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.
Come So Far
Queen Latifah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey old friend let's look back
On the crazy clothes we wore
Ain't it fun to look back
And to see it's all been done before
All those nights together
And I can't wait for tomorrow
Just as long as you're dancing next to me
'Cause it's so clear every year we get stronger (stronger)
What's gone is gone, the past is the past
Turn the radio up and then hit the gas 'cause
I know we've come so far
But we've got so far to go
I know the road seems long
But it won't be long 'till it's time to go
So most days we'll take it fast
And some nights we'll take it slow
I know we've come so far
But baby, baby we've got so far to go
Ah yeah, hey yeah, uh-huh
Hey old friend together
Side by side and year by year
The road was filled with twists and turns
Oh, but that's the road that got us here
Let's move past the bad times
But before those memories fade
Let's forgive but not forget
And learn from the mistakes we made
'Cause it's so clear every year we get stronger (stronger)
So don't give up and don't say when
And just get back on the road again 'cause
I know we've come so far
But we've got so far to go
I know the road seems long
But it won't be long 'til it's time to go
So most days we'll take it fast
And some nights we'll take it slow
I know we've come so far
But baby, baby we've got so far to go
Oh oh-oh-oh, oh yeah, yeah yeah, oh oh oh
Hey old friend come along for this ride (yeah)
There's plenty of room so jump inside (jump inside)
The highway's rocky every now and then (yeah yeah)
But it's so much better then where I've been (oh)
Just keep movin' at your own speed (yeah, yeah)
Your heart is all the compass you'll ever need (it's all you'll need)
Let's keep cruisin' the road we're on
'Cause the rear view mirror only shows what's gone, gone, gone
Yeah yeah, oh yeah
We got so far to go (yeah)
Oh, it's so clear every year we get stronger (stronger)
So shine that light, take my hand
Let's dance into the promise land 'cause
I know we've come so far
But we've got so far to go
I know the road seems long
But it won't be long 'til it's time to go
So most days we'll take it fast
And some nights we'll take it slow
I know we've come so far
But baby, baby we've got so far to go
But baby, baby we've got so far to go
Baby, baby, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby, baby we've got so far to go
Baby, baby, ooh (yeah yeah)
(Welcome to the '60s)
Baby, baby we've got so far to go
Baby, baby, ooh
Baby, baby we've got so far to go
Baby, baby, ooh
Baby, baby we've got so far to go
Baby, baby, ooh
Baby, baby we've got so far to go
Baby, baby, ooh (I've got so far to go)
Baby, baby we've got so far to go (oh, yeah yeah)
In "Come So Far," Queen Latifah is reflecting on her past, specifically her memories with an old friend. She mentions crazy clothes they wore and the nights they spent together as special memories. She also recognizes that they have both come a long way and that, despite the road being long, they have a bright future ahead if they stick together.
The lyrics suggest that Queen Latifah values the experiences she has had with this old friend and recognizes that they have both grown and become stronger as individuals. At the same time, she acknowledges that they still have a lot of life to live and that the road ahead will not always be easy. Nevertheless, she encourages her friend (and herself) to keep moving forward at their own pace and to hold onto hope for what is to come.
Overall, "Come So Far" is a song about the power of strong relationships and the importance of staying positive and optimistic in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey old friend let's look back
Let's reminisce about the past, my old friend.
On the crazy clothes we wore
Remember those outrageous outfits we used to wear?
Ain't it fun to look back
Isn't it enjoyable to reflect back on old times?
And to see it's all been done before
And realize that what we thought was unique has already been done by others.
All those nights together
Those evenings spent together are special memories I cherish.
Are a special memory
Those moments we shared are dear to my heart.
And I can't wait for tomorrow
I'm excited for what tomorrow will bring.
Just as long as you're dancing next to me
As long as you're by my side, I'm happy to take on tomorrow's challenges.
'Cause it's so clear every year we get stronger
It's evident that as time passes, we become more resilient.
What's gone is gone, the past is the past
We can't change what has already happened, so let's move on from it.
Turn the radio up and then hit the gas 'cause
Let's put the pedal to the metal and enjoy the ride ahead.
I know we've come so far
We've accomplished a lot.
But we've got so far to go
But we still have a long journey ahead of us.
I know the road seems long
The path ahead appears daunting.
But it won't be long 'till it's time to go
But before we know it, it'll be time to embark on that journey.
So most days we'll take it fast
Some days we'll blaze through life.
And some nights we'll take it slow
Other times, we'll slow down and enjoy the journey.
Hey old friend together
Together, my friend, we'll tackle the road ahead.
Side by side and year by year
We'll stand together, no matter what life throws our way.
The road was filled with twists and turns
The journey was filled with unexpected obstacles.
Oh, but that's the road that got us here
But that's the path we had to take to reach where we are today.
Let's move past the bad times
Let's forget about the negative experiences we've had and move on.
But before those memories fade
But let's not forget the valuable lessons we learned from them.
Let's forgive but not forget
Let's forgive those who wronged us, but remember the lessons learned from those experiences.
And learn from the mistakes we made
Let's use our past mistakes as opportunities to grow.
So don't give up and don't say when
No matter what happens, never give up and always keep moving forward.
And just get back on the road again 'cause
If we stumble, let's get back up and continue on the road ahead.
Hey old friend come along for this ride
Join me on this journey, my friend.
There's plenty of room so jump inside
There's enough space for both of us, so let's do this together.
The highway's rocky every now and then
The journey can be bumpy at times.
But it's so much better then where I've been
But it's still better than where I came from, so let's keep pressing forward.
Just keep movin' at your own speed
Everyone has their own pace, so move at a speed that works for you.
Your heart is all the compass you'll ever need
Follow your heart, it will guide you in the right direction.
Let's keep cruisin' the road we're on
Let's continue on the path we're already on.
'Cause the rear view mirror only shows what's gone, gone, gone
Don't dwell on the past, instead focus on what lies ahead.
Oh, it's so clear every year we get stronger
With each passing year, we become more resilient and capable.
So shine that light, take my hand
Let's face the future together with hope and positivity.
Let's dance into the promise land 'cause
Let's celebrate our resilience and look forward to what lies ahead.
Baby, baby, ooh
An expression of excitement or joy.
But baby, baby we've got so far to go
Although we've made progress, we still have a long way to go.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Poochy768
This song is made of serotonin, I swear every time I hear it, it brightens my day more than your mothers phone screen!
@eviegadenne3059
So true and u can't help dance to It 🎉😍🎶🎶
@lucymusqua9745
Bro the nostalgia this song gives is unreal
@tsade6119
“Linnk your pork is ready”
@christinacostello9800
That my favorite line of the movie 😂😂😂
@DarkestNova556
“Let’s forgive but not forget” I wish that would’ve happened long ago. But they don’t forgive those who weren’t responsible
@gemmahobson634
True