Lucious, a father/label owner with an unexpected shortened life expectancy (3 or less to be exact).
Three sons.
Andre, the oldest has self-groomed himself to takeover the label someday, working there since the age of 11 and attaining degrees specifically to help him run the label. Unfortunately, his father seems to want the company to be run by a star. Someone with musical talent, like himself. And the eldest son doesn't have it. Perhaps that's why he works so hard on the business side. But lucky for him, he has seemed to have married an intelligent, crafty woman who comes up with a plan. Pit the other two brothers against each other and let them take themselves out, leaving it all for him. But first he has to get the middle brother into the ring with their baby brother. He pulls his mother in for help, but I suspect she is really hoping for the middle brother to come out on top.
Jamal, the middle brother is by far the most musically talented of all the brothers. In fact, he even brings out the best music in the baby brother. Unfortunately, his father seems to have a strong dislike of him, and it seems to all be rooted in him being homosexual. I mean his father even put him in a trashcan when he was younger for walking in heels! On the other hand, his mother immediately got him out, and her actions made it clear that she completely disagreed with his father's actions. She told him at a young age she's the only one who knew that he was "special," and for him to remember she always has his back. He's also the first one she visits when she gets out prison. At the suggestion of her eldest son, she gets their father to allow her to manage Jamal's career. Though the oldest son suggested it to her to help him ultimately gain ownership of the company, I think it's clear she actually wants the middle son to become both a star and the owner of the label. In fact, I'd say he is her favorite.
Then there's Hakeem, the youngest brother (my least favorite). He has some talent, but he seems to be a spoiled brat (which is why his mama had to beat him with a broom after he called her a "bitch"). He has no work ethic, and though he has some talent, it isn't even touching on the talent his middle brother has. And it seems his best work only comes out when he works with the middle brother. He is of course their father's favorite. The oldest son can't be his favorite, because he has no musical ability, and he is ashamed of the middle son. That only leaves the baby boy who has some musical talent.
It also seems that Hakeem and Jamal are pretty close, and they both are on to what may be going on (people pitting them against each other). I could easily see them trying to get their father to let them share ownership. They seem like a good team, especially musically.
Finally, Cookie, the mother and ex-wife. She's out of prison and wants what's hers. It was her $400,000 in drug money that started the business (and led to her 30 year conviction, 17 years served). It also seems to be her determination, business and/or music savvy, and encouragement that got Lucious to pursue the entire endeavor (even in her absence...though he divorced her while she was locked up). Cookie wasn't about to get half of that company. So she settled for a $5 million a year salary and management over Jamal, in exchange for not telling the SEC that the company was started with her investment of $400,000 in drug money. She is presented as a natural when it comes to the music industry.
So this is the background of the premise of the series, at least for now. Lucious is working with his favorite, Hakeem, to set him up to take over his business, but he has to get Hakeem to get his work ethic together (though I think part of the struggle is also that Hakeem is talented but not THAT talented). Cookie is managing her favorite, Jamal, to help him reach the level of stardom that should be afforded to someone with his musical abilities, in order for him to takeover the company. And then there's Andre and his wife waiting in the wings to takeover the company when Hakeem and Jamal take each other out trying to get ownership of the label. The added twist being that Jamal is so much like Lucious (at least talent wise, assuming Lucious is very talented musically since it led to the "empire"), and Lucious says Hakeem is so much like Cookie. Yet their favorites are the opposites.
O...and no worries on Andre not really having a parent on his side, Andre doesn't seem to be alone. He has his Uncle Vernon, a high level executive in the company who basically tells Andre he is going to get the company. Though this is but a small part of the episode, I'd venture to say Andre will have Uncle Vernon fighting for him in the ring against his mother and father. I suspect fights with Uncle Vernon will be more on the business side, as opposed to the who's the bigger star battle between Jamal and Hakeem. Think, Dallas (the show). Strategic moves in the boardroom, power plays for ownership.
Also, you probably shouldn't threaten to expose someone's murderous past for money (especially if there were multiple murders and they weren't an accident). Lucious friend tried that, and well...Lucious killed him. What did we learn from this? A little money (or a lot) does not mean Lucious won't kill you. Is that all we are supposed to take away from that, or will this come back later in the season to bite him in the butt? I think it'll make for a better show if it comes back up later in the season, as a nice twist/roadblock to one of his schemes to get Hakeem on top. But it may just be wishful thinking. It could just be because he has less than 3 years to live, so he figured why not take his friend out before he tries to take him down. We shall see.
The writing, acting, and directing seem well done. I wouldn't say I'm sitting here at the edge of my seat waiting on the next episode, though that may be because it didn't really end on a cliffhanger. But when you have a good show, you'll get people to come back without them feeling like they have to come back to find out what happens next in the last scene of the last episode. Rather, I'll be coming back to see how the story unfolds for this family, simply because it is an interesting plot with interesting characters.
And o... I'm Team Cookie/Jamal!