'Empire' recap: 'The Outspoken King'

Last week on Empire we're introduced to Lucious Lyon and Empire Entertainment. There is a struggle with who is set to take over Lucious' spot after he is diagnosed with ALS. Things become even more complicated when ex-wife Cookie enters the picture and a murder is involved.

In "The Outspoken King," We see Lucious working out and having a flashback to when he was diagnosed with ALS. When he comes back to today, Anika enters the gym and shows Cookie on the camera, asking why she is here.

Lucious goes outside to meet her and is ordered to pay the cab that she took. After demanding something to eat, Cookie, who was greeted by a half naked Anika, lets it slip that the company was started with her drug money and Lucious uses force to remove her from the room, reminding her of the non-disclosure agreement that she signed. She leaves.

Hakeem, with his crew, finds new prey, Teyana, a new artist on Empire Entertainment. Hakeem flirts but is shut down.

As Lucious heads to Empire, he gets news that one of his artists, Kid Four Four, is penned as inspiration for a mall shooting.

Andre is home recording his plans for the day. Rhonda enters and tells him that he needs to re calibrate his meds again, the audience learning that he is Bipolar.

Cookie shows up at Jamal's apartment, interrupting an intimate moment between him and his boyfriend Michael. She tells him that Hakeem will be performing at Leviticus and she will get him on stage too.

Back at Empire, Becky uses Lucious' personal bathroom where she finds his medicine. She confronts him and discovers that he has ALS and that there is no cure. He also tells her that she cannot say anything to anyone.

Lucious meets with Kid Four Four to talk about the controversy and possible dropping him. He tells him he'll take care of him if he plays for Hakeem at Leviticus. Cookies comes in and gets into a spat with Kid Four Four. She tells Lucious that Jamal and Hakeem should perform together but he dismisses the idea, causing Cookie to throw her shoe.

Vernon gets a call about Bunkie's death. He goes to identify the body and reports it to Lucious. We find out that Bunkie was Cookie's cousin, and Lucious tells Vernon that he would let her know.

Cookie is with Jamal, hearing his new song. Her new assistant, Portia, comes up with the idea for Jamal to come out the same day Hakeem performs so he can get some attention. Cookie gets a call from Lucious about Bunkie's death.

Everyone meets up to discuss Bunkie's death. Cookie tries to console Hakeem but he gets upset and leaves. Jamal follows him and tries to tell him that Cookie isn't as bad as he thinks. He tells Hakeem that Cookie wants him to come out the same day as his performance. Vernon gives Hakeem Bunkie's old gold chain.

Andre tells Lucious that Hakeem doesn't want to perform. Lucious tells Andre to fix things and if he does, then Empire is his. Andre then tells Lucious about Jamal's press conference.

Rhonda introduces Cookie to a publicist, Dominique, who will help with Jamal's coming out press conference.

Hakeem is at a high end bar with his crew. His friend starts recording him on video where he makes a fool of himself; he shouts out Teyana and pees on the floor. He then blasts President Barack Obama and the police sirens are heard in the distance.

Everyone sees the video and Lucious is on the phone with Barack and apologizes for Hakeem's behavior, but is hung up on. Lucious punches Hakeem in the arm and Anika stops him. Hakeem leaves and Anika reveals to Lucious that RSVP's for Hakeem's performance have doubled since the video. He gets more bad news about Kid Four Four and prepares for a television interview.

Cookie, who overhears Lucious preparing, tells him that he's not the same, no longer a thug.

Jamal meets with Lucious about the press conference. He tells him that if he goes through with it and cut him off entirely.

The press conference comes up, the same day that Lucious tries to defend Kid Four Four's scandal. He comes under fire for his own lyrics about cop killing and gets emotional about not listening to his sons.

Jamal doesn't show up to the press conference and Cookie is upset.

Things heat up in the elevator when Cookie enters and almost fights with Anika. Kid Four Four disrespects her again and Lucious fires him; maybe there's still some feelings in there between the two of them?

At Leviticus, Andre gets ready to perform sans Kid Four Four. Lucious tells him to bring out the beast and that if he does, Empire is his.

Cookie approaches Jamal about the missed press conference and tells him that he will have to do things he doesn't want to in order to make money.

Andre is drunk and not his usual self. Rhonda pulls him away to take his meds.

Hakeem performs and Jamal performs with him. Teyana goes to Hakeem's dressing room after hearing her name in the song and they have sex.

Lucious goes to Cookie telling her that Hakeem and Jamal sounded good together. Cookie calls him a horrible parent for letting Hakeem perform after the stunt he pulled. She has some heated words with Anika and leaves.

Cookie meets with agent Carter who has been trying to contact her. Agent Carter tells her that she needs cookie to testify in front of a grand jury, and Cookie tells her that if she does, then she's dead.

image courtesy of INFphoto.com