>> And I don't want any space.
I don't need any space.
No space.
>> Need I say it?
Things are heating up for Mario
on "Empire."
>> Yes, they are.
>> The show is in its sixth and
final season.
We're not happy about that but
Mario is here to tell us all
about it.
Good to see you!
>> Thank you.
>> Good to see you as well.
>> We want to make sure this
final season is what you guys
expect and more.
>> You showed up and you
exceeded all expectations.
Come on, life is good to be
Mario right now.
>> Life is good.
We got to create the life we
we got to show the universe what
we want to receive.
>> And is it true you started
with music, because you got a
karaoke machine?
>> Something like that.
I started with music because I
was annoying my family waking
them up at 4:00 A.M. Singing.
Remember the mics that tune into
the radio?
>> Oh, yeah.
>> My mom got me one for
Christmas and I was 5 or 6 years
old and I would sing nonstop and
she noticed I could hold a note.
I was singing along to the
record, I didn't know the words
but she knew the music talent.
Growing up in Baltimore, if you
don't have something you're
passionate about as a young,
black kid.
And for her seeing my other
cousins and people in our family
venture off and do things that
weren't good for them, she's
like music is my way to keep him
close to me and also give him
something he can hold on to,
something of his own.
>> It's so funny you're talking
about that microphone.
My mom is 52 and she travels
with a microphone in her purse.
>> It's hooked up to nothing.
>> She will be in the drive-thru
and go --
♪ you, you, you ♪
>> Is this on a Sunday or any
day?
>> It could be Tuesday
afternoon.
>>.
♪ I want some sugar ♪
>> That's classic, classic.
>> It's moving to see the
success that you have now and
the success you continue to
build.
I was telling kit, you're my
first --
>> Interview!
>> -- Celebrity.
Took me back.
16 years old.
To see you now continuing to
build, because this is not easy.
>> No, it's not.
>> We still here, we still here.
A blessing.
>> What has the experience on
"Empire" been for you?
It's like a family over there.
>> I mean coming into it because
they had been doing it already
for so long and I think a lot of
actors, they have had everybody
on the show.
You know what I'm saying?
The main actors Terrence and
taraji, they're so experienced
in the show and what they do,
coming on set, it was just like,
they had already set the
precedent as far as the level.
And the people that worked
behind the scenes, people who
shoot -- there's so much talent
in and around it, the team is
tight over there.
So creative on the set I felt
right at home.
I felt not only am I hopefully
going to add value to the show
but I will learn a lot while I'm
here because this is something I
want to do.
>> They loved you from the very
beginning.
I remember the first time you
stepped on that stage, you could
feel it.
Didn't they show up with a cake
for your birthday?
>> Yeah, they surprised me.
Everyone wrap except Mario.
Mind you, I had been there since
6:00 A.M. And it's like 7, 8:00
P.M.
I forgot it was my birthday that
day.
And they surprised me.
>> Oh, right there.
>> It's really great.
So much love on set over there.
Once the drama is over,
everybody goes to making jokes
and stuff, but the show itself
is intense.
>> We heard Terence had said
after this show ends, he may be
walking away from acting.
>> That's nonsense.
>> Whatever he does, I have been
able to build a relationship
with him on set.
He's a really brilliant person.
As are theists coming from the
artists as I have grown over the
years, there are a lot of things
outside I am passionate about.
I'm not leaving, I love it.
But I can understand for him
doing it so long having a
passion for something and
wanting to explore that more.
We'll see.
I think he's going to follow
through with it.
>> It's hard out here!
I was quoting it the other day.
>> She liked that.
That's exactly what she was
waiting for.
♪♪
>> You all should have heard her
singing in the dressing room
when he first came here.
>> You know what I love about
you, Mario, I love when people
find their light.
You've had quite the childhood.
What is it that gives you this
light and this rod, where does
that come from?
>> This world is a crazy place.
Sign a lot of craziness growing
up in Baltimore.
People would say be careful in
this industry.
What I have seen growing up,
nothing compares --
>> Oh, my goodness!
>> That day I was bringing my
mother flowers.
She just came home from surgery.
She was in a car accident.
And I brought her flowers that
day.
There's my two other brothers.
>> Oh, Mario!
>> I think growing up in an
environment like that in
Baltimore and seeing a lot of
crazy things that I saw, having
the opportunity to create a
better life for myself, be the
light for a lot of the over kids
growing up in Baltimore and
around the world.
We can't take for granted our
opportunities.
We can't take for granted the
access that we have.
It took me a while to realize
that but once I did, things
started shifting in my life.
When I started just really
looking at my life saying I'm
blessed.
No matter what happens, I'm
I have a lot of goals and dreams
so you have to say in a high,
vibration place in order to
achieve things.
>> You have to.
>> It's interesting because
we're talking about the fact for
the most part raised by a
grandmother.
You had to step up, I'm sure, in
a lot of ways to help raise your
younger siblings.
You think about some of the
sacrifices your grandmother made
and you had to make in helping
raise them, think about all that
you have accomplished.
>> Yeah, you know E. It's
amazing when I think back to it.
I would say my grandmother is
the reason why I am the way I am
today, the reason I have the
strength, the reason I do what I
do.
On her dyeing bed she told me
you're special, I know you have
a vision of your own.
She said never stop believing in
yourself.
Always believe in yourself.
Those were the last words my and
grad mother said to me.
>> I love her.
And you got a tattoo for her.
>> I do.
>> What does the tattoo say?
>> It's my first tat.
On my back.
I don't know if you have a
picture but it says soul truth.
>> That's for her.
>> Reminds me to stay true to my