Ep 12. Who I Am

In Empire season 1 episode 12 titled "Who I Am," Cookie puts her own plan into action, leading to a huge standoff between her and Lucious. In the previous episode, Cookie snatched up everyone for her Lyon Dynasty label in a bold move to take over the hip-hop industry. Now, with her sights set on a bigger prize, she enlists Hakeem's help to record a new track with famous rapper Titan. However, their partnership is short-lived when Titan's manager pulls the plug on the collaboration.

Meanwhile, Lucious is busy dealing with his own issues. He's just learned that Vernon has been found dead, and his suspicions about Andre's involvement in the murder have only grown stronger. Lucious confronts his eldest son, but Andre insists that he had nothing to do with it. Things only get more complicated when Cookie approaches Andre with a tempting offer to lure him away from Lucious's control.

As tensions continue to rise between Cookie and Lucious, Jamal is dealing with his own personal struggles. He's still reeling from his father's betrayal and trying to find his own voice as an artist. When he gets the opportunity to perform at a major music festival, he sees it as a chance to break free from his father's shadow and prove himself as a solo act. But will he be able to step out of Lucious's shadow and define his own identity?

The episode also features a number of guest stars, including Snoop Dogg and Naomi Campbell. Snoop Dogg plays himself, appearing as a special guest at the Lyon Dynasty label launch party. Naomi Campbell plays Camilla, a fashion designer and Hakeem's older lover. Camilla is trying to persuade Hakeem to leave Empire Records and come work for her, but he's torn between his loyalty to Lucious and his desire to strike out on his own.

As the episode unfolds, the tension between Cookie and Lucious reaches a boiling point, culminating in a dramatic showdown that will change the course of the Lyon family's future. "Who I Am" is a high-stakes, emotional episode that delves deeper into the complex relationships between the Lyon family members and the struggle for power and control in the world of hip-hop.