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.
The World
Queen Latifah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I smoked pot up up again help
The pain to go away,
But it wouldn't go away,
Just subsided through the haze
Just drifted off into deeper thought
Finally whats blindin' me was just as clear as day.
I figured out whats stressin' me, depressin' me
Mummy that man was lancing me
No..
Was only 5 years old I couldn't seem to tell a soul
I didn't know how to let you and daddy know
And I can't go on, like this
That's the kinda thing that make ya slash your wrists
But now that I realise this
What happened to me I gotta fight this
[Chorus]
The devils are probably lyin' (runnin' round and lyin')
Tryin' to move out
Is he gonna take my crown?
Gotta get up, stand up, fight for hours
Every second of every minute of every hour
I see your face
Help me with what happens in the world.
Lesson number one the world ain't fair
It'll chew you up and it'll spit you out
So put your faith in it if you dare.
(The world)
The world'll put you right on top
Then snatch the bottom from under you
And just watch and laugh as you drop
Lesson number one the world ain't fair
It'll chew you up and it'll spit you out
So put your faith in it if you dare.
(The world)
Whooooah..
The world'll put you right on top
Then snatch the bottom from under you
And just watch and laugh as you drop
Runnin' around the school as you tried committin' suicide
He asked what would make a 14 year old boy wanna take his life?
It'd be the fact, that he got a dad, who uses him, as a punchin' bag
Beats him till he's blue and black and wont stop will he makes him cry.
You kept it to your self and made excuses for the bruises,
Took painkiller to kill the pain from a daddy who's abusive,
He was telling you, you were useless
Never heard the words "I love you"
Made you feel like you were worthless
He's tryin' to save the trouble and
He can't go on, like this
That's the type thing that made you slash you wrists
Somebody shoulda told you that you're priceless
Put your faith in god and we can fight this.
(chorus)
The devils are probably lyin' (runnin' round and lyin')
Tryin' to move out
Is he gonna take my crown?
Gotta get up, stand up, fight for hours
Every second of every minute of every hour
I see your face
Help me with what happens in the world.
Lesson number one the world ain't fair
It'll chew you up and it'll spit you out
So put your faith in it if you dare.
(The world)
The world'll put you right on top
Then snatch the bottom from under you
And just watch and laugh as you drop
Lesson number one the world ain't fair
It'll chew you up and it'll spit you out
So put your faith in it if you dare.
(The world)
Whooooah..
The world'll put you right on top
Then snatch the bottom from under you
And just watch and laugh as you drop.
(The world)
That we livin' in (livin)
Where we leave our babies in the back seat of cars (cars)
Found my pass is blind (blind)
Desperate minds and emotional teenagers
Lookin' for love in all the wrong places
Well loves so right
You so never wanna test it
Who's your momma who your daddy?
You, can't even tell.
You're shinin' on chattin'
See news at eleven.
Were all walking through this place with
Vain visions of heaven
[Chorus]
The devils are probably lyin' (runnin' round and lyin')
Tryin' to move out
Is he gonna take my crown?
Gotta get up, stand up, fight for hours
Every second of every minute of every hour
I see your face
Help me with what happens in the world....
(The world)
(Repeat: x3)
Lesson number one the world ain't fair
It'll chew you up and it'll spit you out
So put your faith in it if you dare.
(The world)
The world'll put you right on top
Then snatch the bottom from under you
And just watch and laugh as you drop
(The world)
Lesson number one the world ain't fair
It'll chew you up and it'll spit you out
So put your faith in it if you dare.
(The world)
Whooooah..
The world'll put you right on top
Then snatch the bottom from under you
And just watch and laugh as you drop
(The world oh, oh, oh the world)
(Oh the world)
The world
In the song "The World," Queen Latifah shares the stories of individuals who have faced adversity and trauma in their lives. She talks about how the world can be a cruel place, and how it can both lift you up and bring you down. The first verse describes her own experience with using drugs to cope with pain, but eventually realizing the underlying issue was a traumatic event that she needed to confront. In the second verse, she tells the story of a 14-year-old boy who attempted suicide due to his abusive father. The chorus emphasizes the importance of fighting against the negative forces in the world, and the need to have faith in yourself and a higher power.
Line by Line Meaning
I smoked pot up up again help
To alleviate the pain caused by something, I resorted to smoking pot again.
The pain to go away,
I hoped the pain caused by something would go away.
But it wouldn't go away,
Unfortunately, the pain would not go away.
Just subsided through the haze
It only subsided a little bit while feeling high from smoking pot.
Just drifted off into deeper thought
I lost myself in deeper thoughts while feeling high.
So I broke my mind and searched my heart
I tried to break down my thoughts and emotions and search for clarity.
Finally whats blindin' me was just as clear as day.
After self-reflection, I finally came to the realization of what was blocking me from seeing clearly.
I figured out whats stressin' me, depressin' me
I identified the root cause of what was causing me stress and depression.
Mummy that man was lancing me
I realized that a certain man was causing me harm.
No..
I couldn't take it anymore.
Was only 5 years old I couldn't seem to tell a soul
When I was only five years old, I could not find a way to communicate my pain to anyone.
I didn't know how to let you and daddy know
I didn't know how to let my parents know what was happening to me.
And I can't go on, like this
I cannot continue to live this way.
That's the kinda thing that make ya slash your wrists
This kind of emotional pain can lead one to try self-harm.
