Every 'Empire' Song, Ranked

The most remarkable part of Empire's success is not its insane ratings nor its diverse viewership nor the fact that it occasionally features a platinum blonde Gabourey Sidibe. No, the most remarkable part of Empire's success is that it's a damn MUSICAL. Yes, a musical. Empire's songs are both original and integral to its storylines or, as the show's executive producer Ilene Chaiken puts it, its songs are story. But unlike, say, a stage musical where characters burst into song when spoken dialogue can no longer contain their ambition or horniness, on Empire the characters have the added burden of proving their credibility as music industry superstars. But how can you even know how good a song is when you’re patiently waiting for the next Cookie entrance? We’re here to help.

Related: Cookie’s 5 Most Delicious ‘Empire’ Moments

Fortunately, a lot of these songs sound way better removed from their original contexts and really do sound as strong as anything you might hear on the radio. (What is radio?) So in celebration of this week’s season finale, let’s go through all of Empire's original songs and rank them from least best to best!

35. “Whatever Makes You Happy” (Jennifer Hudson and Juicy J; Soundtrack)

Jennifer Hudson’s “musical therapist” turned gospel singer character was a late addition to the show’s roster of talent, but unfortunately her particular brand of emotional scream-singing isn’t particularly well-served by this track.

34. “Money for Nothing” (Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Gray; “Our Dancing Days”)

A centerpiece moment for the show and one of Empire's most lavishly staged numbers, this reworking of the old Dire Straits song was maaaybe supposed to be about the ruthlessness of the music industry but all we can hear are the extremely dated references to MTV. What is the modern day MTV, even? Where are people getting their music now? Spotify? Empire itself? It’s a real existential question!

33. “Live in the Moment” (Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Gray; “Pilot”)

This was one of our first tastes of how well Jamal and Hakeem go together. Unfortunately, it was about as generic as this show’s music gets.

32. “Remember the Music” (Jennifer Hudson; “Sins of the Father”)

Oh boy, again with the Jennifer Hudson. There is definitely a time and a place for what she does (like, that one Dreamgirls show-stopper, or when she sang “Will You Be There” at Michael Jackson’s memorial service), but both the context and song itself here are just too cloying to handle. Sorry, Hudchildren.

31. “I Wanna Love You” (Jussie Smollett; “Out, Damned Spot”)

Here’s that Justin Timberlake-inspired jam that blew Sway’s headwrap off. It was fine, we guess. Doesn’t excuse Jamal’s fedora, though.

30. “Adios” (Serayah McNeill; “The Outspoken King”)

This song announced the arrival of Tiana, Empire's answer to Rihanna. But “Adios” is giving us full Britney “Slave 4 U” vibes. If only the words were halfway as good as Timbaland's production.

29. “Up All Night” (Jussie Smollett; “The Devil Quotes Scripture”)

The context of this song is more powerful than the song itself; it was written by Cookie’s old boyfriend, sung by her son, and included subtle flashbacks to a time when Cookie and Lucious were falling in love (while dressed amazingly). But in a reverse-scenario of “Adios,” the well-written song is sorta ruined by Jamal’s irritating keyboard. A fully produced version of this song might rank way higher.

28. “Can’t Truss ‘Em” (Bryshere Gray; “Out, Damned Spot”)

Oh cool, just a hateful flow about trifling women. Just the thing hip-hop needed more of! (Don’t worry, Cookie was just as appalled as we were.)

27. “Tell The Truth” (Jussie Smollett; “The Outspoken King”)

One of the first songs Jamal wrote about his father. Meaningful in the moment, but who would want to listen to this thing for fun?

26. “NY Raining” (Charles Hamilton and Rita Ora; Soundtrack)

This song is on the official, just-released soundtrack but hasn’t been performed yet on the show, so all we have to go by is whether it could be on the radio or not. Probably! Rita Ora can sing, and the music’s great. But we just don’t truss it yet.

25. “Armani” (Bryshere Gray; “Pilot”)

As Hakeem, Bryshere Gray is secretly the show’s best musical asset. Here’s a fairly straightfoward riff about luxury goods, but he’s just got so much personality that it works.

24. “Bad Girl” (Serayah McNeill and V. Bozeman)

Serayah McNeill obviously has a great voice, but V. Bozeman being treated like a background actor is something close to scandalous. How great is she? Very great. (Her other songs rank higher, don’t worry.)

23. “Good Enough” (Jussie Smollett; “Pilot”)

Jamal’s journey of self-acceptance has been undeniably compelling, but it’s almost hard to go back and listen to these kinds of self-pitying tracks when his work gets more and more triumphant later. Still, hard to argue with the merits of this one.

22. “Hustle Hard” (Jim Beanz; “False Imposition”)

If it’s good enough for Becky, it’s good enough for us!

21. “You Walk” (Terrence Howard; “False Imposition”)

This is just straight-up adorable. A flashback of Terrence Howard plucking at his guitar while Child Andre chimes in. A brief moment in an epic season, but it describes this father-son relationship more efficiently than any amount of dialogue.

20. “Right There” (Bryshere Gray; “Pilot”)

One of our first introductions to Hakeem, this in-studio riff made him sound more than credible as a rapper-slash-pop star.

