Bryshere Gray, also known as Yazz the Greatest, is an American actor and rapper who rose to fame for his role as Hakeem Lyon on the hit show Empire. He is also known for playing Michael Bivins in the biopic The New Edition Story. But is he related to another famous rapper, Jay Z? Here’s what we know.
The Celebtricity Hoax
The rumor that Bryshere Gray is Jay Z’s biological son started in 2015, when a website called Celebtricity published an article claiming that a DNA test confirmed their paternity. The article also claimed that Jay Z admitted that Gray was his son and that he might sign him to his label Roc Nation. The article quoted Jay Z as saying:
> “Yea that’s Blue Ivy’s big brother can’t you tell that’s my genes that gave him his skills. I’m proud of my son I might sign him to Roc Nation if it makes sense.”
The article also claimed that Gray’s mother, Shannon Bryshere, was one of Jay Z’s former lovers when he was selling drugs to support his musical career. The article said that she took the fall for a drug charge to keep Jay Z from going to prison.
However, the article was completely false and fabricated. Celebtricity is a notorious fake news website that uses a combination of real and satire news to create shocking headlines. The website even has a disclaimer that says:
> “Celebtricity.com is the most notorious entertainment website in the world with the most shocking headlines to keep its visitors in a state of disbelief.”
The story was debunked by Snopes, a fact-checking website, which rated it as false. Snopes pointed out that there was no DNA test, no admission from Jay Z, and no credible source for the story. Snopes also noted that Celebtricity had previously published other false stories about celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey being pregnant with triplets and Will Smith being gay.
The Real Bryshere Gray
Bryshere Gray was born on November 28, 1993, in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was raised by his single mother, Andria Mayberry, who became pregnant with him when she was a teenager. He has a sister named Brianna. He was diagnosed with ADHD when he was five years old and struggled with academics and behavior in school.
He started rapping when he was 16 years old after getting injured while playing football at Overbrook High School. He began performing at various music festivals and events in Philadelphia, such as Jay Z’s Made in America Festival, The Roots’ Picnic Festival, and Power 99FM’s Powerhouse concert. He also opened for artists like Fabolous and 2 Chainz.
He released his debut single “Respect” in 2013 and caught the attention of manager Charlie Mack. He auditioned for the role of Hakeem Lyon on Empire in 2014 and landed the part. He also signed a record deal with Columbia Records as a solo artist in 2015.
He has since appeared in other projects, such as Honey: Rise Up and Dance, Canal Street, and Cut Throat City. He has also been nominated for several awards, such as BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Teen Choice Awards.
He has not publicly spoken about his father or his relationship with him. In an interview with Cosmopolitan in 2015, he said that his estranged father had reached out to him when he became famous, but he needed time and space before taking any step in that direction.
He said:
> “I’m still growing up so I need time to figure out what I want to do with my life before I can have any type of relationship with my father.”
He also said that he considers his manager Charlie Mack as his father figure and mentor.
Conclusion
Bryshere Gray is not related to Jay Z by blood or by adoption. The rumor that they are father and son is based on a fake news article that was published by a notorious hoax website. There is no evidence or confirmation that they have any biological or legal connection.
Bryshere Gray is an accomplished actor and rapper who has made a name for himself through his own talent and hard work. He has not relied on any family ties or connections to achieve his success.
