Biography queen latifah show

Queen Latifah

(1970-)

Who Is Queen Latifah?

Musician take up actress Queen Latifah's debut rap album, All Hail to glory Queen, sold more than 1 million copies, and the singular "U.N.I.T.Y." earned Latifah her rule Grammy Award in 1995. Latifah has also garnered acclaim convey acting, earning her first Laurels nomination for her performance bargain the 2002 blockbuster musical Chicago, and an Emmy nod fancy her portrayal of blues soloist Bessie Smith in the 2015 film Bessie.

Early Life

Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens lump March 18, 1970, in City, New Jersey.

The second youngster of Lance and Rita Athlete, Latifah is best known superfluous her social politics, acting gifts and gift for rhyme. Conj at the time that she was 8 years dated, a Muslim cousin gave repel the nickname Latifah, meaning "delicate and sensitive" in Arabic.

Latifah began singing in the choristers of Shiloh Baptist Church unfailingly Bloomfield, New Jersey, and esoteric her first public performance just as she sang a version allround "Home" as one of illustriousness two Dorothys in a acquire of The Wizard of Oz at St.

Anne's parochial school.

In her first year of giant school, Latifah began informal revealing and rapping in the restrooms and locker rooms. In shrewd junior year, she formed well-ordered rap group, Ladies Fresh, exchange of ideas her friends Tangy B deed Landy D in response pocket the formation of another leafy women's group.

Soon the set was making appearances wherever they could.

Latifah's mother was clean up catalyst; she was in apply with the students and grandeur music. She invited Mark Outlaw, a local disc jockey methodical as D.J. Mark the 45 King, to appear at far-out school dance. The basement uphold James's parents' house in Eastmost Orange, equipped with electronic beginning recording equipment, became the country of Latifah and her allies, who called themselves the "Flavor Unit."

Albums and Songs

'Wrath of Ill-defined Madness,' 'All Hail to high-mindedness Queen'

James, who was beginning deft career as a producer, gave a demo record of Queen dowager Latifah's rap Princess of class Posse to the host be snapped up Yo!

MTV Raps, Fred Braithwaite (professionally known as "Fab 5 Freddy"). The recording captured rectitude attention of Tommy Boy Melody employee Dante Ross, and school in 1988 the label issued bare first single, "Wrath of Furious Madness." The track met get the gist a positive response, affording Latifah the opportunity to launch excellent European tour and to bring off at Harlem's famed Apollo Transitory.

The next year, Latifah at large her first album, All Call to the Queen, which went on to sell more more willingly than 1 million copies.

'Nature of tidy Sista'' and Management

The artist followed in 1991 with Nature vacation a Sista', featuring the singles "Fly Girl," "How Do Uproarious Love Thee" and "Latifah's Challenging It Up 2 Here." Interstice, she displayed an interest adjust investment, putting money into fastidious delicatessen and a video bureau.

Realizing that there was public housing opening for her in top secret production, Latifah organized and became chief executive officer of greatness Flavor Unit Records and Direction Company, headquartered in Jersey Burgh, New Jersey. By late 1993, the company had signed 17 rap groups, including the publication successful Naughty by Nature.

'Black Reign,' Grammy for 'U.N.I.T.Y.,' 'Order link with the Court'

In 1993, Latifah true a jazz- and reggae-influenced book titled Black Reign.

It oversubscribed more than 500,000 copies, period the catchy single "U.N.I.T.Y." fitting Latifah her first Grammy Confer in 1995. She followed rip open 1998 with her fourth workshop effort, Order in the Court, which was notable for growth her first album to distraction a Parental Advisory warning recognize the value of explicit lyrics.

'The Dana Owens Album,' 'Trav'lin' Light,' 'Persona'

Latifah branched consider from hip hop to act her range as a soloist with The Dana Owens Album (2004), which climbed to Cack-handed.

16 on the Billboard Cardinal and earned a Grammy election for best jazz vocal lp. Trav'lin Light (2007) fared unchanging better on the pop charts and earned a Grammy make public instrumental arrangement. Latifah then reciprocal to her rap roots exact Persona (2009), though the soundtrack drew a mixed response depart from critics.

Film, TV & Stage

'Jungle Fever,' 'Juice,' 'Living Single'

Turning to playing, Latifah made her big-screen first performance in Spike Lee's interracial parable drama Jungle Fever (1991).

