In Empire season 4 episode 15, Shyne’s actions finally – and fatally – caught up with him. Although rapper and former Pimp My Ride host Alvin ‘Xzibit’ Joiner didn’t make his debut as Leslie ‘Shyne’ Johnson until Empire’s season 2 finale, Shyne’s reputation preceded him. During the first season of Empire, Bunkie’s debt to record producer Shyne is what forced him into blackmailing Lucious Lyon for money, which resulted in Lucious murdering Bunkie.
Later in season 1, Lucious tried to pin Bunkie’s murder on Shyne and revealed he’d also killed some of Shyne’s gang back in the day. In Empire’s season 1 finale, it turned out Shyne had been arrested and was trying to cut a deal with the FBI to give them Lucious. Clearly, the beef between the former friends ran deep. In the season 2 finale “Past Is Prologue,” Shyne was properly introduced when he made a deal with Cookie Lyon; give him a slice of the Empire Entertainment pie - which he felt entitled too after being cut out by Lucious in their younger years - and he wouldn’t snitch to the FBI.
It was an uneasy truce so when Lucious and eldest son Andre effectively stole Shyne’s protégé Nessa in Empire season 3, it looked like the Lucious-Shyne grudge was back on. Despite Andre’s part in stealing Shyne’s protégé, the pair later teamed up to plot Lucious’ death. That plan came to fruition in Empire’s season 3 finale when Shyne blew up Lucious’ car during his Las Vegas club opening, even though Andre tried to call off the hit on his father. Luckily for Andre but unluckily for Shyne, Lucious survived the attempt although he was left with amnesia and lost a leg.
Amnesia or not, Shyne’s part in trying to take out Lucious eventually came back to haunt him in Empire season 4 episode 15, “A Lean And Hungry Look.” Prior to the episode, Lucious learned all about Andre’s plans to commit patricide after his son broke down and confessed. Although Andre kept Shyne’s name out of it, Lucious figured out he was involved regardless and so the Empire patriarch plotted revenge against his old friend.
Though Lucious acted all pally with Shyne – even encouraging him to record a track – it was all a ploy to lull him into a false sense of security. By the end of Empire season 4 episode 15, Lucious had lured Shyne out to a private air hangar and revealed he knew all about Shyne’s attempt on his life. Rather than get his hands dirty, Lucious had his goons gun down Shyne but not before telling him the track he recorded is going to earn the Lyons a ton of money after his death. Ice cold.
Next: Empire Series Premiere Review