19. “What the DJ Spins” (Terrence Howard; “The Outspoken King”)

Considering that Lucious’s allegedly deep back catalogue is the very foundation of the company (and show), we’ve actually seen very little evidence of his personal hitmaking abilities. This weird trifle is not exactly on par with his real life counterpart Jay Z’s “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” but it’s still charmingly dumb enough to seem like it could’ve been a hot summer jam at one point.

18. “Take Me to the River” (Courtney Love; “Out, Damned Spot”)

As Elle Dallas, Courtney Love’s Amy Winehouse-meets-Marianne Faithfull drag routine is intentionally an acquired taste, but there’s no denying this woman’s stage presence. In this scene she really does go from bad to good in a matter of seconds, and the song is strong enough to support both takes.

17. “Power of the Empire” (Bryshere Gray; Soundtrack)

Need a thesis statement for Empire in a few minutes or less? Can’t do worse than this track.

16. “What Is Love” (V. Bozeman; “Pilot”)

It’s only a tantalizing few seconds, but this V. Bozeman track still outshines many of Empire's bigger moments. She is singing it like her life depended on it, you know?

15. “All of the Above” (Jussie Smollett; “Unto the Breach”)

Those nostalgic for either the early ’00s or D’Angelo’s torso probably loved Jamal’s tribute to “Untitled (How Does It Feel?),” but it’s also some very catchy sexin’ music. Credit where credit’s due.

14. “Shake Down” (Terrence Howard and Mary J. Blige; “Sins of the Father”)

There is almost zero explanation for what Mary J. Blige was doing in this scene other than, “Duh, it’s Mary J. Blige.” But it’s a Mary J. Blige song, so that makes it rank pretty high in this dancery.

13. “Nothing But a Number” (Bryshere Gray; “Sins of the Father”)

Much as Mary J. Blige scores any track extra points, so does a properly employed “Tom’s Diner” sample. That’ll do most of the heavy lifting in any scenario.

12. “Keep Your Money” (Jussie Smollett; “Dangerous Bonds”)

Another centerpiece moment in which Jamal rejects his father’s patronage with spectacular results. A song that’s both emotionally specific to the show but also still fun to listen to.

11. “You’re So Beautiful (’90s Version)” (Terrence Howard; “Dancing Days”)

This song has no fewer than three versions, and with good reason: Its hook is diabolical. This stripped-down zygote version only hints at the joy to follow.

10. “Nothing to Lose” (Jussie Smollett and Terrence Howard; Soundtrack)

The writing and recording of this song will be featured in a scene in this week’s finale, and it’s one of Empire's finest musical moments. The context represents a spoiler, but trust us, this song may become one of your favorites soon.

9. “Walk Out On Me” (Courtney Love; “Our Dancing Days”)

In this rare moment of Elle Dallas not being a mess, she rehearses this haunting, just-threatening-to-go-off-the-rails ballad that somehow manages to keep it together. Courtney Love truly is a national treasure.

8. “Lola” (Jussie Smollett; “Sins of the Father”)

Jamal may have been a little hasty in writing this song for his supposed daughter, but hastiness is a blessing if it results in songs as breezy and gorgeous as this ode to his favorite little girl.

7. “Black and Blue” (V. Bozeman; “Unto the Breach”)

Another boss V. Bozeman moment. If we don’t see more of Timbaland’s best and baldest protégé in Season 2 then we’ll feel extremely robbed.

6. “Conqueror” (Jussie Smollett and Estelle; “Unto the Breach”)

Estelle had a small but memorable cameo in this late-season episode, but her duet with Jussie Smollett was nothing less than triumphant.

5. “Drip Drop” (Bryshere Gray and Serayah McNeill; “Dangerous Bonds”)

What began as a joke ended up being one of Empire's most legitimate hits. Equal parts ludicrous and catchy, “Drip Drop” further underlined why Gray's Hakeem is invaluable to this world and this soundtrack.

4. “You’re So Beautiful (White Party Version)” (Jussie Smollett; “The Lyon’s Roar”)

Most people would’ve put this version of Empire's favorite pop song at No. 1 due to its in-context meaning as Jamal's coming out anthem. But personally, we prefer the heartfelt, familial bombast of this version:

3. “You’re So Beautiful (Full Cast Version)” (Terrence Howard, Jussie Smollett, Bryshere Gray, Serayah McNeill, Estelle, and Taraji P. Henson; “Unto the Breach”)

Like, come on. All three Lyon men, plus Estelle and Tiana, and, at least per the episode, the occasional backing vocal of Cookie herself? Very yes.

2. “Keep It Movin’” (Serayah McNeill and Bryshere Gray; “False Imposition”)

Not to be a contrarian, but this seemingly throwaway duet between Tiana and Hakeem might be one of Empire's most underrated tracks. The effortless interplay, the addictive beat, the audacious catchiness. Sure, other songs might be more meaningful, but this is exactly the kind of thing we'd want to play loud in our cars on a summer day.

1. “No Apologies” (Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Gray; “The Outspoken King”)

Yeah, it’s the show’s theme song. Those shrill horror movie keyboards give me chills every time, and that’s before both Hakeem and Jamal intertwine their sensibilities to perfect effect. “No Apologies” might as well be Empire's unofficial title; this show does what it wants and that's why it's making history.

What’s YOUR favorite Empire song?

The season finale of Empire airs Wednesday, March 18 at 8 p.m. on Fox.