Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is a conscious hip-hop and jazz rap artist from Newark, New Jersey.
Newark rapper and actress whose "Ladies First" and Grammy-winning "U.N.I.T.Y." stood up for women in hip-hop.
Who is Queen Latifah?
Queen Latifah (Dana Owens) is a rapper, singer, actress and producer from Newark, New Jersey. Early in her career she was part of the Native Tongues collective.
Known for
Her debut All Hail the Queen (1989), with "Ladies First", and Black Reign (1993), with "U.N.I.T.Y.", which won a Grammy. On screen she starred in the sitcom Living Single, earned an Oscar nomination for Chicago and leads the series The Equalizer.
Style
A strong, regal presence with clear, confident rhymes. Her lyrics are about respect for women, Black pride and unity, over jazzy, soulful and reggae-tinged beats.
Impact
Queen Latifah was one of the first women in hip-hop to make empowerment her central theme, and showed how a rapper could build a huge career in film and TV.
Queen Latifah: quick answers
What genre is Queen Latifah?
Queen Latifah’s music falls under Conscious Hip-Hop and Jazz Rap. Queen Latifah is part of East Coast hip-hop, with the most important work in the 1980s.
Where is Queen Latifah from?
Queen Latifah is from Newark, New Jersey.
What is Queen Latifah’s real name?
Queen Latifah’s real name is Dana Owens.
When did Queen Latifah start?
Queen Latifah has been active since 1988.
Which group is Queen Latifah part of?
Queen Latifah is a member of Native Tongues.
Which artists are similar to Queen Latifah?
If you like Queen Latifah, listen to Da Brat, MC Lyte and Salt-N-Pepa.
