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Why do we love Latifah?
All hail the Queen! The reigning monarch of hip-hop was born Dana Owens, the daughter of a police officer. She named herself Latifah, which is Arabic for delicate and sensitive, when she was 8. She got her start as the human beatbox to the female rap group Ladies Fresh as a teenager, and released her debut single at the age of 18. Her first album, released at 19, was one of the best-reviewed hip-hop efforts ever, filled with strong statements about being a proud black woman. Not content to only conquer the realm of music, Latifah soon took on film and television, always receiving excellent reviews for her work. She continued making records that spoke of equality among the races and strength for women. Working tirelessly to elevate all people, she has, on her 31st birthday, achieved everything she set out to accomplish so far. Her strength, talent, positivity, and incredible beauty continue to show the world that we can all rise above and achieve anything.
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Biography:
Born - March 18, 1970
Newark, New Jersey
Happy Birthday to the Queen!
Achievements:
- In 1989, her debut album, All Hail the Queen, was released and she became
the first female solo rap artist to have a gold record
- In 1991, she made her acting debut in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever. She has gone on to appear in several other films, receiving high praise for them all, most notably her understated performance as a torch singer in 1998's Living Out Loud.
- After being dropped by her original label in 1993, she signed with Motown Records and established her own management company and record label, Flavor Unit Entertainment, which handles such hip-hop and R&B luminaries as LL Cool J, Naughty by Nature, OutKast, Monica, and SWV. Flavor Unit has since expanded to include film and television production.
- In 1993, she became the star of the FOX sitcom, "Living Single", playing a strong, dynamic business woman. The show had a successful five-year run.
- In 1993, after the death of her brother Lance, Latifah established the Lancelot H. Owens Foundation, which awards scholarships to students who excel scholastically but have limited financial resources.
- Won a Grammy in 1995 for Best Rap Solo Performance for "U.N.I.T.Y."
- Her debut hit "Ladies First" was named among the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll" in 1996.
- Has been nominated for 7 NAACP Image Awards for her roles in films and television series and miniseries between 1996 and 2000.
- Named one of the "Most Fascinating Women of 1998" by Ladies Home Journal.
- Won the Black Film Award for Best Actress for Set It Off in 1997.
- Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award in 1997 as Best Supporting Actress for Set It Off.
- In 1999, she debuted her own talk show, of which she is the executive producer.
- In 1999, penned her autobiography, Ladies First: Revelations Of A Strong Woman.
- Was hired as a model and spokesperson for Lane Bryant stores in 2000 to debut and promote the larger-women's clothing line's new sexier, hipper attitude.
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In her own words -- On breaking the mold:
"I've always been a person who cuts my own mold... I don't follow trends...I try to be current but I don't follow what everyone else is doing... Just because some rappers chose to sell the sex - I'm a big woman and I'm not going to embarrass myself by pulling my gut out... I can be sexy and sensual in my own way... besides, I think big chicks rule." |
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