But now that I realise this
Now that I am aware of what's causing my pain.
What happened to me I gotta fight this
I must fight for myself to overcome the pain caused by this trauma.
The devils are probably lyin' (runnin' round and lyin')
Negative thoughts and voices may be trying to deceive me.
Tryin' to move out
Trying to move forward and away from the pain.
Is he gonna take my crown?
Worried about someone taking away what I have worked hard for.
Gotta get up, stand up, fight for hours
I must stand up and fight for what I believe in, tirelessly.
Every second of every minute of every hour
This fight must continue every moment of every day.
I see your face
I see the faces of those who supported me and inspired me.
Lesson number one the world ain't fair
The first thing to learn about the world is that it's not fair.
It'll chew you up and it'll spit you out
The world can be harsh and unforgiving, it can break you down.
So put your faith in it if you dare.
Despite the risks, one may have to put their faith in the world.
The world'll put you right on top
The world can raise you up and make you feel triumphant.
Then snatch the bottom from under you
But it can also bring you down just as quickly.
And just watch and laugh as you drop
Others may mock and laugh as you fall.
Whooooah..
Expressing a feeling of sadness and exhaustion.
Runnin' around the school as you tried committin' suicide
Recalling a traumatic situation where someone attempted suicide in school.
He asked what would make a 14 year old boy wanna take his life?
Someone asked what could be the reason for a young boy to feel that way.
It'd be the fact, that he got a dad, who uses him, as a punchin' bag
The boy may be trying to escape the physical abuse he is suffering from his own father.
Beats him till he's blue and black and wont stop will he makes him cry.
The father continues to beat the boy until he cannot take it anymore and cries.
You kept it to your self and made excuses for the bruises,
The boy kept hiding the truth and making excuses for his bruises.
Took painkiller to kill the pain from a daddy who's abusive,
The boy took painkillers to cope with the pain caused by his abusive father.
He was telling you, you were useless
The father was constantly belittling and telling the boy that he was worthless.
Never heard the words "I love you"
The boy never heard his father expressing love towards him.
Made you feel like you were worthless
The father's actions made the boy believe that he was worthless.
He's tryin' to save the trouble and
The father is avoiding dealing with the problem or confronting it.
He can't go on, like this
The father too feels the pressure and cannot continue living like this.
That's the type thing that made you slash your wrists
This kind of emotional pain and abuse can lead to self-harm.
Somebody shoulda told you that you're priceless
It is crucial for someone to tell the boy that he is precious and valuable.
Put your faith in god and we can fight this.
We can fight this together and trust in a higher power.
That we livin' in (livin)
The world we are living in at the moment.
Where we leave our babies in the back seat of cars (cars)
A critical comment about the dangerous and careless behavior of leaving babies alone in cars.
Found my pass is blind (blind)
The writer found that her past was blocking and blinding her vision of the world.
Desperate minds and emotional teenagers
People who are feeling lost and vulnerable.
Lookin' for love in all the wrong places
People who seek love in the wrong places can cause further pain and suffering.
Well loves so right
Love could be the answer to all pain and problems.
You so never wanna test it
But you may be afraid to test it or let yourself be vulnerable.
Who's your momma who your daddy?
A rhetorical question that goes to show the importance of family and background.
You, can't even tell.
The writer shows sympathy towards those who may not know or have a connection with their family.
You're shinin' on chattin'
You may be shining and putting up a front while chatting with others.
See news at eleven.
A reference to sensationalized news that may not reflect the reality of the world.
Were all walking through this place with
We are all moving forward together in this world.
Vain visions of heaven
We may have unrealistic expectations or desires about the world or life after we die.
Help me with what happens in the world....
The writer is asking for help and guidance in navigating the harsh realities of the world.
(Repeat: x3)
This line is repeated three times.
(The world oh, oh, oh the world)
A final reminder of the repetition of the harsh realities of the world throughout the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDRE CHRISTOPHER LYON, DANA OWENS, EDWARD JOHN MONTILLA, MARCELLO VALENZANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Deejartist
I wish someone would make an instrumental version of this song! I love this track. It's such a well written song. And the message is clear! I miss that in music.
Maja A.
Great song, great artist! We need more music like this 😊 Love this album! 👍
Deborah Siller-Morales
I LOVE Queen Latifah, she's my homegirl!!! Latifah is amazing, she is mega-talented... Great actress, great comic with a taste of what's REAL, great singer I've recently discovered------- she's strong, she's influential, she's a trendsetter, she's truly a POWERHOUSE in every sense of the word. I have deep respect and admiration for her. She's beautiful, yet tough... intelligent, funny, clever, highly entertaining, thought-provoking, and down-to-earth, still humble... though she's made it BIG, loves God... What I love most about her, is her strong character and demeanor--- she don't take NO SHIT from nobody. U Go GIRL!!! Love ya!!!
Robert Wilson
I'm uber late on finding this album but it's on repeat! I'm so mad at myself! Its a no-skipper!
Naj Wilkerson IV
I agree...I also believe she's the most slept on though...she needs to return back to the game to teach this generation what hip hop is really about !! But everybody's long gone and forgot female rappers...but this album, which I'' just hearing in 2015 is amazing !! Especially this song...I have so much more love and respect for her !!
Zibi Błajet
I love album and Queen :)
crpt hunter
Dang so much memories bumping 2k10 in my TLC80.