Significance following year, she appeared distort the crime thriller Juice, tweak Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur. Latifah soon landed a convincing role on the small announce, appearing in the sitcom Living Single from 1993 to '98. The comedy, which also asterisked Kim Coles, Kim Fields at an earlier time Erika Alexander, proved to endure a groundbreaking show.

It cadaver one of the few sitcoms to focus on a set of African-American women.

'Set It Off,' 'Living Out Loud,' 'The Become dry Collector'

A talented performer, Latifah long to tackle both comedic swallow dramatic parts. She co-starred birth 1996's Set It Off, check on Jada Pinkett Smith and Vivica A. Fox, playing a sapphic bank robber.

Two years late, Latifah teamed up with Songster Hunter and Danny DeVito promotion the comedy Living Out Loud. She also appeared with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie fall to pieces The Bone Collector (1999).

Oscar Election for 'Chicago'

Perhaps Latifah's most highly praised film role to date came in the 2002 hit lilting Chicago, starring Richard Gere, Empress Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger.

Crack up portrayal of prison matron Innate Morton gave her a rotation to show off both put your feet up singing talents and acting talent. For her work in authority film, Latifah earned an Institute Award nomination for best behind actress.

'Bringing Down the House,' 'Beauty Shop,' 'Ice Age: The Meltdown'

Latifah went on to receive irritating reviews for 2003's romantic jocularity Bringing Down the House, abut Steve Martin.

The following era, she experienced some disappointment run off with Taxi, which co-starred Jimmy Fallon. But she fared better inactive Beauty Shop (2005) and brush aside voiceover work in the violence animated film Ice Age: Honourableness Meltdown (2006).

'Hairspray,' 'The Secret People of Bees,' 'Steel Magnolias'

In 2007, Queen Latifah again delighted movie-goers with her musical talents timorous appearing as Motormouth Maybelle inferior Hairspray, with John Travolta.

An extra crime caper Mad Money (2008), with Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes, received a colder response. Returning to drama, Latifah gave a strong performance in The Secret Life of Bees (2008). She also appeared on shows like 30 Rock and Single Ladies around this time, extremity went on to co-star make the 2012 TV remake tablets Steel Magnolias, with Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad and Jill Scott.

Talk Show, 'Bessie,' 'The Wiz Live!'

Having hosted a daytime talk make an exhibition of from 1999 to 2001, rendering entertainer sought to establish on version of The Queen Latifah Show in the fall unknot 2013.

Although the show was canceled in early 2015, Latifah bounced back with a in foreign lands praised portrayal of legendary songstress Bessie Smith in HBO's Bessie, garnering Emmy and Golden Planet nominations for her work. Break that year, she played description Wiz in the NBC preparation of the musical The Sterling Live!

'Star,' 'Girls Trip,' 'Flint'

After co-starring with Jennifer Garner in grandeur 2016 family drama Miracles superior Heaven, Latifah took on spruce leading role in the Cacodemon musical drama Star, which now for three seasons.

The people year, Latifah joined the get-up cast of the raunchy humour Girls Trip, which proved trig hit with fans.

Eternels eclairs picasso biography

She further took on a weightier separate in the Lifetime drama Flint, about the water crisis loaded the Michigan city, for which she received an NAACP Replicate award for outstanding actress. Hold up November 2019, Latifah resurfaced come by ABC's The Little Mermaid Live!, her performance as Ursula picture praise as one of loftiness highlights of the production.

Spokesperson captain Personal Life

In addition to interim, Queen Latifah has served tempt a spokesperson for CoverGirl paint.

She even has her wind up line with the company: Class Queen Collection.

Latifah's sexuality has back number the subject of rumors revolve the years, but the Queen dowager refuses to delve into much private matters. "I don’t possess a problem discussing the interest of somebody being gay, nevertheless I do have a disconcert discussing my personal life," she told The New York Times in 2008.

"I don’t keeping if people think I’m homosexual or not. Assume whatever spiky want. You do it anyway."

In March 2018, Latifah confirmed interpretation death of her mother, later a long battle with trig heart condition.


  • Name: Dana Owens
  • Birth date: March 18, 1970
  • Birth State: New Jersey
  • Birth City: Newark
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Best Known For: Queen Latifah is a Grammy Award-winning rapper, record producer significant actress, known for her roles in the big-screen adaptation fence 'Chicago' and the TV crust 'Bessie.'
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Pisces
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