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.
Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here
Queen Latifah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Queen is hyped up
The Queen is hyped up
The Queen is hyped up
Ayo Manda
What's up La
Yo people have been trying to get fierce on me,
Yo just give it to them safari style
Well, well, well it's L.A
The T.I
The F.A.H
You'll see why
Q.U
Double E.
N
Is the reason I must be myself
What else?
Well fame hasn't got me
Souped up
Selling out
Sloppy or poppy
There so much live for
There for
Here's more from a woman
All woman
Keep the rumors
To Your
Self
The over blown
Home grown
Not known
Fools who never shown
Proof let alone own
A lot of props
Or hip hip pop chart
Notch on your clock is my spot
Now who got the marks?
I do
Why you little played out Achew
(Bless You)
I'm allergic to wack crews
The La
The Ti
The Fah
The Queen is up
Throwing salt that you never seen before
How dare
Those who talk
We can't have them
Some make me wanna go out with the bat and a magnum
But a wise
Civilized
Growing higher
Judgment's from the queen
Punish is the fire
I here to make these fools out of liars
You must learn step and respect the sire
Face the fire
Latifah had it up to here the frauds felling fear (fear)
The sound is playing like a Q-tip digging your ear (ear)
Mama Zula stands for positivity, knowledge, and grace
I never run my piece damn I'll take it to your face
Open why you hoping
None stutter
Stop 'em
Maybe choke (choke)
Because it's very hard to breathe
While La got you in a yolk
I'll cut your throat
I'll cut it short
No one ever getting near
Latifah's had it up to here
[Chorus]
Give it to 'em Queen (Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Give it to 'em Queen (I got it)
Give it to 'em Queen (Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Give it to 'em Queen (I got it)
Give it to 'em Queen (Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Give it to 'em Queen (I got it)
Give it to 'em Queen (Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Queen L.A.T.I.F.A.H in command
Some of these commercial entertainers
Are commercially a pain to mind and my behind
Try to dis Dana
Bumping me off
Because the Queen has reached a certain plateau
All I do is boo and say "is that so?"
Talk is cheap
And if talk got any cheaper (huh)
They'll be selling Nike tongues instead of sneakers
Kay sa rah sa rah
Blazay blah
Etcetera
This is a scene from the Queen La La
Lovely and lyrically loose
But lady like
I'm too slick to slip up or get tricked by the shady type
Chomps y'all talk and still wonder how loose I got
When I'm in town I give the boosters booster shots
Breaks
Breaks
Face
Face
Never
Never
Waste
Waste
Your mind on a rhyme
That will get thrown in your fronting face
I'll cut your throat
I'll cut it short
No one ever getting near
Latifah's had it up to here
[Chorus]
Royal and loyal
Face the fire
Boy
You wouldn't get the time of the day
So make way
Hey
Silence I say
Lay low and have a cold one
Cause the whipping I'm dishing is an old one
I through some soul into my morning bowl
Then I rolled
I took your gold and stopped your singled
Cause it ever never sold
Matter of fact it never even got the time to sprout
So you could never give me body or come in my house
The Flavor Unit is doing back again this year
How many flavors of the flavor can you love to hear
Feel the force of my holocaust
I'm staring at ya
Put in a bid on who will fall
I'm sure to match ya
Snatch ya
Stature
Your broken looks more like a fracture
Catch that rapper
Latifah will be back to crush ya
Go buy a heart
Cause from the start I told ya no one getting near
Latifah's had it up to here
Give it to 'em Queen
(Who got it)
Give it to 'em Queen
(Latifah)
Give it to 'em Queen
(Who got it)
Give it to 'em Queen
(The Flavor Unit)
Give it to 'em Queen
(I got it)
Give it to 'em Queen
(Latifah)
Give it to 'em Queen
(DJ A.D)
Give it to 'em Queen
(Ease off)
Give it to 'em Queen
L.A
L.A
L.A.T.I.F.A.H in command
Give it to 'em Queen
L.A
L.A.T.I.F.A.H.H.H in command
Give it to 'em Queen
L.L.A
L.A.T.I.F.A.H in command
Give it to 'em Queen
L.A
L.A
L.A.T.I.F.A.H in command
L.A
L.A
L.A.T.I.F.A.H in command
The song "Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here" is an assertive and confident declaration by Queen Latifah about her position in the music industry as an empowered, independent female rapper. The lyrics are a rejection of commercialism and a celebration of authenticity, as she declares that fame has not changed her and that she is staying true to herself. She is also calling out her critics and calling for respect and recognition as a leader in hip-hop.
