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Queen Latifah extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Queen Latifah
Latifah at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival.
Background information
Birth name	Dana Elaine Owens
Also known as	The Queen of Rap
Born	March 18, 1970 (1970-03-18) (age 39)
Origin	Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Genre(s)	R&B, soul, jazz, Hip Hop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, record producer, rapper, model, actress, spokesperson
Years active	1988–present
Label(s)	Verve, Interscope, Motown, Tommy Boy, Warner Bros., PolyGram
Website	www.QueenLatifah.com

Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970),¹ better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, singer, model, actress and CoverGirl. Latifah's work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy Award nomination and an Academy Award nomination.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Music career 2.1 Beginnings (1987-1988) 2.2 Rapping (1988-2000) 2.3 Singing (2003-2007) 2.4 Return to Hip-Hop (2008-present) 3 Film and television 4 Products and endorsements 5 Personal life 6 Discography 6.1 Studio Albums 6.2 Compilations 7 Filmography 8 References 9 External links

Early life

Latifah was born and raised in Irvington, New Jersey, the daughter of Rita, a schoolteacher who worked at Irvington High School, and Lancelot Owens, a policeman.²³⁴ Her parents divorced when Latifah was ten.⁴ Latifah performed the number "Home" from the musical The Wiz in a high school play.⁵ Her stage name, Latifah (لطيفة), meaning "delicate" and "sensitive" in Arabic, was given to her when she was eight by her cousin.⁴ Latifah was raised in the Baptist church⁶ and, while in high school, was a power forward on her basketball team.⁷

Music career

Beginnings (1987-1988)

Latifah started her career beatboxing for the rap group Ladies Fresh. Latifah was one of the members of the original version of the Flavor Unit, which, at that time, was a crew of MC's grouped around producer DJ Mark the 45 King. In 1988, DJ Mark the 45 King heard a demo version of Latifah's single "Princess of the Posse" and gave the demo to Fab Five Freddy, who was the host of Yo! MTV Raps.

Rapping (1988-2000)

Freddy helped Latifah sign with Tommy Boy Records, which released Latifah's first album All Hail the Queen in 1989, when she was nineteen.⁴ That year, she appeared as Referee on the UK label Music of Life album "1989—The Hustlers Convention (live)". In 1998, Co Produced by Ro Smith now CEO of Def Ro Inc. she released her fourth hip-hop album Order in the Court.

Singing (2003-2007)

After Order in the Court, Latifah shifted primarily to sung lyrics in soul music and jazz standards, which she had used sparingly in her previous hip-hop-oriented records. In 2004, she released the soul/jazz standards The Dana Owens Album. On July 11, 2007, Latifah sang at the famed Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles as the headlining act in a live jazz concert. Before a crowd of more than 12,400, she was backed by a 10-piece live orchestra and three backup vocalists, The Queen Latifah Orchestra. Latifah performed new arrangements of standards including "California Dreaming," first made popular by '60s icons The Mamas & the Papas. Later in 2007, Latifah released an album entitled Trav'lin' Light. Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Joe Sample, George Duke, Christian McBride, and Stevie Wonder made guest appearances.⁸ It was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" category.⁹

In 2009, Latifah, along with the Jubilation Choir, recorded the title track on the album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration, covering the song the Edwin Hawkins Singers made popular in 1969.¹⁰

Return to Hip-Hop (2008-present)

In 2008, Latifah was asked if she would make another hip-hop album. She was quoted saying the album was "already done" and it would be called "All Hail the Queen II". It was rumored that the album would be named "The 'L' Word". When asked about the rumor, she stated it was her attempt to "mess with people's heads" refering to the rumors that she is lesbian.¹¹ On September 12, 2008, Rolling Stone reported that Queen Latifah is working on a new album entitled, "Persona". The song "Cue the Rain" was released as the album's lead single. This album will be, at least partially, produced by Dr. Dre. She will also work with Missy Elliott. ¹²

