Bryshere Y. Gray

• Birth Name — Bryshere Yazuan Gray • Born — 28 November 1993 • Birthplace — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Other Names — * Yazz • Yazz the Greatest • Occupation — * actor • rapper • Known for — * Empire as Hakeem Lyon • The New Edition Story as Michael Bivins

• Illustration — Gray at the 15th Annual BET Awards (2015). Since 2013, Gray has performed at a variety of music festivals in the Philadelphia area, including Jay Z's Made in America Festival, The Roots' Picnic Festival, and Power 99FM's Powerhouse concert. He also has been the opening act for rappers, such as Fabolous and 2 Chainz. His debut single "Respect" was released in 2013. In 2015, Gray began his first acting role as Hakeem Lyon on the Fox drama TV series Empire, with co-stars Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard and Jussie Smollett. In March 2015, it was confirmed that both Smollett and Gray had been signed to Columbia Records as solo artists. In April 2016, Gray was cast, alongside Elijah Kelley, Luke James, Algee Smith, Keith Powers and Woody McClain, in a BET miniseries about R&B boyband New Edition, which debuted in January 2017. Gray was cast to portray New Edition co-founding member, Michael Bivins. In April 2018, Gray co-starred, as Tyrell, with Teyana Taylor in Honey: Rise Up and Dance.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2015–2020 — Empire — Hakeem Lyon — Main cast • 2016 — Celebrity Name Game — Himself • 2017 — The New Edition Story — Michael Bivins — Miniseries; main cast • 2017 — Lip Sync Battle — Himself — Episode: "Bryshere Gray vs. Rumer Willis" • 2018 — Honey: Rise Up and Dance — Tyrell — Direct to video • 2018 — Sprinter — Marcus Brick • 2019 — Canal Street — Kholi Styles

• Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Albums • US — US R&B/HH — US R&B • "Respect" — 2013 — — — — — — • "No Apologies" (featuring Jussie Smollett) — 2015 — 123 — 44 — — — Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1 • "Drip Drop" (featuring Serayah) — 114 — 37 — — • "You're So Beautiful" (Jussie Smollett featuring Yazz) — 47 — 19 — 10 • "Chasing the Sky" (Terrence Howard featuring Jussie Smollett and Yazz) — 2016 — — — — — 24 — Empire: Original Soundtrack Season 2 Volume 2 • "Good People" (Jussie Smollett featuring Yazz) — — — — — 20

• 2018: Best Actor: Empire (Nominated)

• 2016 NAACP Image Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Empire (Nominated) • 2016: Outstanding New Artist (Nominated)

• 2015: Choice TV: Breakout Star: Empire (Nominated) • 2015: Choice TV: Chemistry: Empire (Nominated) • 2015: Choice Music: Song From a Movie or TV Show: "You're So Beautiful" with Jussie Smollett (Nominated)