Fox’s smash hit, “Empire” soundtrack tops the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Whether you’ve been avidly watching, not watching, or just completely oblivious to social media, “Empire’s” success is hard to ignore. While the show’s been busy making people tune in, sparking debate, and growing an enormous fan base, it seems as if Lucious, Cookie, and Co. have reached yet another milestone. The “Empire” soundtrack debuted at No.1 (ahead of Madonna’s “Rebel Heart”) on the prestigious Billboard 200 chart. What does this mean for the shows longevity? It seems as if the cameras will be rolling for seasons to come.

Download “Empire” (Season 1) Soundtrack on iTunes – HERE

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With the end of a television phenomenon right around the corner, Empire fans are on the edge of their seats in anticipation of how the show will close this season. In a recent showing of the first hour of the season finale, Taraji P. Henson spoke on how Empire has helped to blur the lines of race in television. During the Q&A portion of the event at Ace Theatre in Los Angeles, Henson talked about how in “a recent interview with the Hollywood Foreign Press,…not once did they bring up the fact that Empire is a black television show. They talked about subject matter and about the concept of humans going through changes in life.” In addition, Henson added that “Love and hate and loss has no color. For me, that’s what I was hoping this show would do.”

The two-hour season finale of Empire airs Wednesday, 3/18 at 8P.M. Eastern Time on Fox.

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Sometimes life does imitate art. After playing recording artist Jamal on the record breaking, hit show Empire week after week, actor Jussie Smollett has signed a recording deal with Columbia Records. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Smollett confirmed the deal and gushed about being labelmates with the likes of Adele and Beyonce and working on his first solo album on the label. Soon enough, fans will no longer have to wait to watch episodes of Empire to hear Smollett’s voice.

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Mr. Rager himself, Kid Cudi, is expected to appear on the Fox prime time TV sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine this fall. Appearing first on One Tree Hill as himself, on the HBO series How to Make it in America and as a voice-over on The Cleveland Show, this will be the rapper’s third  in person TV appearance. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a quirky, cop comedy staring Andy Samberg, (“Saturday Night Live”, The Lonely Island) and Andre Braugher (“Men of a Certain Age”) and Terry Crews. Kid Cudi will fill the guest role of an ex-con named Dustin Whitman. The show is set to premiere Tuesday Sept. 17.

Upon leaving Kanye West’s GOOD Music record label, Cudi’s career has definitely not been quiet. His most recent album Indicud, reached #2 on the charts this year, racking up even more support and success for the artist. Many musicians have chosen to go down the acting route with hopes of revamping their career. However, Cudi’s career doesn’t seem to need any help at the moment. There is no word yet on if Cudi plans to pursue an acting career long term. Check out the trailer for Brooklyn Nine-Nine below.

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