BWW Recap: The Voice of a New Generation on EMPIRE

Finally, after a season and a half, we get a rap battle on EMPIRE. It's Freda vs. Hakeem and there's a lot on the line; family pride, album releases, you name it. Who will be victorious?

Tired of playing games, Lucious has Freda release the single, "Shots Fired" (he's rarely subtle) on You Tube, basically calling Hakeem out as a little girl. As predicted, Hakeem is pretty annoyed and via Periscope challenges Freda to a rap battle. Upon discovering this news, Cookie is not pleased as if Hakeem fails, Lyon Dynasty will be done. She is busy helping Jamal with a new song he will use to audition to be the new face of Pepsi. Lucious has a song of his own for Jamal to use. Jamal comes up with the brilliant idea of fusing the songs together as Cookie and Lucious' styles work best when together. Surprisingly, they do not agree and are not pleased that Jamal is using them both. Hakeem advises Jamal to do it anyway as it's about him and Pepsi, not about their parents. His strategy works and Jamal is given the campaign. He informs his parents that they WILL produce his album together. Meanwhile, Cookie and Lucious bet on the outcome of the battle; if Freda wins, Lucious will release Hakeem's new album and if Hakeem wins, Lyon Dynasty releases Jamal's album.

Anika is having drama of her own as she discovers she is pregnant. (I'm surmising it's Jamal's, right? Even though she never said it, it is, yeah?) When she shows up to inform him, he tells her that he has fallen in love with Laura and just wants to be friends with Anika. After a heart to heart with an unknowing Ronda, Anika learns that a baby is the way to break Lucious, so she keeps the secret. I'm trying hard to care about Anika the character and failing miserably, even with the stunt she pulls at the end. But I'm getting ahead of myself...

At Empire, Mimi is pushing with Lucious to merge with Swiftstream even though it is a financially risky move. Thirsty and Dre both advise against it, but Mimi's got something shady going on and pushes him into the deal. I'm guessing we haven't seen the last of the trouble from that deal. I mean if Thirsty thinks something is a bad idea, maybe take a second glance? And Mimi is all over the place. Mimi, how can you be in a meeting with Thirsty and Lucious Lyons and be the one with the most issues? Self-reflection, girl!

At the rap battle, Freda pretty much schools Hakeem, but heeding Jamal's advice, Hakeem works the crowd and gets them on his side and he winds up winning. (Call me crazy, but it felt like more of a tie... what do I know? I've been listening to Thomas Jefferson battle Alexander Hamilton for the past month. #hamiltonmusical) In the end, Hakeem makes a dramatic announcement that he is dropping his last name causing Lucious to flashback when he was little on the streets sleeping under a statue of a Lyon for safety. So Lyon isn't Lucious last name? I thought that name was way too clever to be real. And speaking of fake names, Loretha, I mean, Cookie's uppity sister, Candace (Vivica A. Fox) arrives to tell her that Carol has left her children and gone on a bender. Oh and Hakeem put Laura in a car to send her home and Anika in a CVS Blonde wig was the driver.

Anika's character needs a major makeover, more than just the wig. She's not even an entertaining villain. And what's her plan with Laura? To inform her of her pregnancy? Is that a problem since Laura and Hakeem JUST got together? Or something way more sinister? Oh wait, I don't care.

Music wise, this season is still killing it. Rap battle aside, Jamal's Pepsi (nice product placement) song was sweet. He was right, Cookie's sound mixed with Lucious sound works best. When are these long awaited albums from Hakeem and Jamal gonna drop? And I know that Cookie and Lucious bet on the release of them, but it kind of seemed at the end that it was just a silly bet. Are they going to follow through on that? Would Jamal let Cookie release his album?

Only two more episodes until the long winter break. Wonder what cliffhanger we'll be left with? One things for sure, that is one Ms. Alicia Keys in next week's promo! Pretty psyched for that Jamal duet.

Here's a preview of next week's all new episode:

Photo Credit: FOX

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