R&B singer and actor Mario has joined Empire Season 5.

In a recurring capacity, he’ll play Devon, “an earnest, up-and-coming R&B singer who supports his ailing sister,” with both Empire and Lyon Family Management eager to sign him.

This is Mario’s first notable film or TV role since 2006’s Step Up and 2007’s Freedom Writers.

Empire revolves around the Lyon family and their media company, Empire Entertainment. The founder, Lucious Lyon, is the king of hip-hop, but his company and reign are constantly threatened by his family, including his ex-wife, Cookie Lyon, his sons, Jamal (Jussie Smollett), Hakeem (Bryshere “Yazz” Gray) and Andre (Trai Byers); and a volatile and competitive music industry. Empire also stars Andre Royo as Thurston “Thirsty” Rawlings, Gabourey Sidibe as Becky, , Serayah as Tiana and Ta’Rhonda Jones as Porsha.

Billboard first reported the news.