Film and television

From 1993 to 1998, Latifah had a starring role on Living Single, a FOX sitcom;⁴ she also wrote and performed its theme music. She began her film career in supporting roles in the 1991 films House Party 2, Juice, and Jungle Fever. She had her own talk show, The Queen Latifah Show, from 1999 to 2001. She also had recurring roles during the second season (1991-1992) of the NBC hit The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She made a guest role as herself on Hangin With Mr.Copper in 1993. Latifah appeared in the 1996 box-office hit, Set It Off and subsequently had a supporting role in the Holly Hunter film Living Out Loud (1998).⁴ She played the role of Thelma in the 1999 movie adaptation of Jeffrey Deavers' The Bone Collector, alongside Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Although she had already received some critical acclaim, she gained mainstream success after being cast as Matron "Mama" Morton in the Oscar-winning musical Chicago, the recipient of the Best Picture Oscar.⁴ Latifah received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role, but lost to co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones.⁴ Latifah is one of two hip-hop artists to receive an Academy Award nomination in an acting category (Best Supporting Actress, Chicago, 2002). The other is Will Smith (Best Actor, Ali, 2001, and Best Actor, The Pursuit of Happyness, 2006).

In 2003, she starred with Steve Martin in the film Bringing Down the House, which was a major success at the box office.⁴ She also recorded a song "Do Your Thing" for the soundtrack. Since then, she has had both leading and supporting roles in a multitude of films that received varied critical and box office receptions, including films such as Scary Movie 3, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Taxi, Kung Faux, Beauty Shop, and Hairspray. In early 2006, Latifah appeared in a romantic comedy/drama entitled Last Holiday.⁴ Film critic Richard Roeper stated that "this is the Queen Latifah performance I've been waiting for ever since she broke into movies".¹³ Also in 2006, Latifah voiced Ellie, a friendly mammoth, in the animated film, Ice Age: The Meltdown (her first voice appearance in an animated film), and also appeared in the drama Stranger Than Fiction.

She has starred in two movie remakes (Taxi and Last Holiday), four sequels (House Party 2, Scary Movie 3, Barbershop 2: Back in Business and Ice Age: The Meltdown), one spinoff (Beauty Shop), two movies based on books (The Bone Collector, The Secret Life of Bees), and two screen adaptations of musicals (Chicago and Hairspray). ¹⁴ The summer of 2007 brought Latifah triple success in the big-screen version of the Broadway smash hit Hairspray, in which she acted, sang, and danced. The film rated highly with critics. It starred, among others, John Travolta (Grease), Michelle Pfeiffer (Stardust), Allison Janney (Juno), James Marsden (Enchanted) and Christopher Walken (Catch Me If You Can). Also in 2007, she portrayed an HIV-positive woman in the film Life Support, a role for which she garnered her first Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and an Emmy nomination. For her work, Queen Latifah received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on January 4, 2006, located at 6915 Hollywood Blvd.

Latifah produced the 2007 film The Perfect Holiday. In addition to producing the film, Latifah starred alongside Terrence Howard, Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Charles Q. Murphy, Jill Marie Jones, and Faizon Love.¹⁵ In 2008, Latifah appeared in the crime comedy Mad Money opposite Academy Award-winner Diane Keaton as well as Katie Holmes and Ted Danson. She appeared on Saturday Night Live on October 4, 2008, as moderator Gwen Ifill impersonator in a comedic sketch depicting the recent vice-presidential debate.¹⁶ In 2009, Latifah was a presenter at the 81st Academy Awards, presenting the segment honoring film professionals who had died during 2008 and singing "I'll Be Seeing You" during the montage.

Products and endorsements

Latifah is a celebrity spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics, Curvation ladies underwear, Pizza Hut and Jenny Craig.¹⁷ She represents her own line of cosmetics for women of color called the CoverGirl Queen Collection and has starred in several commercials for the line, as well as a commercial with fellow spokeswoman and singer Faith Hill.

