Why can’t every problem be solved with a rap battle? The Lyon name, a Pepsi deal, and more are at risk in tonight’s Empire season 2, episode 8.

Contracts, back room meetings, and greased palms all play some part in making a compromise. But when it comes to the Lyon family, both sides are forces to be reckoned with and therefore the losers rarely walk away. Tonight’s Empire pits Lucious and Cookie on opposite sides of the ring for more than one round as the Lyon sons each put the Lyon name on the line.

Hakeem erases his legacy

Shots are fired by Lucious and Freda Gatz to strike a chord within Hakeem. If Hakeem will not step up and take the Lyon name back then who is stopping Freda from coming in and giving Lucious the legacy he wants? Hakeem fires back demanding a battle for the success and fame that comes with being a pawn in Lucious’ game.

Cookie points out to Hakeem that there is a lot more than his pride on the line. Freda Gatz is not known for losing her cool, but Lucious certainly has that reputation. If Hakeem loses the battle, Dynasty’s name goes under as well. But when Hakeem looks to Cookie for help preparing for the battle, she is either tied up with helping Jamal or kicking it with Laz.

Hakeem has every right to be suspicious of Laz, but Cookie is smitten at the moment. But she is not engrossed enough to let Laz get away with shoving her son across the room. Slapping Laz in the face and sending him on his way, Cookie finally refocuses on Hakeem and the impending battle.

But Hakeem didn’t need any guidance, he just needed to know he had the right people in his corner who had his back. That includes his mother and his brothers. As the battle heats up, Hakeem wipes the floor with Freda in his final exchange that turned to Lucious and Empire personally. Hakeem verbally renounces his Lyon heritage and physically smashes the lights that connect him to it. It’s just Hakeem.

Hakeem may have won the battle and dropped his name, but his legacy is about to live on somewhere he cannot control– Anika’s womb.

Jamal’s sponsorship

Striking a deal with Pepsi would be huge for Jamal’s music career, not to mention Cookie and Lucious’ companies. Which company will put out his impending album remains to be seen, but Jamal is struck by inspiration due to his parents’ constant power struggle.

What if all that power and tension was channeled to the music and not war? After creating a near masterpiece in the studio with Cookie, Jamal is interrupted by Lucious who wants to offer his own beat into consideration. Marrying the two Lyons, in this case just their tracks, will make a track that will blow either solo venture out of the water. The trouble is getting the two powerhouses into the same room to make a compromise.

In this instance, Mom and Dad no longer exist for Jamal. It is not about reconciling a marriage it is about negotiating a deal between Cookie and Lucious. The two cannot play nice, however, and Jamal pulls off the mashup of the season and wins over the Pepsi reps. With the sponsorship deal in his back pocket, Cookie and Lucious’ petty bet means that Jamal’s album will be released by Dynasty. Jamal seems less concerned with that aspect of the deal and remains focused on working hard to combine the sound of Cookie, Lucious, and Jamal on one album.

More drama unfolds

• Lucious and Mimi signed a deal with Swift to put Empire Records on par with other labels who also stream music.

• Cookie’s sister Candace showed up to inform Cookie that Carol went on a bender and dumped her children on her doorstep. Cookie wanted to shrug the incident off, but it becomes apparent that Carol is mixed up in something far worse than ever before. The pair immediately heads out to Philadelphia from Hakeem’s afterparty.

• Anika may not have told Hakeem about their bundle of joy, but she did disguise herself as a car driver to get the scoop on Hakeem’s new fling.

Watch Empire season 2, episode 9, “Sinned Against,” Wednesday, November 25 at 9:00 p.m. ET on Fox.