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 (ูุทููุฉ), 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.
Ladies First
Queen Latifah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those that don't know how to be pros get evicted
A woman can bear you break you take you
Now it's time to rhyme can you relate to
A sister dope enough to make you holler and scream
Ayo let me take it from here Queen
Excuse me but I think I'm about do
I'm conversating to the folks that have no whatsoever clue
So listen very carefully as I break it down for you
Merrily merrily merrily merrily hyper happy overjoyed
Pleased with all the beats and rhymes my sisters have employed
Slick and smooth throwing down the sound totally a yes
Let me state the position: Ladies first, yes? (Yes)
(Yeah, there's going to be some changes in here)
Believe me when I say being a woman is great, you see
I know all the fellas out there will agree with me
Not for being one but for being with one
Because when it's time for loving it's the woman that gets some
Strong, stepping, strutting, moving on
Rhyming, cutting, and not forgetting
We are the ones that give birth
To the new generation of prophets because it's Ladies First
I break into a lyrical freestyle
Grab the mic, look into the crowd and see smiles
Cause they see a woman standing up on her own two
Sloppy slouching is something I won't do
Some think that we can't flow (can't flow)
Stereotypes, they got to go (got to go)
I'm a mess around and flip the scene into reverse
(With what?) With a little touch of "Ladies First"
Who said the ladies couldn't make it, you must be blind
If you don't believe, well here, listen to this rhyme
Ladies first, there's no time to rehearse
I'm divine and my mind expands throughout the universe
A female rapper with the message to send the
Queen Latifah is a perfect specimen
My sister, can I get some?
Sure, Monie Love, grab the mic and get dumb
Yo, praise me not for simply being what I am
Born in L-O-N-D-O-N and sound American
You dig exactly where I'm coming from
You want righteous rhyming, Imma give you some
To enable you to aid yourself and get paid
And the material that has no meaning I wish to slay
Pay me every bit of your attention
Like mother, like daughter, I would also like to mention
I wish for you to bring me to, bring me to the rhythm
Of which is now systematically given
Desperately stressing I'm the daughter of a sister
Who's the mother of a brother who's the brother of another
Plus one more, all four
Have a job to do, we doing it
Respect due, to the mother who's the root of it
And next up is me, the M-O-N-I-E L-O-V-E
And I'm first cause I'm a L-A-D-I-E
Contact and in fact, the style, it gets harder
Cooling on the scene with my European partner
Laying down track after track, waiting for the climax
When I get there, that's when I tax
The next man, or the next woman
It doesn't make a difference, keep the competition coming
And I'll recite the chapter in verse
The title of this recital is "Ladies First"
The song "Ladies First" by Queen Latifah (feat. Monie Love) is an anthem for female empowerment and recognition of the talent and value that women bring to the world of hip-hop. The opening lines celebrate the power of female MCs and dismiss those who are not true professionals. The lyrics go on to highlight the significant role that women play in society, from bearing and raising children to contributing to the artistic world.
Queen Latifah and Monie Love lend their powerful voices to praise the valuable contributions that women make and exhort listeners to recognize and respect that power. The lyrics also touch on the many stereotypes and barriers that women face in pursuing their dreams, whether in the world of music or in broader society. Monie Love's verse provides a powerful example of resisting those barriers and defying expectations to be an accomplished and respected MC.
Overall, "Ladies First" is a celebration of the power and potential of women, offering an inspiring message of empowerment and unified strength in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The ladies will kick it the rhyme that is wicked
Women are going to bring the heat with their sick rhymes
Those that don't know how to be pros get evicted
Anyone who doesn't know how to handle themselves gets kicked out
A woman can bear you break you take you
A woman can have a tremendous impact on a man's life
Now it's time to rhyme can you relate to
It's time to start rapping and see if you can understand what's being said
A sister dope enough to make you holler and scream
A woman who is so great that she will make you shout with excitement
Ayo let me take it from here Queen
Allow me to take over, Queen
Excuse me but I think I'm about do
Pardon me, but I'm about to
To get into precisely what I am about to do
To be very clear about what I'm going to do
I'm conversating to the folks that have no whatsoever clue
I'm talking to people who are completely clueless
So listen very carefully as I break it down for you
Pay close attention as I explain it to you
Merrily merrily merrily merrily hyper happy overjoyed
Very happy and joyful
Pleased with all the beats and rhymes my sisters have employed
Satisfied with the musical skills of my fellow women
Slick and smooth throwing down the sound totally a yes
Playing music that is fantastic and completely approved
Let me state the position: Ladies first, yes? (Yes)
I'm going to say it clearly: Women come first, right? (Right)
Yeah, there's going to be some changes in here
Things are going to be different from now on
Believe me when I say being a woman is great, you see
Trust me, being a woman is amazing
I know all the fellas out there will agree with me