Queen Latifah uses a range of metaphors and wordplay to convey her message. She uses the phrase "safari style" to suggest that she is going to boldly and fearlessly confront her detractors. She also uses phrases like "cut your throat" and "face the fire" to convey a sense of power and danger. At the same time, she is also witty and playful in her use of rhymes and puns, such as "Kay sa rah sa rah/Blazay blah/Etcetera" and "Kay sa rah sa rah/Blazay blah/Have a cold one."
Overall, "Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here" is a powerful and empowering song about identity, authenticity, and resilience, and it helped establish Queen Latifah as an influential and respected voice in hip-hop.
Line by Line Meaning
The Queen is hyped up
Queen Latifah is full of excitement and energy
Ayo Manda
Hey, Manda
What's up La
What's up, La
Yo people have been trying to get fierce on me,
There are individuals who have been attempting to challenge me or act aggressively towards me
I think it's time I tell them about themselves
I believe it is necessary for me to confront them and reveal their true nature
Yo just give it to them safari style
Just deliver it to them boldly and fearlessly
Well, well, well it's L.A
Well, well, well, it's Latifah
The T.I
The Total Intelligence
The F.A.H
The Fearless and Honest
You'll see why
You will understand the reasons
Q.U
Quality Unit
Double E.
Exceptionally Excellent
N
Nurturing
Is the reason I must be myself
Being true to my own identity is the purpose I must fulfill
What else?
Additionally, what other information would you like to know?
Well fame hasn't got me
Fame hasn't influenced or changed me
Souped up
Overly excited or exaggerated
Selling out
Compromising my beliefs or principles for commercial success
Sloppy or poppy
Careless or shallow
There so much live for
There is so much to experience and enjoy in life
There for
Available for those who seek it
Here's more from a woman
Here is additional content from a woman
All woman
Completely feminine
Keep the rumors
Ignore or disregard the gossip
To Your
Keep it to yourself
Self
Individuality or personal identity
The over blown
The exaggerated or overhyped
Home grown
Authentic and true to one's roots
Not known
Not widely recognized or acknowledged
Fools who never shown
Ignorant individuals who have failed to demonstrate
Proof let alone own
Any evidence or even claim
A lot of props
Much respect or recognition
Or hip hip pop chart
Or mainstream hip hop music chart
Notch on your clock is my spot
My position or place of success is above yours
Now who got the marks?
Now who has the achievements or accomplishments?
I do
I am the one who possesses them
Why you little played out Achew
Why are you a stale and predictable sneeze sound? (expression of dismissal)
(Bless You)
(Response to a sneeze)
I'm allergic to wack crews
I have a strong aversion to mediocre or untalented groups
The La
The L.A
The Ti
The Total Intelligence
The Fah
The Fearless and Honest
The Queen is up
Queen Latifah is prepared and ready to take action
Throwing salt that you never seen before
Casting insults or negativity in a new, unexpected manner
How dare
How audacious
Those who talk
Individuals who engage in idle or malicious gossip
We can't have them
We cannot tolerate or allow their presence
Some make me wanna go out with the bat and a magnum
Some individuals make me feel tempted to resort to violence
But a wise
However, a wise person
Civilized
Cultured and well-behaved
Growing higher
Becoming more enlightened or elevated
Judgment's from the queen
Decisions are made by Queen Latifah
Punish is the fire
Punishment is the consequence or result
I here to make these fools out of liars
I am here to expose the deceitful nature of these fools
You must learn step and respect the sire
You must learn to show deference and respect to the female ruler
Face the fire
Confront the consequences or challenges
Latifah had it up to here the frauds felling fear (fear)
Latifah has reached her limit with the frauds and they are experiencing fear
The sound is playing like a Q-tip digging your ear (ear)
The music is resonating and affecting you profoundly
Mama Zula stands for positivity, knowledge, and grace
Mama Zula represents ideals of optimism, wisdom, and elegance
I never run my piece damn I'll take it to your face
I never back down or shy away from expressing myself directly
Open why you hoping
Why are you being optimistic or having expectations
None stutter
Nobody hesitates or stumbles
Stop 'em
Prevent them from continuing
Maybe choke (choke)
Perhaps they will struggle to breathe (idiomatic expression)
Because it's very hard to breathe
Because it is extremely difficult to tolerate
While La got you in a yolk
While I have you under control or constrained
I'll cut your throat
I will figuratively silence you or undermine your influence
I'll cut it short
I will put an end to it abruptly
No one ever getting near
No one will ever get close to me
Latifah's had it up to here
Latifah has reached her limit
Give it to 'em Queen (Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Express yourself and assert your power, Queen Latifah
Give it to 'em Queen (I got it)
Deliver your message boldly, Queen Latifah
Queen L.A.T.I.F.A.H in command
Queen Latifah is in control and leading the way
Some of these commercial entertainers
Certain performers who prioritize commercial success
Are commercially a pain to mind and my behind
Are a source of frustration and annoyance to me
Try to dis Dana
Attempt to disrespect or challenge me, referring to my real name, Dana
Bumping me off
Attempting to remove or eliminate me from the industry
Because the Queen has reached a certain plateau
Because Queen Latifah has achieved a specific level of success
All I do is boo and say "is that so?"
