'Empire' season 3 air date, spoilers news: New music supervisors confirmed after Timbaland's exit; premiere to debut song tackling gun violence
Less than a week before "Empire" officially returns for its third season, the hip-hop drama recently faced a behind-the-scene shakeup after Timbaland exited his post as musical supervisor for the series.
Executives from the show announced that Timbaland will be replaced by songwriter Ester Dean and Grammy Award-winning producer Rodney Jerkins. Dean has written hit songs for notable pop artists such as Katy Perry, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, while Jerkins has previously worked with music icons Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson.
"We were happy to work with Timbaland during the first two seasons," senior vice president of A&R for Columbia Records (home of "Empire's" soundtracks) Shawn Holiday told Billboard. "But we wanted to take a different approach for Season 3. Rodney is a dynamic, multi-format producer experienced in urban, rhythmic and pop. And Dean excels at writing big songs with catchy hooks."
Also joining the upcoming installment as guest starring singers are Mariah Carey, who will have a duet with series regular Jussie Smollett, Cash Money Records' Birdman, French Montana and Biz Markie.
Meanwhile, the season 3 premiere will debut a new song dedicated to the many lives lost due to fatal shootings. "My heart cries out," Jamal Lyon (Smollett) sings as the piano swells in the background, "for Orlando, Philando, Alton, Sandra, Mike Brown, Garner, Trayvon – why? Too many people gone too soon." Titled "Need Freedom," the song seems right for Jamal, the most compassionate Lyon brother who took a bullet not meant for him back in season 2.
"I recorded this exactly seven days after Philando Castile was shot," Smollett said in an interview. "Between the shootings of Castile, Alton Sterling, at the Pulse in Orlando and the police officers in Dallas—not to mention the other numerous killings over the last couple of years—it was like we couldn't breathe. What are we doing as a people, a nation; what messages are we sending to the next generation. Then this song came." The song will have another version titled "Free Freda," which is a reference to Freda Gatz who was arrested in season 2.
Tune in for all-new episodes of "Empire" season 3 which premieres on Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. EST on Fox.
