Dana "Queen Latifah" Owens
Singer/Rapper, Talk Show Host, Actress, Author
Born Dana Owens, thirty years ago in Newark,
New Jersey, this multi-talented star first came to the public's
attention in 1989 with the release of her groundbreaking debut
album, "All Hail The Queen." With her debut album
and the subsequent single, "Ladies First," Queen
Latifah set the standard for what a woman in the hip-hop game
can say, should say and be. The win of a Grammy Award in 1994
for Best Rap Solo Performance for the song "U.N.I.T.Y."
firmly reestablished Queen Latifah as a positive voice in
hip hop, as well as a role model of empowerment and pride
for her generation... especially young women.
As an artist manager, Grammy Award winning
artist, published author, star of television and film, business
owner and now, talk show host and executive producer... Queen
Latifah is an entertainment triple threat... twice over! Currently,
she hosts "Queen Latifah" a five times weekly nationally
syndicated daytime talk show that debuted on September 20,
1999. The show offers an unexpected mix of celebrity guests
and entertainment, as well as real people with real issues.
Benefiting from Latifah's dynamic personality and singular
voice, "Queen Latifah" has been heralded as the
talk show for a new generation.
While very busy with her thriving music
career, Latifah moved seamlessly into television and starred
for five years in the Warner Bros. Television hit series "Living
Single," again presenting a positive role model to young
fans. In addition to her highly successful series, Latifah
also starred in the special "AT&T Presents: Queen
Latifah and Friends," and the CBS miniseries, "Mama
Flora's Family."
With several TV successes neatly tucked
under her belt, it was inevitable that Latifah's next move
would be films. By polishing her skills with smaller roles
in such movies as "Jungle Fever," "My Life,"
"House Party," "Sphere," and "Hoodlum,"
Queen Latifah's star was set to shine when she starred in
"Set It Off." This highly acclaimed role led to
her huge performance as a torch singer in "Living Out
Loud," and a role in 1999's "The Bone Collector,"
with Denzel Washington.
While performing is Latifah's first love,
she is committed to recognizing and nurturing talent in others.
She and business partner, Sha-Kim Compere run Flavor Unit
Entertainment, which includes a record label, an artist management
company and television and film production companies. In the
ten years that Flavor Unit has been in existence, Queen Latifah
and Sha-kim have guided the careers of some of the hottest
groups in the hip-hop and R&B arena, while managing the
acting careers of some of the industry's biggest talents,
such as LL Cool J.
Whether singing, acting, producing, or running
her business empire, Queen Latifah has never forgotten what's
important to her... take pride in yourself and your community.
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. In 1999, Latifah continued her message of positive
self-esteem, using her own life as an example, by writing
the New York Times Bestseller, "Ladies First: Revelations
of a Strong Woman." Containing a pictorial of Latifah's
childhood and early years in show business, the book illustrates
that everyone is a king or a queen.
Blessed with style, substance and a generous
heart, Queen Latifah has quite simply done everything she's
set out to do in her young life. With her talk show renewed
for a second season, The Queen shows no sign of slowing down...
she is a lady with no boundaries.
We salute Queen Latifah a NABFEME Shero.
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