Lee Daniels and Danny Strong are bringing their dynamic team work to Fox TV.
Daniels and Strong first teamed up for The Butler and now they have created Empire, a series based on the world of hip-hop. Danny will use his pen skills to write the scripted drama show that will feature original and current music on rotation. This is Lee’s TV directorial debut, but considering how well he directed his past films, the acting and storyline is bound to be incredible.
The network remains mum on who will star in this original series or when it’ll air. But with a lot of music royalty having created their own empire, there’s a lot of inspiration the director could have pulled from. Here’s who we think inspired the new show.
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Jay Z
Why would anyone question Jay Z as a first choice. His successes are clearly written in his raps; not to mention he’s living the American Dream. If anyone wanted to create a blueprint on creating a musical empire, all they need to do is start with Reasonable Doubt and stop at Magna Carter Holy Grail.
If Jay Z’s at the top, Diddy opened the door welcoming him in. Besides being a subpar rapper–yeah we said it–Puff Daddy is the man behind some of music’s greats (i.e. Biggie). He’s started and is continuing the movement of clothing, liquor and brand development while still having a lucrative label.
He’s arguably one of the greatest lyricist of all time. Eminem entered a black dominated genre and got respect as a great.
Kanye West
He’s single handedly creating his own lane. Taking lessons from his predecessors, Kanye West has started a movement that not only encompasses music, but also high fashion.
Hate him or love him, Mr. Feature knows how to make hits. His transformation from an actor to a top selling rapper is interesting enough to write a few seasons off of.
Outkast
The world stopped when Outkast announce their reunion. While they are the less controversial out of this list, their number one hits and overall respect garners for a show in their honor.
Nas
How could a man so lyrically talented be pretty low on the totem pole of success. Unfortunately his story is the all too common one of a man that is a great and not reaping his rewards. A rapper’s struggle could be the storyline and his life, success, and trials are the perfect fit for this.
Lauryn Hill
To be the only female to make one solo album-we’re not counting her MTV Unplugged–and have the hip hop genre recognize you as one of the greatest to ever do it, is an impossible feat, yet Lauryn Hill did it effortlessly. 16 years since The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and we still put the entire album into rotation. I hear inspiration with her story.
Master P
While he’s not exactly dominating the music scene right now, he put New Orleans on the map. He went from selling cd’s out his trunk to a million dollar empire and helped pave the way for southern rappers.
Birdman and Slim
Now a days all we hear is Lil Wayne and YMCMB, but the people really running the show are Birdman and Slim. They started Cash Money and while they have become rather silent since their days on the scene, they are living comfortably while their brands continue to dominate the radio.