Latifah was born and raised in the public housing projects of Newark, New Jersey, the daughter of Rita, a schoolteacher who worked at Irvington High School, and Lancelot Owens, a policeman. Her parents divorced when Latifah was ten. Latifah performed the number "Home" from the musical The Wiz in a high school play. Her stage name, Latifah (لطيفة), meaning "kind" in Arabic, was given to her when she was eight by her cousin. Latifah was raised in the Baptist church, and, while in high school, was a power forward on her basketball team.
She started her career beatboxing for the rap group Ladies Fresh. Latifah was one of the members of the original version of the Flavor Unit MC's, 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 5 Freddy, who was the host of Yo! MTV Raps. The recording captured the attention of Tommy Boy Music employee Dante Ross, who immediately signed Latifah, and in 1988 issued her first single, Wrath of My Madness. The track met with a positive response and afforded her the opportunity to launch a European tour, and to perform at the Harlem's famed Apollo Theater. The next year Latifah released her first album, All Hail the Queen, which went on to sell more than 1 million copies.
As she began to earn money, Latifah displayed an interest in investment, putting money into a delicatessen and a video store on the ground floor of the apartment in which she was living. She came to realize that she had a knack for business, and realized that there was an opening for her in record production. In 1991, Latifah organized and became chief executive officer of the Flavor Unit Records and Management Company, headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey. In the same year she was released her sophomore album, called Nature of a Sista'. It was the final album on Tommy Boy Records. By late 1993, the company had signed 17 rap groups, including the very successful Naughty by Nature. In 1993, Latifah recorded a jazz- and reggae-influenced album titled Black Reign. While the album sold more than 500,000 copies, the single U.N.I.T.Y. earned Latifah her first Grammy Award in 1995. In 1998, Co Produced by Ro Smith now CEO of Def Ro Inc. she released her fourth hip hop album Order in the Court. 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. 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. It was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" category. On September 12, 2008, Rolling Stone reported that Queen Latifah is working on a new album that is due in sometime in 2009; this album will be, at least partially, produced by Dr. Dre. She will also work with Missy Elliott.
Acting Success
In the 1990s, Latifah branched out into acting. She made her big screen debut in Spike Lee's interracial romance drama Jungle Fever (1991). The following year, Latifah appeared in the crime thriller Juice with Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur. She soon landed a leading role on the small screen, appearing in the sitcom Living Single from 1993 to '98. The comedy, which also starred Kim Coles, Kim Fields and Erika Alexander, proved to be a ground-breaking show. It remains one of the few sitcoms to focus on a group of African-American women.
A talented performer, Latifah continued to tackle both comedic and dramatic parts. She co-starred in 1996's Set It Off with Jada Pinkett Smith, Kimberly Elise and Vivica A. Fox, playing as a lesbian bank robber. Two years later, Latifah teamed up with Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito for the comedy Living Out Loud (1998). She also appeared with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie[[i]i] in The Bone Collector (1999).
Perhaps Latifah's most acclaimed film role to date came in the 2002 hit musical Chicago, starring Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger. Her portrayal of prison matron Mama Morton gave her a chance to show off both her singing talents and acting skills. For her work in the film, Latifah earned an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. She lost to Chicago co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Latifah went on to receive strong reviews for 2003's romantic comedy Bringing Down the House co-starring with Steve Martin. The following year, she experienced some disappointment with Taxi, which co-starred Jimmy Fallon. The comedy proved to be a critical and commercial dud. She fared better with Beauty Shop (2005) and her voice-over work in the hit animated film Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006).
In 2007, Queen Latifah again delighted movie-goers with her musical talents. She appeared as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray with John Travolta. Her crime caper Mad Money (2008) with Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes received much colder reception. Returning to drama, Latifah gave a strong performance in The Secret Life of Bees (2008).
On the small screen, Latifah has made a number of guest television appearances over the years, including on the shows 30 Rock and Single Ladies. She also co-starred in the 2012 TV remake of Steel Magnolias with Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad and Jill Scott. Latifah branched out in a new direction the following year. She will enter the daytime television market with a new talk show. The Queen Latifah Show will debut in the fall of 2013. The program promises to be a mix of interviews and comedic and musical performances, according to BET.com.
