by Alexa Tietjen
3/18/2015
The final episode of Empire ’s first season airs tonight. While we wait to see what goes down in the two-hour finale, relive the top musical moments from the first season so far, including V. Bozeman ’s “What Is Love,” “Drip Drop,” and Jennifer Hudson ’s “Remember The Music.”
We spoke with Empire Music Director Jim Beanz a while back about the show, his 10-year working relationship with Timbaland , and his addiction to Love & Hip Hop . Check out what Beanz, the man who brought you “Drip Drop,” had to say in our interview here . But for now, read on to see our picks for Empire ’s greatest musical moments!
“What Is Love” featuring V. Bozeman
Episode 1, Pilot
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VIDEO Empire ’s pilot episode. Her song, “What Is Love,” turned so many viewers on to the show. You heard Bozeman hit that high note, and there was no turning back. She has an album, which Beanz had a hand in creating, on the way.
“Good Enough” featuring Jussie Smollett
Episode 1, Pilot
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VIDEO Justin Timberlake ’s “Cry Me A River,” but we love it all the same. Jamal, a.k.a. Jussie Smollett, performs the song before his musical career takes off. During his performance, we get a better sense of Jamal’s relationship with Lucious through Cookie’s heartbreaking flashback of Lucious throwing childhood Jamal into a trash can after seeing him dressed up as a woman.
“No Apologies” featuring Jussie Smollett and Yazz
Episode 2, “The Outspoken King”
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“Up All Night” featuring Jussie Smollett
Episode 3, “The Devil Quotes Scripture”
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VIDEO Beyonce , Adele , and You Oughta Know artist Hozier . “Up All Night” was one of the show’s highlights early on in the season in episode three.
“Keep It Movin'” featuring Serayah McNeill and Yazz
Episode 4, “False Imposition”
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“Drip Drop” featuring Yazz and Serayah McNeill
Episode 5, “Dangerous Bonds”
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VIDEO Billboard ’s “Emerging Artists” chart shortly after it was released on Spotify, and Beanz —who didn’t know the song was so well-received before we told him it was— was shocked to hear the news.
Jamal recording “Keep Your Money” in the studio
Episode 5, “Dangerous Bonds”
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“I Wanna Love You” featuring Jussie Smollett
Episode 6, “Out, Damned Spot”
Jamal’s sultry voice filled up the room when he performed “I Wanna Love You” on Sway Calloway’s show. The scene was very “Love On Top” by Beyonce.
“You’re So Beautiful” featuring Jussie Smollett
Episode 8, “The Lyon’s Roar”
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“Conqueror” featuring Jussie Smollett by Estelle
Episode 9, “Unto the Breach”
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VIDEO Estelle ’s latest album, True Romance . It was reworked to be a duet between Jamal and Delphine, played by Estelle, and was the first collaboration between Jamal and someone other than a family member.
“Remember The Music” featuring Jennifer Hudson
Episode 10, “Sins of the Father”
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VIDEO Empire musical highlight. The song falls alongside some of the other aspects of the show that blur the lines between the real music world and Empire ’s fictional one, as it sounds like something Hudson, who plays Andre’s musical therapist on the show, would release herself.
“Shake Down” featuring Mary J. Blige and Terrence Howard
Episode 10, “Sins of the Father”
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