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.
How Do I Love Thee
Queen Latifah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How Do I Love Thee
Let Me Count The Ways
How Much Do I Love You
Well, Multiply Your Love By Infiniti
Picture A Vision Of Beauty
As We Dance By The Light Of The Moon
Your Passion So Often Consumes Me
Reality Is Ours To Create
Fantasy Is Ours To Mold
Dream My Love Dream
With My Body And My Soul
Question Out My Faith
I'm Pledged To Be Your Lover
And After I Started Loving You
I Knew I'd Never Love Another
I'm Like A Child Within Your Arms
Would You Come Inside And Play With Me
Spend The Day With Me
Have Your Way With Me.
(Chorus)
Remember This Always
My Sweet One
No Lie Is True
And Dude It's Not A Lie
When I Say That
I Would Die For You
You're So Deep Within Thee
That Sometimes Your Just A Touch Away
But I Can't Reach You
I Seek You
Come To Me
But Then you're All Around Me
You Just Surround Me
And You Astound Me
And I receive You
'Fore I Complete You
It Pleases Me
To Have You Touch Me There
I Think You Know It Gets To Me
Stop
Don't Stop
Ecstacy
(Chorus)
So Sweet
I Adore You
Come To Me
That's Right
Come To Me
How Do I Love Thee
Let Me Count The Ways
How Do I Love Thee
Let Me Count The Ways
Reality Is Ours To Create
Fantasy Is Ours To Mold
Dream My Love Dream
With My Body And My Soul
Question Out My Faith
I'm Pledged To Be Your Lover
And After I Started Loving You
I Knew I'd Never Love Another
I'm Like A Child Within Your Arms
Would You Come Inside And Play With Me
Spend The Day With Me
Have Your Way With Me.
Please Don't Go
Happiness Is Nothing Without You
Stay.
My Sweet One
I Adore You
Hold Me
Come To Me
Love Me
Love Me
The song "How Do I Love Thee" by Queen Latifah is a love song that captures the depth of the singer's emotions for her lover. The chorus, "How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count the Ways, How Much Do I Love You, Well Multiply Your Love by Infinity," sets the tone for the entire song. The singer compares her love for her partner to infinity, suggesting that it is boundless and unending. She envisions a future with her partner, dancing by the light of the moon, and is consumed by their passion. The lyrics explore both the reality of their love and the fantasies that they can create together. The singer pledges her love to her partner, and sees no other love beyond this.
The second verse speaks of the singer's deep connection with her partner, and how sometimes they feel distant, yet she wants to be close to them. She describes the feeling of being surrounded by her lover, and how it astounds her. The singer receives pleasure from their touch and suggests that their ecstasy is a result of their love.
Overall, "How Do I Love Thee" is a romantic song that captures the infinite depth of the singer's love for her partner. It describes their deep connection and the pleasure they receive from each other.
Line by Line Meaning
How Do I Love Thee
Expressing the depth of love and affection for the partner
Let Me Count The Ways
Willingness to enumerate and detail the extent of love
How Much Do I Love You
Expressing love in terms of quantity
Well, Multiply Your Love By Infiniti
Insisting that the extent of love is immeasurable
Picture A Vision Of Beauty
Eliciting an image of beauty in the partner's mind
As We Dance By The Light Of The Moon
Describing a romantic and sensual scenario
Your Passion So Often Consumes Me
Expressing the intensity of partner's passion
Like The Lick Of A Native Tongue Tune
Comparing the partner's passion to a pleasurable sensation
Reality Is Ours To Create
Belief that they can shape their reality
Fantasy Is Ours To Mold
Belief that they can shape their fantasies
Dream My Love Dream
Sharing a romantic desire
With My Body And My Soul
Expressing commitment to the relationship
Question Out My Faith
Addressing possible doubts in the relationship
I'm Pledged To Be Your Lover
Affirming commitment to the partner
And After I Started Loving You
Reflecting on past love experiences
I Knew I'd Never Love Another
Expressing fidelity to the partner
I'm Like A Child Within Your Arms
Feeling safe and secure in the partner's embrace
Would You Come Inside And Play With Me
Inviting the partner for intimacy
Spend The Day With Me
Requesting quality time with the partner
Have Your Way With Me.
Inviting the partner to take control in intimacy
Remember This Always
Urging the partner to remember a message
My Sweet One
Affectionate address to the partner
No Lie Is True
Rejecting false statements
And Dude It's Not A Lie
Emphatically denying falsehoods
When I Say That
Stressing the truth of the following statement
I Would Die For You
Expressing extreme devotion to the partner
You're So Deep Within Thee
Describing the partner's presence in oneself
That Sometimes Your Just A Touch Away
Feeling close to the partner even when physically apart
But I Can't Reach You
Expressing longing for the partner's presence
I Seek You
Desiring the partner's attention
Come To Me
Requesting the partner's presence
But Then you're All Around Me
Feeling the partner's influence everywhere
You Just Surround Me
Feeling engulfed by the partner's love
And You Astound Me
Being amazed by the partner's love
And I receive You
Welcoming the partner's love
'Fore I Complete You
Acknowledging the reciprocal effect of love
It Pleases Me
Expressing joy at the partner's actions
To Have You Touch Me There
Enjoying intimate touches from the partner
I Think You Know It Gets To Me
Assuming that the partner understands what is pleasurable
Stop
Requesting the partner to stop actions
Don't Stop
Requesting the partner to continue actions
Ecstacy
Experiencing extreme pleasure
So Sweet
Describing the partner's lovable qualities
I Adore You
Expressing love and admiration
Please Don't Go
Requesting the partner to stay
Happiness Is Nothing Without You
Affirming the partner's importance in one's life
Stay.
Strongly requesting the partner to remain
Hold Me
Requesting physical comfort from the partner
Love Me
Expressing desire for love from the partner
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TANIA MARIA CORREA REIS, DANA OWENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Santiago Head
This is the first time Queen showed her pure feminine side musically.... I love this song!✊👍👊
ALPHA
Yeah, it’s one of the first times I noticed a transcendental moment in HipHop in that I was like nah you that n*gga🐐
payable on death
she gots some moves😍
Pablo G
Santiago Head well said👌🏼
blk coverboy
A truly underrated gem from the Queen
blk coverboy
@Queen Latifah your carrier? Stop it! Don’t disrespect the queen with this fake mess!!! Delete this before I report you
Sarah hale
Very proud to have directed this video!!
Do 7he Math
Big up Sarah. Great job. I loved Latifah from the 1st time I saw her.
When she started singing and getting all jazzy I knew she was going to be around for a while.
4inShop
If it wasn't for house music I wouldn't have fell in love with this song when it first came out... #JerseyLoveYou
David Rivera
Wow queen Latifah will always be my queen of hip hop she's a legend