can, even if that means murdering his best friend.

Cookie Lyon

  Cookie Lyon is Lucious’ super sassy ex-wife. In the premiere, Cookie was released from jail after serving a 17 year sentence for taking the fall from one of Lucious’ drug deals. She is closest to her son Jamal and works toward getting him the respect as a talented artist that he deserves. Cookie was one of the main reasons Lucious rose to fame during his early career due to her music producing skills.

Andre Lyon

Andre is the oldest of the three sons and is more involved in the business aspect of Empire. He is married to his college sweetheart Rhonda, who is in his ear and manipulates Andre’s power. When Lucious announces the competition between the three sons for Empire, Andre believes that his other brothers aren’t competent enough to run the business. In order to ensure the CEO position, Andre attempts to turn his brothers against each other as they both try to build up their own music careers. Andre also suffers from bipolar disorder which occasionally affects his work ability.

Jamal Lyon

  Jamal is the middle child of the Lyon family. As a singer and songwriter, he is more sensual with the lyrics that he writes and sings. This is due to the fact that he is the black sheep of the family because he is gay. His homophobic father is what keeps Jamal inspired and motivated to take the company from him. Due to his father’s inability to understand and support Jamal, Cookie takes him under her wing and helps build up his music career.

Hakeem Lyon

  Hakeem is the youngest brother and is the most fame obsessed. He is favorited by Lucious and is given everything in order to be the next number 1 hip hop artist. Since Cookie was in jail for almost all of his life, he resents her and stays as distant from her as possible.

Empire airs on Wednesdays 9/8c on FOX.