Queen Latifah celebrates 55
In 1993, she achieved global success with the release of the album “Black Reign,” which included the Grammy Award-winning track “U.N.I.T.Y.,” addressing issues of sexism and violence against women, while at the same time also launching her successful acting career
Queen Latifah celebrates 55
Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey. Raised in East Orange, she was introduced to music at an early age, singing in the choir of Shiloh Baptist Church. Her stage name, Latifah, meaning “delicate” and “very kind” in Arabic, was given to her by a cousin when she was eight.
Queen Latifah’s musical career began in high school when she formed the rap group Ladies Fresh. Her talent caught the attention of Tommy Boy Records, leading to the release of her debut album, “All Hail the Queen,” in 1989. This album featured the hit single “Ladies First” and showcased her ability to blend hip-hop with elements of soul, reggae, and jazz.
In 1993, she released “Black Reign,” which included the Grammy Award-winning track “U.N.I.T.Y.,” addressing issues of sexism and violence against women. This album marked her as the first solo female rapper to achieve gold certification.
Transitioning into acting, Queen Latifah starred as Khadijah James on the Fox sitcom “Living Single” from 1993 to 1998. Her film career includes notable roles in “Set It Off” (1996), “Chicago” (2002)—for which she received an Academy Award nomination—and “Hairspray” (2007). She also portrayed blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO film “Bessie” (2015), earning critical acclaim.
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Queen Latifah has ventured into production with her company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, and hosted “The Queen Latifah Show,” a daytime talk show that aired in two runs from 1999 to 2001 and 2013 to 2015.
In September 2024, it was announced that a biopic about her life and career is in development, with Will Smith set to produce the project.
Currently, Latifah stars in the CBS series “The Equalizer,” which premiered in 2021.
Look back at the 1993 music video for “U.N.I.T.Y.” by Queen Latifah
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