The second episode of "Empire" Season 2, "Without a Country," saw Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) stepping out of prison, while Cookie (Taraji Henson) established her new record label with the help of her two sons. The episode sets the base for the real drama to unfold in Episode 3 of "Empire" Season 2.

Recap of Episode 2 of “Empire” Season 2, "Without a Country":

Lucious Lyon successfully records a new song from prison and even finds a way to release it. Jamal (Jussie Smollett), meanwhile, is focussing on his singing after saving Empire from a hostile takeover. And Cookie starts from scratch to build her own company and rents a place for recording. Her sons Andre (Trai Byers) and Hakeem (Bryshere Gray) support her mother in this endeavour. The latter, however, soon defects and tries to return to Empire, but he finds the doors closed on him.

Cookie speaks to Andre about recording a final song for Hakeem’s unfinished album and releasing it. Andre explains that the rights for Hakeem’s album is with Empire, and Jamal, who is acting as CEO of Empire, would not give them the rights to release it. Cookie decides to visit Jamaal and convince him to release Hakeem’s album.

Unaware about her mother's plan, Jamal is giving an interview to a British channel's talk show “Spilling the Tea.” Cookie interrupts his interview and asks him to sign off the rights of Hakeem's album. Jamal does not agree to do that, and before leaving, Cookie stuns him by dropping the news that she has laid the foundation of her company.

Meanwhile in the prison, Officer McKnight (Chris Ludacris Bridges) is giving tough time to Lucious and his boys. Afterwards, Lucious' authorisation file for medicine goes missing. Prosecutor Roxanne Ford (Tyra Ferrell) is behind the missing file. Lucious manages to keep his calm, just to retaliate later.

And outside of prison walls, Hakeem conducts an audition for an all-girl band. He finalises three girls and decides to name the band Rainbow Sensation. Cookie and Andre call the name stupid, but Anika (Grace Gealey) finds the concept marketable, as the band consists of a black, a white and a Spanish girl (Becky G). Although Cookie does not like Hakeem’s approach, she still wishes to release his album under her label.

Later, when Jamal visits his father, he breaks the news about Hakeem's album to him. Lucious says that Hakeem belongs to Empire and his work will be released under Empire’s label only. During this father-son conversation, a shady lawyer named Thirsty Rawlings (Andre Royo) drops by and shows interest in taking up Lucious' case and ensuring his release from prison. Lucious is intrigued by the lawyer’s approach, so he hires him.

Lucious with the help of this newly hired lawyer and fellow inmates manages to record a fresh hip-hop number inside the prison. The recording is successful, but officer McKnight finds this out and puts Lucious in the hole.

Rawlings shows that he is more than a lawyer when he manages to get Lucious’ new song from officer McKnight, and he also successfully releases it. The lawyer also calls for a hearing on Lucious’ bail. This influential lawyer makes the judge sign on Lucious' bail and set him free. He used compromising pictures of the judge to blackmail him and get his client's freedom.

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