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.
Queen Of Royal Badness
Queen Latifah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So dance and shake and just keep in step
Understand, draw a clear picture
What I'm gonna hit you with is truly def
These are the words of a Queen of a Queendom
All competitors, I simply cream them
One by one, I dust a rush them all
If you have any more, bring them
What they got, it better be hot
Cause if it's not, I'll simply knock them out the box
And they'll be put in a spot
The style I use will surely amuse
The party people to a state of gladness
What I mean is I'm on the scene
I'm the Queen of Royal Badness
Well it's the Lah, T-I-F-A-H
While I say my rhyme, Mark creates
The direct hi-tech sound of the dope noise
The bass will pound, I hope girls, I hope boys
Understand what I'm quoting, I'm not joking
Or freaking, this is a Queen speaking
Wis words, when I'm done I leave your eyes blurred
When you address me, address me as "Your Highness"
One of hip-hop's finest
You see, I can flow on tempo, off tempo
It makes me no difference
So play that beat, play it, kick it, watch me
Flip it, with dope lyrics, you want to hear it?
Observe my ways and actions, I grab the mic
And draw attractions
To the table, I'm a hit you at all angles
Those who think I caught a fit, I strangled them
The result with a pen and a pad
Gets mean, see I'm the Queen of Royal Badness
I can't wait until the party is jam-packed
When I start to drop it, the people say "Damn, black"
The queen is hyped up, awesome and deadly
If you don't dance, grab a chair and plex, be
Composure's kept, blows are thrown in death, hard as hell
Guard as well as you can or step
Off the premisis, in one minute it's
Going to explode in a style that's limitless
Make your first move, don't let it be your worst move
Cause if you do, you'll be a hurt fool
Keep your mouth shut to those that shout and cuss
It's no doubt that I got clout and I'll bust
Literature that flows like liquid
Some can't comprehend the way I kicked it
So don't say nothing
Just listen up, follow instructions
Rhyme, shake, slide, and dance like Lat said
When I'm on stage I sold rage and drop heads
Ambidextrous, skilled with both hands
Teaching a lesson, ready to throw jams
Latifah loves to rip up the scenery
It's nothing special, just a Queen to me
So do the knowledge, see if you can catch this
You know what I mean, it's the Queen of Royal Badness
In "Queen Of Royal Badness," Queen Latifah describes herself as the queen of her kingdom, and she takes on all competitors. She encourages people to let go of their bodies and dance to the music. She boasts about her skills as a rapper, her ability to flow on and off tempo, and her talent for creating dope lyrics. She warns anyone who crosses her that they will be knocked out of the box and put in their place. She encourages people to listen to her instructions and dance to her rhyme, shake, slide, and drop their heads to her music.
The lyrics are an expression of Queen Latifah's confidence, power, and skills. She asserts herself as the ruler of her world and invites others to join in her world of music and dance. She encourages people to let go of their inhibitions and enjoy the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me remind you on how to unwind your body
I am here to remind you to let go of your stress and enjoy yourself
So dance and shake and just keep in step
I want you to dance to the beat and have a good time
Understand, draw a clear picture
Pay close attention and understand what I am about to say
What I'm gonna hit you with is truly def
I am about to deliver some amazing lines
These are the words of a Queen of a Queendom
I am the ruler of my own kingdom and I am proud of it
All competitors, I simply cream them
I defeat all my opponents with ease
One by one, I dust a rush them all
I beat my opponents one after the other
If you have any more, bring them
If you have more challengers, bring them to me
To the front so they can sho me what they got
Let them come forward and show me what they are made of
What they got, it better be hot
They better bring their best if they want a chance against me
Cause if it's not, I'll simply knock them out the box
If they are not good enough, I will defeat them easily
And they'll be put in a spot
They will be embarrassed and ashamed of their defeat
The style I use will surely amuse
My style of rap is entertaining and enjoyable
The party people to a state of gladness
My music makes people happy and excited
What I mean is I'm on the scene
I am a part of the hip-hop scene
I'm the Queen of Royal Badness
I am a talented rapper and the queen of my own style
Well it's the Lah, T-I-F-A-H
This is Queen Latifah introducing herself
While I say my rhyme, Mark creates
As I rap, Mark is creating the beat
The direct hi-tech sound of the dope noise
The beat is amazing and cutting-edge
The bass will pound, I hope girls, I hope boys
The music will be loud and powerful, enjoyed by everyone
Understand what I'm quoting, I'm not joking
Take my lyrics seriously, I am not playing around
Or freaking, this is a Queen speaking
I am confident and commanding when I rap
Wis words, when I'm done I leave your eyes blurred
My words are wise and meaningful, leaving a lasting impression
When you address me, address me as "Your Highness"
Show me respect by addressing me with a royal title
One of hip-hop's finest
I am one of the best rappers in the hip-hop music genre
You see, I can flow on tempo, off tempo
I can rap to any beat, regardless of its tempo
It makes me no difference
The tempo of the music does not affect my ability to rap
So play that beat, play it, kick it, watch me
Start the music and watch me perform
Flip it, with dope lyrics, you want to hear it?
