Don’t Tell 50 Cent But “Empire” Just Broke Another Record

Fox's hit "Empire" television series continues to win fans over and this week's episode proved it after bringing in nearly 14 million viewers.

According to reports, the overnight hit’s streak of growing viewership went untouched in week seven.

Empire—which is also EW’s current cover story—continued its seemingly impossible climb Wednesday night, hitting 13.8 million viewers and a 5.3 rating among adults 18-49. Not only does that mark seven weeks of audience growth, but that demo rating is the highest for a regularly scheduled telecast of a broadcast network drama series in five years—since an epiosde of Grey’s Anatomy in 2010. For more, check out our preview of this week’s cover. (Entertainment Weekly)

Check out what rap star 50 Cent said about “Empire” on the next page…

Despite being supportive of the new hip-hop-based show, rap star 50 Cent recently said the writers created an overly fast-paced storyline.

“I watch it, it’s like ‘Glee’ with a little hip-hop music in it,” 50 said when asked if he watches ‘Empire.’ “I feel like the storyline’s moving extremely fast. It’s jumping from doom-doom-doom-doom. Like, I didn’t show my [‘Power] character until episode four because I was in the pen, in jail – and Taraji [P Henson‘s character] came home in the first episode after 17 years. It’s like, ‘D*mn, what happened?’ … I’m happy that the show’s successful. I got a lot of friends working on that project. Timbaland is the music director of that show. Terrence Howard was in my first film with me, co-starred, Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Taraji actually read for Get Rich or Die Tryin’ so I actually met her during that time period.” (MTV)

Recent reports revealed the mega prime time series had grown since debuting earlier this winter.

Of the 11.4 million of overall viewers, its core viewership of fans is 67 percent Black — the highest ever recorded for any prime time series. Move over Olivia and Annalise, Taraji P. Henson’s Cookie is the new queen of prime time. (Target Market News)

Over the past year, hip-hop-themed shows “Empire” and “Power” have reaped a lot of early success.

Fox has hit a much-needed ratings paydirt with Lee Daniels and Danny Strong’s Empire, already renewed for a second season; and Starz has done the same with its 50 Cent-produced entry Power. Not to be outdone, Viacom-owned cabler VH1 is also readying The Breaks, a drama series based on Dan Charnas’ best-selling book The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, which is wildly considered one of the most comprehensive accounts of the history and business of hip-hop. (The Hollywood Reporter)