I'm sure all the men will nod in agreement
Not for being one but for being with one
Not for being a man, but for being with a woman
Because when it's time for loving it's the woman that gets some
When it's time for intimacy, the woman is the one who receives
Strong, stepping, strutting, moving on
Confident, determined, and moving forward
Rhyming, cutting, and not forgetting
Rapping, slicing through obstacles, and keeping everything in mind
We are the ones that give birth
Women give birth to the future generation
To the new generation of prophets because it's Ladies First
Leading the way for a new generation of leaders, because women come first
I break into a lyrical freestyle
I start rapping off the top of my head
Grab the mic, look into the crowd and see smiles
Take the microphone, look into the audience, and see smiling faces
Cause they see a woman standing up on her own two
They see a woman standing confidently and independently
Sloppy slouching is something I won't do
I won't present myself poorly or without effort
Some think that we can't flow (can't flow)
Some people believe that women can't rap
Stereotypes, they got to go (got to go)
We need to get rid of these stereotypes
I'm a mess around and flip the scene into reverse
I'm going to change things up completely
With what? With a little touch of 'Ladies First'
Using the power of 'Ladies First'
Who said the ladies couldn't make it, you must be blind
Whoever thinks women can't succeed must not be paying attention
If you don't believe, well here, listen to this rhyme
If you don't agree, listen to this rap
Ladies first, there's no time to rehearse
Women come first, we don't need to practice
I'm divine and my mind expands throughout the universe
I'm special, and my mind is limitless
A female rapper with the message to send
A woman who is rapping to spread a message
The Queen Latifah is a perfect specimen
Queen Latifah is an exemplary person
My sister, can I get some?
Can I have a turn, my sister?
Sure, Monie Love, grab the mic and get dumb
Of course, Monie Love, take the mic and show your talent
Yo, praise me not for simply being what I am
Don't congratulate me just for being a woman
Born in L-O-N-D-O-N and sound American
I was born in London, but I sound like I'm from the US
You dig exactly where I'm coming from
You understand my message completely
You want righteous rhyming, Imma give you some
If you want some great rapping, I'll provide it
To enable you to aid yourself and get paid
So you can benefit financially
And the material that has no meaning I wish to slay
And I want to eliminate lyrics that are meaningless
Pay me every bit of your attention
Focus on everything I'm saying
Like mother, like daughter, I would also like to mention
Like mother, like daughter, I want to say
I wish for you to bring me to, bring me to the rhythm
I want you to bring me in sync with the music
Of which is now systematically given
Which is being provided in a structured way
Desperately stressing I'm the daughter of a sister
Emphasizing that I come from a family of powerful women
Who's the mother of a brother who's the brother of another
Whose brother is also related to another
Plus one more, all four
Plus one additional person, making a total of four
Have a job to do, we doing it
We all have a duty to fulfill, and we're fulfilling it
Respect due, to the mother who's the root of it
We need to show respect to our mother, who started it all
And next up is me, the M-O-N-I-E L-O-V-E
And next is me, Monie Love
And I'm first cause I'm a L-A-D-I-E
And I'm first because I'm a lady
Contact and in fact, the style, it gets harder
My music is getting more challenging and impressive
Cooling on the scene with my European partner
Hanging out and performing with my partner from Europe
Laying down track after track, waiting for the climax
Making excellent music and waiting for the best part
When I get there, that's when I tax
When I reach the top, that's when I make an impact
The next man, or the next woman
The next competitor, regardless of gender
It doesn't make a difference, keep the competition coming
It doesn't matter, bring on the competition
And I'll recite the chapter in verse
And I'll quote my lyrics and verses
The title of this recital is 'Ladies First'
The subject of this performance is 'Ladies First'
Lyrics ยฉ THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: QUEEN LATIFAH, ANTHONY PEAKS, ANTOINETTE JOHNSON SIMONE, MARK HOWARD JAMES, SHANE HARBIN FABER, SIMONE ANTOINETTE JOHNSON, a peaks, Latifah Queen, M. James, Shane Faber, Simone Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lynnmarieanderson1744
These two women were trail blazers. I have the utmost respect for both of them.
@joyleach775
this was when rap was at its best.now I don't know what these new rap females are talking about.
@annabellegeorge9037
Mostly bragging about how wet they get. Imagine Monie Love or Latifah just throwing a random line into this song about how wet their p**** are.
@goldieslacks
hopefully red Queen latifah is pure talent rapping acting and singing...love her
@shannonreynolds624
Oh HELL yea. I have loved Queen Latifa for a few decades, and I'm not a huge fan of rap, more into classic rock, but this is GOLDEN. No one can throw attitude around like Queen Latifa. I really like to see someone who's comfortable in her skin. She is Rapper Royalty if you ask me.
@renehart2509
Indeed. An oldie but goodie
@chinbeats6551
No woman has bodied a verse the way Monie did on this.
@amonnoble9580
Far ahead of her time.
@africanbella28
So true๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ
@carlisabembury8103
Both did great I can listen to this 20 times dont get old