|  |
Queen Latifah Biography
Review The Artist (37)
(b. March 18, 1970, Newark, N.J.), African American rap artist, actress, entertainment executive, and entrepreneur.
Queen Latifah, born Dana Owens in Newark, New Jersey, was nicknamed "Latifah" (which means "delicate" and "sensitive" in Arabic) at the age of eight by a black Muslim cousin. Soon afterward her parents separated, and Latifah moved with her mother, Rita, and older brother, Lance Jr., into a housing project in East Newark.
Break Dancing
Drawing upon several African American dance forms, break dancing coalesced in the 1970s and reached its peak in popularity during the 1980s.
Determined to offer her children a better life, Rita Owens worked two jobs while attending community college. She eventually took a position as an art teacher at Irvington High School, and the family moved to a house on Littleton Avenue in Newark.
In second grade, Latifah was found to be intellectually gifted. Her mother stretched the family finances so that her daughter could attend Saint Anne's parochial school, where Latifah first performed as Dorothy in her school's production of The Wiz.
In high school, the popular Latifah played power forward on the school's basketball team. During her sophomore year, she began rapping with two friends in an all-women's group called Ladies Fresh. Encouraged by her mother, she began recording and performing, and added "Queen" to her nickname.
Latifah was attending the Borough of Manhattan Community College in Manhattan when a demo tape featuring her rap "Princess of the Posse" made its way to Tommy Boy Records, based in New York City. She was quickly signed by the label, and in 1988, she released two singles, "Wrath of My Madness" and "Dance for Me." In 1989 she toured Europe, appeared at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and issued her first album, All Hail the Queen, to wide acclaim. The album earned her the Best New Artist Award for 1990 by the New Music Seminar of Manhattan, and subsquently went platinum. Its second single, "Ladies First," celebrated black women's contributions to the struggle for black liberation in America, Africa, and around the world. It became a rap classic, eventually named by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock 'n' Roll.
By the time her second album Nature of a Sista' came out in 1991, Queen Latifah had begun investing in small businesses in her neighborhood, and acting both in television and movies (including Spike Lee's Jungle Fever, 1992). These successes were marred by contract conflicts that caused her to leave Tommy Boy, and by her brother's tragic death in a motorcycle accident in 1992.
After signing with Motown in 1993, Latifah released her third album, Black Reign, and with her newfound clout, founded Flavor Unit Records and Management, which primarily handles rap and new-style rhythm and blues groups. "U.N.I.T.Y," the album's first single, denounced sexist attitudes and violence against women. Latifah also landed a regular spot on the highly rated television sitcom, Living Single, which lasted five seasons.
Over the next few years, the Queen went on to more film roles, including the critically acclaimed portrayal of Cleo, a lesbian bank robber in 1996's Set It Off. She also produced and guest-starred on various musical projects, managed Flavor Unit artists, and worked for numerous causes, including antidrug campaigns.
In 1997 Queen Latifah was awarded the Aretha Franklin Award for Entertainer of the Year at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. She released her fourth album, Order in the Court, in 1998.
Contributed By: Marc Mazique
|
Would you please submit the latest Queen Latifah biography to me? Thank You.
|
Review about Queen Latifah
I love you | Reviewer: Robin Morgan | 5/7/2008Queen latifah your the only one i can count on because i love you and i trust you with my heart is with you i always want you that much will you go out with me like on a date and make out with me i really want you and i want my life to be with you i always want you all day long and i want my life to be with you sweetheart my arms always open to you and you are not alone i am here for you if you need me i mean that you are beautiful and sexy women i ever loved in my heart and i want to get so close to you my love.
Robin Morgan
you rock | Reviewer: Becca L.S. | 3/8/2008
Dear Queen Latifa, I absolutely adore you. You have an amazing voice and are a great actress.I am inspired by you. i have started to loseweight after hearing that you were on the jenny craig proram.you rock, i can nt describe how much you mean to me.
Role Model | Reviewer: Cartier | 3/8/2008
Hi Ms Latifah. I must say that I am inspired by what you do and how you do. I do look up to you, as an actress, as a lady, and as a black woman. I was asked once by one of my friends If there is one black woman you'd like to be, who would you be? Without any hesitation I said Queen Latifah. I love your attitude and your fashion sense. Actually if you look at you and me carefully, you'll see the resemlance. lol.
African Queen | Reviewer: zanti joseph | 2/29/2008
Dear Queen,
I have heard your songs and love everyone of them. You are an amazing lady with great personality.You are an inspiration to women all over the world. As a rap artists- no doubt YOU 'R' THE BEST!
You are truly a real woman | Reviewer: Kiki | 2/13/2008
Queen latifah is the bomb. You are truly inspirational and I'm glad you made it as far as you did. I'm even writing an essay in english class on how you made a positive impact on our society. Your a great actress and I think its inspiring on how you made it possible for people to look at women as rappers. Keep it up!
Loving It | Reviewer: Trisha | 2/13/2008
hey Queen Latifah how is everything i'm good i'm in school rite now doing a report on you for black history month. I chose you because you are a good role model to me i see you and say she is really happy with her body i can be to thankyou so much queen latifah u r my star i love ya thank you again you have alot of good storys thank you peace out hommie
Queen Latifah iz da bomb!!!!! | Reviewer: vanessa hyman | 2/5/2008
i think Queen Latifah is a great actress. i love all her movies especially set it off. i also loved her in hairspray and the newest movie mad money. i have heard some of her music but i'm really not into em. i'm more into her movies.
vanessa hyman
age: 20
Queen Latifah is off the HOOK! | Reviewer: Lynae | 1/24/2008
Queen Latifah music and acting career is so good. She's one of my top role models especially when it comes to make-up. QUEEN LATIFAH is pretty and look good for herself.
2 the Real Queen | Reviewer: Amy Paige | 1/19/2008
I love the Queen. I'm not into rap, but I love her music, movies, and everything she does. I'm glad the Queen does it all. I'm heavy set woman that thinks if your healthy heavy is okay, the Queen makes heavy beautiful. I don't think she's heavy, she's just the Queen. It would be nice if all people did not judge one another on skin color, or weight. I wish I could send the Queen my new book of poetry, since I've over come so much in my life. I think she would truly understand my work. Can anyone help me reach her so she can get it. Please all check out "Waves of Love" by Amy Paige on www.amazon.com To the Queen, I want to be more like you. God Bless you.
My role model! | Reviewer: lavett96 | 12/22/2007
Dear Queen,
I am speechless......what do you say to someone that you think is great. I would say that you are the greatest role model I know! I have idolized you most of my life, from your music to your movies! You have been such a role model that my 11 year old now follows you. I want you know that you have made our self esteem better, and that just knowing that you are influencing things is a great relife! Keep up the good work!
Review By Pages: 1 2 3 4
Review the Artist Queen Latifah
| |
|