Personal life

Raised in East Orange, New Jersey, she has been a resident of Colts Neck, New Jersey.¹⁸ Latifah's older brother Lancelot Jr. was killed in 1992 in an accident involving a motorcycle that Latifah had recently bought him.⁴ Latifah still wears the key to the motorcycle around her neck,⁴ which can be seen throughout her performance in her sitcom Living Single. She also dedicated Black Reign to him. In 1993, Latifah was the victim of a carjacking, which also resulted in the shooting of a friend. In 1996 she was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of a loaded handgun.¹⁹ In her 1999 autobiography, Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman, Latifah discussed how her brother's death led to a bout of depression and drug abuse, from which she later recovered.

In early 2003, Latifah had breast reduction surgery to relieve back pain. She also works out with a trainer and kickboxes.²⁰

Latifah appeared in advertisements in January 2009 for Jenny Craig chronicling her weight loss while on the diet. She was hired as the new spokesperson due to her 35 pound loss on the Jenny Craig program.

In the July 2009 issue of Essence Magazine, Latifah declared that she had been raped by a teenaged caretaker as a child.²¹

Discography

Studio Albums

• 1989: All Hail the Queen
• 1991: Nature of a Sista
• 1993: Black Reign
• 1998: Order in the Court
• 2004: The Dana Owens Album
• 2007: Trav'lin' Light
• 2009: Persona

Compilations

• 2002: She's a Queen: A Collection of Hits

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1991	Jungle Fever	Lashawn
	House Party 2	Zora
1992	Juice	Ruffhouse M.C.
1996	Set It Off	Cleopatra 'Cleo' Sims	American Black Film Festival Award for Best Actress Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
1997	Hoodlum	Sulie
1998	Living Out Loud	Liz Bailey	Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
	Sphere	Alice "Teeny" Fletcher
1999	The Bone Collector	Thelma	Nominated — Black Reel Award for Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
2002	Chicago	Matron "Mama" Morton	Black Reel Award for Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
	Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio	Dove (English voice)
	Brown Sugar	Francine	Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
2003	Scary Movie 3	Aunt Shaneequa
	Bringing Down the House	Charlene Morton	Producer NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated — BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Box Office Movie Nominated — Black Reel Award for Film - Best Actress Nominated — Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress
			BET Award for Favorite Actress
2004	Taxi	Belle
	The Cookout	Security Guard	(also producer)
	Barbershop 2: Back in Business	Gina	BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Box Office Movie
2005	Beauty Shop	Gina Norris	Producer Nominated — BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Theatrical Film Nominated — Black Movie Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — Black Reel Award for Film - Best Actress Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
	The Muppets' Wizard of Oz	Aunt Em
2006	Stranger Than Fiction	Penny Escher
			BET Award for Best Actress
	Ice Age: The Meltdown	Ellie the woolly mammoth	Voice Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie
	Last Holiday	Georgia Byrd	Nominated — Black Movie Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
2007	Life Support	Ana	Producer Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Lead - Drama Series or Special NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Prism Award for Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
	Hairspray	Motormouth Maybelle	Hollywood Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Cast Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
	Arctic Tale	Narrator
	The Perfect Holiday	Mrs. Christmas	Producer
2008	Mad Money	Nina Brewster
	What Happens in Vegas...	Dr. Twitchell
	The Secret Life of Bees	August Boatwright	Black Reel Award for Best Actress Hollywood Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Cast Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
2009	Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs	Ellie the woolly mammoth	Voice
2010	Hairspray 2:White Lipstick	Motormouth Maybelle	Supporting role

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Queen Latifah

• Official website
• Queen Latifah at the Internet Movie Database
• Queen Latifah at TV.com

v • d • e Queen Latifah Studio albums All Hail the Queen (1989) · Nature of a Sista (1991) · Black Reign (1993) · Order in the Court (1998) · The Dana Owens Album (2004) · Trav'lin' Light (2007) · Persona (2009) Compilation albums She's a Queen: A Collection of Hits (2002) Related articles Discography · Singles · Filmography · Awards and nominations · Living Single · The Queen Latifah Show