The company is preparing to go public on the NYSE. However, Lucious must contend with his ex-wife cookie upon her release from prison as she demands her piece of the company. He also struggles with Jamal's sexuality and Hakeem's inability to step up to the plate and show maturity as an artist. At the same time, Lucious neglects Andre seemingly due to his lack of musical ability. Lucious and Cookie's love for each other further complicates his existing relationship with his head of A&R, Anika Calhoun . The character of Lucious who starts out selling drugs as a teenager and develops into a well respected rapper and music mogul is loosely based on several real life figures from rappers, record producers, to politicians with a criminal past.When Lucious is diagnosed with ALSin the pilot, he starts to realize that he was not a great parent because he was so focused on "making the money." Howard said, "I'm approaching it from that place of missed time and trying desperately" to make use of the time he has left. While Howard does not have personal experience with the disease, he focused in on the "fear" that comes with such a disease. "There is a fear of what's about to happen" Howard said.he character's longevity immediately comes into question due to the diagnosis. However, Danny Strong refused to comment on how the disease would affect Lucious in future seasons.[trong danced around answering the question about the fatality of Lucious' diagnosis and said viewers would have towait and see how the disease would affect Lucious. Though the doctor gives lucious three years, and maybe even less time BUSTLE estimated Lucious would be killed off around the end of season 3.