All I do is express my disapproval and ask, "Is that really the case?"
Talk is cheap
Words are of little value or significance
And if talk got any cheaper (huh)
And if words were even less valuable
They'll be selling Nike tongues instead of sneakers
They would be selling useless or ineffective products
Kay sa rah sa rah
Kay sa rah sa rah
Blazay blah
Empty or meaningless talk
Etcetera
And so on
This is a scene from the Queen La La
This is a situation involving Queen Latifah
Lovely and lyrically loose
Beautiful and creatively flexible with words
But lady like
Still maintaining a sense of femininity and grace
I'm too slick to slip up or get tricked by the shady type
I am too clever to make mistakes or be deceived by deceitful individuals
Chomps y'all talk and still wonder how loose I got
You all keep gossiping and speculating about my behavior and actions
When I'm in town I give the boosters booster shots
When I am present, I provide additional support or energy to those who support me
Breaks
Moments to rest or pause
Breaks
Interruptions or changes in rhythm
Face
Confront
Face
Frontal appearance or surface
Never
Not at any time or under any circumstances
Never
Not ever or not once
Waste
Misuse or squander
Waste
Throw away or discard
Your mind on a rhyme
Your mental focus or attention on a particular verse
That will get thrown in your fronting face
That will be used against you or exposed to the public
Royal and loyal
Regal and devoted
Boy
Individual or person
You wouldn't get the time of the day
You are not worthy of my attention or consideration
So make way
Move out of the path or allow space for others
Hey
Hi
Silence I say
I command silence
Lay low and have a cold one
Relax and enjoy a drink
Cause the whipping I'm dishing is an old one
Because the punishment I am delivering is familiar and well-known
I through some soul into my morning bowl
I add soulfulness or passion to my everyday routine
Then I rolled
Then I continued with my activities
I took your gold and stopped your singled
I took away your success or achievements and put an end to your individuality
Cause it ever never sold
Because it was never popular or successful
Matter of fact it never even got the time to sprout
In fact, it did not have enough time to develop or grow
So you could never give me body or come in my house
So you could never challenge or defeat me
The Flavor Unit is doing back again this year
The Flavor Unit is returning this year
How many flavors of the flavor can you love to hear
How many variations or styles of music can you appreciate
Feel the force of my holocaust
Experience the power or intensity of my impact
I'm staring at ya
I am focused on you or observing you
Put in a bid on who will fall
Place a wager on who will fail or be unsuccessful
I'm sure to match ya
I am certain to compete with or surpass you
Snatch ya
Grab or take you forcibly
Stature
Status or reputation
Your broken looks more like a fracture
Your failure or downfall is more significant than a mere break
Catch that rapper
Capture or apprehend that musician
Latifah will be back to crush ya
Latifah will return to defeat or overwhelm you
Go buy a heart
Acquire compassion or empathy
Cause from the start I told ya no one getting near
Because I warned you from the beginning that no one will be able to approach me
L.A.T.I.F.A.H.H.H in command
Latifah is in control and leading the way
L.L.A
L.L.A
L.A.T.I.F.A.H in command
Latifah is in control and leading the way
L.A
L.A
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: QUEEN LATIFAH, LOUIS VEGA, LOUIS A VEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tammie Tate
Filmed outside of the high school where her mom was an art teacher. I know this because that's my old high school, Mrs. Owens was my homeroom teacher and they were my neighbors in Newark, NJ! I'm so, so proud of you, Dana! Keep giving it to 'em, Queen!!
clarencemaney
Irvington High
Joanna B. Marketing
Wow nice!
Gustavo enrique Torres
I remember this ill rhyme from 1993 when I used to live in Jamaica Queens, now I'm listening to it like if it was yesterday. One love my African Queen from Bogota,Colombia. We love you.
Joanna B. Marketing
@Gustavo enrique Torres wow Columbia loving Queen Latifah! 😀🇨🇴
Lord Octune
YOOOOGURT
Jaye Johnson
No gimmick, not showing skin, just true lyrics..THE QUEEN
U N V Me
💯
Susan Bodiford
WORD!!
tagon70
I was just thinking that..still attractive fully dressed..