Bryshere Yazuan Gray, popularly known by his stage name Yazz the Greatest and just Yazz, was born on November 28, 1993, in the United States. He is an actor and rapper best known for playing Hakeem Lyon in the Fox primetime musical drama television series Empire. As Michael Bivins in the 2017 BET miniseries The New Edition Story, he is also well-known.
Gray has been at numerous Philadelphia-area music festivals since 2013, including Jay Z’s Made in America Festival, The Roots’ Picnic Festival, and Power 99FM’s Powerhouse show. He has also served as the opening act for rappers like 2 Chainz and Fabolous. The same year saw the release of “Respect,” his lead single. On the Fox drama TV series Empire, which also stars Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, and Jussie Smollett, Gray made his acting debut in 2015 as Hakeem Lyon. It was confirmed in March 2015 that Smollett and Gray had both signed solo contracts with Columbia Records. Gray was cast in the BET miniseries on the R&B boy band New Edition in April 2016, joining Elijah Kelley, Luke James, Algee Smith, Keith Powers, and Woody McClain. The miniseries premiered in January 2017. Michael Bivins, a founding member, will be portrayed by Gray. Tyrell was portrayed by Gray in the April 2018 film Honey: Rise Up and Dancing alongside Teyana Taylor.