Following months of speculation and anticipation, Fox recently dropped the trailer for season two of its ratings juggernaut Empire. A lot has changed since viewers were first introduced to the Lyon family in early January. Head patriarch Lucious discovered his diagnosis of ALS was something a lot less life threatening yet, was charged with the killing his former friend Bunky and finds himself currently incarcerated. This a 180 from the series beginning with his ex-wife Cookie being released from prison. Getting over the closeted homosexual hump, middle son Jamal takes over Empire Enterprises and even manages to get a little Suge Knight-ish during a few episodes. Meanwhile, oldest son Andre is still coming to terms with his bipolar disorder. Empire Enterprises’ greatest threat comes when Hakeem forms an alliance with Lucious’ ex-fiance Annika who is possibly helping a rival record label. Wrapping everything together is Cookie’s power struggle to get the piece of the company that is deserved. As the second season of Empire is surely set possibly break more viewership records, DX is proud to present the next edition of “Empire State Of Mind.”
With season two of Empire premiering last night, the episode involves Lucious managing Empire Enterprise from behind bars. One pivotal scene involves his former street mentor Frank Gathers, also in prison and portrayed by Chris Rock, getting visited by his daughter Freda Gatz. When he ask her if she’s working on music, she spits an acapella well enough for Lucious to be impressed. Considering the episode’s end by way of Lucious paying Gathers’ goons and having him killed, he also manages to sign his daughter.
Speaking with DX, first-time actress and seasoned emcee Bre-Z talks being discovered by Freeway and her portrayal of Gatz.
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“Watching Freda is a lot like getting to know Bre-Z”
DX: You’re portraying Freda Gatz on this season of Empire. Must be nice to have your first acting role on arguably one the biggest breakout shows this year right?
Bre-Z: I feel good. It’s definitely a great role and character. I’m just excited about that. Freda Gatz is a young girl from Brooklyn trying to find her way. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to her character in some way, shape or form. She’s a very realistic character, wide open and outspoken. I don’t know; she’s a lot like who I am as a person. Watching Freda is a lot like getting to know Bre-Z.
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DX: How’d you go from getting your start with Freeway where we are now?
Bre-Z: I got into music by sitting on the block, watching people rap, get into freestyle battles and stuff like that. I was always in the mix. Hanging around the homies at 15, I met Freeway. At this time, he was doing State Property and RocaFella was a movement. He was the first person to get me to a studio and record with me. Big shout out to Freeway. From there, we just did what we had to do.
DX: Can you describe how exactly you and Freda are alike?
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Bre-Z: Freda is exactly who I am. Our stories are identical for the most part. To play that role is to be myself. For me, I’m not acting. It’s a script about my life and I’m just living it at the moment. It’s definitely a good thing because I feel like you may not know me but this is the perfect opportunity to know who I am. It’s really dope. It’s amazing. I think that this definitely God’s plan for me and it couldn’t have happened in a better way. I thank Lee Daniels so much for even giving me this opportunity. I don’t even think he knows how much this means to me. I can’t speak for any other character on the show but what you see in Freda Gatz and the road she travels is a road I’ve already been down. And for them to implement the music aspect on the show is the icing on the cake for me. I’m very happy at this point. I’ve never been happier.
DX: Empire was such a breakout success when it premiered earlier this year. Did you have a favorite moment from last season?
Bre-Z: As a Hip Hop fan, the music attracted me to the show. Not only the star power of Taraji P Henson and Terrence Howard, watching them perform is a treat in itself. Just the first season, the storyline from beginning to end was so realistic and I feel like in America today, a lot of things are watered down or sugar coated. Empire wasn’t. I’m not a TV watcher or reality television watcher. I tend to enjoy things that at some point, can be used in real life. That’s what attracted me to Empire. It kind of shook my mind a little bit as far as music and family is concerned. These are things you have to deal with on your road to success. There are always going to be things that people don’t see and emotions that run. Empire was something that was needed, especially in the black community. I think we know at least one person who is a Luscious Lyon or Cookie. We may know a Hakeem or Andre in terms of his Bipolar disorder. I think it’s a good creative thing.
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DX: This is your first acting role and you’re working with seasoned actors. Was there any difficulty adjusting to the cast of such a high profile show?
Bre-Z: Like I said earlier, I’m just being myself. People like me for me on and off screen. It wasn’t difficult for me at all. Of course, there was a tad bit of nervousness just being around people of that caliber on a daily basis. Once I got in, they’re just like me. They come from different experiences. You’re dealing with people who have different passions, emotions and feelings. For me, it was easy. I’m just being me and I can’t be anything better than being myself. It’s been pretty smooth for me. I’ve had a really good time.
DX: You’ve been doing music for a long time and Empire is known for its well received soundtrack. Are you working with Timbaland or Ne-Yo yet?
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Bre-Z: I haven’t worked with either one of them honestly. I’ve worked with people around them. When it comes to the music, I just do me. I do what it is I know how to do. When you come into the room as yourself, people can’t do anything but respect that. The love and attention I’m getting from some of these people, the energy is reciprocated. I look forward to working with Timbaland though as he’s someone I’ve grown up watching, especially the work he’s done with Missy Elliot. To even be near that is great in itself. I can’t wait to the day comes where I can work with him. When I do, I’ll come back and tell you about it.
