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Bryshere Y. Gray
Gray at 2016 PaleyFest
Born	Bryshere Yazuan Gray (1993-11-28) November 28, 1993 (age 31) West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	Yazz Yazz the Greatest
Occupations	Actor rapper
Years active	2011–present
Known for	Empire as Hakeem Lyon The New Edition Story as Michael Bivins

Bryshere Yazuan Gray (born November 28, 1993), also known by the stage name Yazz the Greatest or simply Yazz, is an American actor and rapper, best known for his role as Hakeem Lyon in the Fox primetime musical drama television series Empire. He is also known for his portrayal as Michael Bivins in the 2017 BET miniseries The New Edition Story.

Career

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.

Personal life

Bryshere Gray was born and raised in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother, Andria Mayberry, became pregnant when she was a teenager, and, in the absence of his father, raised Gray as a single mother. When he was five years old, he was diagnosed with ADHD. Later on, Gray played football at Overbrook High School, but switched to studying music after being injured on the field at the age of 16 years. He began to use his talents as a street performer to earn money and help his mother afford their various expenses. He also worked at Pizza Hut, where he used the money he earned to finance his first music video, before being fired from the company for, allegedly, writing music while at work. His perseverance eventually led to a partnership with manager Charlie Mack. Gray told Cosmopolitan in February 2015 that his estranged father had reached-out to him when he became "popular", but stated that he needed "time" and to "grow some more" before taking any steps towards building a relationship with his father. He has a sister named Brianna.

On July 13, 2020, Gray was arrested by police in Goodyear, Arizona, following an alleged domestic violence incident with his wife that culminated in a barricade situation with police. Gray was subsequently charged with aggravated assault, domestic violence and disorderly conduct and sentenced to 10 days in jail and 3 years probation following the attack on his wife on May 24, 2021.

Filmography

Discography

Singles

Awards and nominations

BET Awards

• 2018: Best Actor: Empire (Nominated)

NAACP Image Awards

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

Teen Choice Awards

• 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)

References

1. Eichel, Molly (December 3, 2014). "Bravo host Andy Cohen loved working with Eagle Boykin". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 28, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
2. "Meet Bryshere Gray, The Bad Boy Doing Better On 'Empire'". Vibe. 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
3. Kay, Ariel (8 January 2015). "Who Is Hakeem on 'Empire'? Bryshere Gray, aka Yazz the Greatest, Is Conquering TV & Music". Bustle. Archived from the original on 2015-01-11. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
4. "Empire State of Mind: Bryshere Gray Talks Hakeem And Working With Timbaland". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
5. "Who Plays Hakeem on Empire? 5 Things to Know About Bryshere Gray". Wetpaint. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
6. Respect - Single by Yazz The Greatest, 22 March 2013, retrieved 2021-01-24
7. Hammond, Evelyn (January 31, 2015). "'Empire' TV Series Cast Bryshere Gray And How He Crawled His Way Into The Phenomenal Fox Show Discussed". Franchise Herald. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
8. Kennedy, Gerrick D. (March 11, 2015). "'Empire' aims to climb music charts as well as TV rankings". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
9. "Bryshere Y. Gray Among Stars of BET's New Edition Project". ABC News. Associated Press. April 20, 2016. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
10. "Goodyear PD: 'Empire' actor arrested on domestic violence charges". KSAZ-TV. July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
11. "Empire Cast – Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
12. "Empire Cast – Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
13. "Empire Cast – Chart History (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2024.

External links

• Bryshere Y. Gray at IMDb

• 1993 births
• 21st-century African-American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• American male television actors
• African-American male rappers
• American male rappers
• Living people
• Rappers from Philadelphia
• 21st-century American rappers
• 21st-century American male musicians
• 21st-century African-American musicians
• People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder