Celebrity Info
He’s a rapper and actor best known for his breakout role as Hakeem Lyon on Fox’s hit drama series Empire. His journey into entertainment began early—he started rapping at just 16 years old, showing passion and talent from a young age. Before fame found him, life wasn’t easy. He worked three different jobs while growing up, all to help support his family. That kind of hustle shaped his work ethic and drive. Back then, he was already making moves in the music scene, performing at local shows around Philadelphia. He and his sister were raised in West Philadelphia by their single mother, who played a big role in keeping the family together. Through determination and resilience, he built a name for himself—Hakeem Lyon may be a character, but the real story behind the name is one of grit, ambition, and staying true to your roots. And today, that name continues to carry weight in both music and acting circles.
He was working at Pizza Hut and, you know, it was actually a pretty important chapter in his journey because he used the money he earned there—saved up little by little—to fund his very first music video. It’s kind of ironic, really, because even though he was putting in the hours at the restaurant, his mind was always on his music. Eventually, he got let go from Pizza Hut, not for slacking off or anything like that, but because he was caught writing songs during shifts. Honestly, though, getting fired might’ve been one of the best things that happened to him—it pushed him to focus more seriously on his craft. He always says now that every time he hears about Pizza Hut, it reminds him how far he’s come since those early days.
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