I can change the beat and add amazing lyrics to make it even better
Observe my ways and actions, I grab the mic
Watch me perform and see how I control the microphone
And draw attractions
I attract attention with my performance
To the table, I'm a hit you at all angles
I am a versatile rapper and can attack from many different angles
Those who think I caught a fit, I strangled them
I defeat those who think they can challenge me
The result with a pen and a pad
The outcome of my writing and rapping is amazing
Gets mean, see I'm the Queen of Royal Badness
My rapping is tough and impressive, and I am the queen of my own style
I can't wait until the party is jam-packed
I am excited to perform in front of a huge crowd
When I start to drop it, the people say "Damn, black"
When I start rapping, the audience is impressed and amazed
The queen is hyped up, awesome and deadly
I am excited and dangerous when I perform
If you don't dance, grab a chair and plex, be
Even if you don't want to dance, enjoy the music and relax
Composure's kept, blows are thrown in death, hard as hell
I remain calm while delivering powerful lyrics
Guard as well as you can or step
Be prepared to defend yourself or back away
Off the premisis, in one minute it's
If you can't keep up, leave or you will be defeated
Going to explode in a style that's limitless
My performance will be explosive and impressive
Make your first move, don't let it be your worst move
Take the initiative and make a good first move
Cause if you do, you'll be a hurt fool
If you make a bad move, you will regret it
Keep your mouth shut to those that shout and cuss
Ignore those who are rude or disrespectful
It's no doubt that I got clout and I'll bust
I am a respected and powerful rapper who can defeat anyone
Literature that flows like liquid
My lyrics are smooth and fluid
Some can't comprehend the way I kicked it
Some people can't understand my unique style of rapping
So don't say nothing
Don't say anything negative or judgmental about my music
Just listen up, follow instructions
Just listen to my music and enjoy it
Rhyme, shake, slide, and dance like Lat said
Dance and enjoy the music as I instructed
When I'm on stage I sold rage and drop heads
When I perform on stage, I am impressive and leave the audience in awe
Ambidextrous, skilled with both hands
I am talented and skillful in many ways
Teaching a lesson, ready to throw jams
I am here to teach a lesson and show off my skills as a rapper
Latifah loves to rip up the scenery
I love to perform and excite the audience
It's nothing special, just a Queen to me
To me, being a queen is not a big deal, it's just who I am
So do the knowledge, see if you can catch this
Pay attention and try to understand my lyrics
You know what I mean, it's the Queen of Royal Badness
I am the queen of my own style and I am amazing at rapping
Lyrics ยฉ Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LAKEIM SHARIK WELCH, LAKEIM SHARIK P WELCH, LAKIM SHABAZZ, MARK JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Masten
No vulgarity and righteous flows All Hail (Queen Latifah) the one and only
WILLIAM MCKINNEY
The beat is just fire.
Lamonte Suber
One of my favorite songs from the Queen
Demetrius Davis
Queen Latifah never disappoints. True queen of hip hop.
JazznRealHipHop
1989 joint, what an exciting time for the hip hop genre
tasha Davenport
I ๐ me some ๐๐Queen Latifah๐๐โ๐พ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
rbiznezz2
Listening to this now, I suspect Apacheโs pen game was involved in crafting this classic. His cadence and word choice was very similar to how the Queen rocked on this. RIP Apache, long live the Queen. Peace.
obilinx
Lakim Shabazz penned it
Brian Emery
REAL HIP-HOP....COME BACK!!!! THIS IS THE TRUTH!!!
Diva Cookn
That's right Queen.. I leave these people shocked... I'm going no where.. I'm royalty.. I served this country and my family for a lot of people in this world. I am royalty.. I am Queen Goddess bby.. rock it girl ... dancing