Inside ‘Empire’ Star Bryshere ‘Yazz the Greatest’ Gray’s Timbaland Team-Up
At 21, Bryshere Y. Gray has been on a wild journey thanks to his first and only acting gig. Gray’s sweet but egotistical take on Empire‘s Hakeem Lyon has made him a rising star, and Hakeem’s fictional single, “Drip Drop,” became the first season’s breakout track.
Both Gray and the youngest Lyon are ready to blow, and they’re commemorating the moment with Empire‘s latest single, “Bout 2 Blow,” a song written by Gray and produced by Timbaland. “Building my dynasty/Here for the fortune,” Gray raps in his best Future flow. Before the song premieres on next week’s new episode of Empire, the actor, model, activist and musician — who performs under the stage name Yazz the Greatest — discusses just how he plans to build his own empire.
I was excited to see your name credited for lyrics on “Bout 2 Blow.” Is this your first songwriting credit for the show?
First of many! [It’s] something that I always did. [I’m] always writing records and producing my own records, if I can.
I was reading an interview that you did for Season 1, where you mentioned that writing the music for Hakeem was different from your own work as Yazz. How will that dynamic play out now that you’re writing lyrics for Hakeem?
It’s a great journey. But like I say, I love writing music and producing my own records. I’ve been writing since I was 16 years old, so I’m not really new to it. I’m just having a great time, just working out all talents. It’s fun.
When you go into writing the songs for your fictional character versus for yourself, how do you approach writing a song like “Bout 2 Blow”?
Normally I’m filming, or I’m on tour performing. It’s a challenge to record and write, but I get it done, and I write around situations that inspire me in my life. For this particular song featuring Timbaland, it was specifically written for the character Hakeem because he wants to be the top Lyon in Empire. He has a new business now, and he’s running it with his mom [laughs]. He wants to take it over and be a little mama’s boy. This song right here is basically him coming into his own. It’s far away from “Drip Drop,” but it’s still good. It’s still manly.
How does the song figure into episode three?
It’s him growing into his own and taking his power and his position and not just listening to his mom and his brothers. [He’s] believing in himself and his own actions. It’s him just growing up I guess.
What’s it like going into the studio to write with Timbaland as opposed to being just a performer of a Timbaland song?
Amazing, just amazing. Timbaland is a musical genius at what he does. He’s inspiring in so many ways, and he’s passionate with every artist he works with.