In addition to acting, Queen Latifah serves as a spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics. She even has her own line with the company: The Queen Collection.
Baby Get Lost
Queen Latifah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[This song was a hit for Dinah Washington in 1949 and was also covered by Billie Holiday]
Well good morning baby welcome back to town
How'd, fine papa, welcome back to town
You're doing so much travelling never know
You're a fine and mellow fellow
But you're stubborn as a mule
You love me like an angel
But you treat me like a fool
Two-faced daddy don't hand me no doublecross
You'll see any time I'm ready
I can tell you baby get lost
Doing anything you choose
You're cheating on the outside
You better come back on the inside
Don't want no trouble I've got to be the boss
'cause you got too much to lose
And if you can't play it my way
Well now baby get lost
I try to stop your cheating
But I just don't have the time
'cause I got so many men that
Keep cool papa, you got to corne across
They're standing right in line
'cause any time I'm ready, yes any time I'm ready
You know when I'm ready
I can tell you baby get lost
Why don't you get lost
The lyrics of Queen Latifah's song Baby Get Lost, originally written by Leonard Feather, are those of a woman who is fed up with the double-crossing ways of her lover. She greets him with a sarcastic tone, welcoming him back to town after his travels. She describes him as "fine and mellow", but also "stubborn as a mule", who treats her like a fool despite loving her like an angel. She warns him against cheating and double-crossing her, instead asking him to play it her way or get lost. She implies that she has many other suitors waiting in line and that she doesn't have time to deal with his infidelity.
The song has an underlying theme of female empowerment, as the woman refuses to let her man mistreat her and instead takes control of the situation. She demands respect and loyalty from her partner and is willing to move on from their relationship if he can't meet her standards. The lyrics are delivered with a confident and assertive tone, emphasizing the woman's strength and independence.
Line by Line Meaning
Well good morning baby welcome back to town
Addressing the lover who's been away and returned to town.
How'd, fine papa, welcome back to town
Responding to the lover's greeting with equal warmth.
You're doing so much travelling never know
When you'll be around
Expressing concern about the lover's frequent travels and unpredictable visits.
You're a fine and mellow fellow
But you're stubborn as a mule
Praising the lover's good qualities while acknowledging their flaws.
You love me like an angel
But you treat me like a fool
Noting the contradictory nature of the lover's behavior towards the artist.
Two-faced daddy don't hand me no doublecross
Warning the lover against deceit and betrayal.
You'll see any time I'm ready
I can tell you baby get lost
Asserting the singer's independence and readiness to end the relationship if necessary.
Doing anything you choose
You're cheating on the outside
You better come back on the inside
Accusing the lover of infidelity and urging them to commit fully to the relationship.
Don't want no trouble I've got to be the boss
'cause you got too much to lose
Establishing the artist's authority and reminding the lover of what they stand to lose if they don't comply.
And if you can't play it my way
Well now baby get lost
Stating plainly that the artist expects the lover to follow their rules or face the consequences.
I try to stop your cheating
But I just don't have the time
Admitting a lack of power to prevent the lover's infidelity.
'cause I got so many men that
Keep cool papa, you got to corne across
They're standing right in line
Boasting about the artist's desirability and the many suitors waiting for the lover's rejection.
'cause any time I'm ready, yes any time I'm ready
You know when I'm ready
I can tell you baby get lost
Reiterating the singer's independence and determination to end the relationship if need be.
Why don't you get lost
Summing up the singer's feelings towards the unfaithful lover, a final warning to leave before it's too late.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ken Thomas
She has the perfect voice for a song like this. Fits perfectly.
JanayiaLove
I absolutely love this album you can’t find it anywhere not even on I-tunes why is that? I have the CD still play it in my car, this was apart of my grandmothers collection!
Renée Matte
Grazie♥🎵🎶🎹🎹🎹🥁🎤🎸✿💖♪