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.
U.N.I.T.Y
Queen Latifah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
U.N.I.T.Y., love a black man from infinity to infinity
(Who you calling a bitch?)
U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.I.T.Y. that's a unity (You gotta let him know)
(You go, come on here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black woman from (You got to let him know)
infinity to infinity (You ain't a bitch or a ho)
U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.I.T.Y. that's a unity (You gotta let him know)
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black man from (You got to let him know)
infinity to infinity (You ain't a bitch or a ho)
Instinct leads me to another flow
Everytime I hear a brother call a girl a bitch or a ho
Trying to make a sister feel low
You know all of that gots to go
Now everybody knows there's exceptions to this rule
Now don't be getting mad, when we playing, it's cool
But don't you be calling out my name
I bring wrath to those who disrespect me like a dame
That's why I'm talking, one day I was walking down the block
I had my cutoff shorts on right cause it was crazy hot
I walked past these dudes when they passed me
One of 'em felt my booty, he was nasty
I turned around red, somebody was catching the wrath
Then the little one said (Yeah me bitch) and laughed
Since he was with his boys he tried to break fly
Huh, I punched him dead in his eye and said "Who you calling a bitch?"
(Here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.I.T.Y. that's a unity (You gotta let him know)
(You go, come on here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black woman from (You got to let him know)
infinity to infinity (You ain't a bitch or a ho)
(Here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.I.T.Y. that's a unity (You gotta let him know)
(You go, come on here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black man from (You got to let him know)
infinity to infinity (You ain't a bitch or a ho)
I hit the bottom, there ain't nowhere else to go but up
Bad days at work, give you an attitude then you were rough
And take it out on me but that's about enough
You put your hands on me again I'll put your ass in handcuffs
I guess I fell so deep in love I grew dependency
I was too blind to see just how it was affecting me
All I knew was you, you was all the man I had
And I was scared to let you go, even though you treated me bad
But I don't want my kids to see me getting beat down
By daddy smacking mommy all around
You say I'm nothing without ya, but I'm nothing with ya
A man don't really love you if he hits ya
This is my notice to the door, I'm not taking it no more
I'm not your personal whore, that's not what I'm here for
And nothing good gonna come to ya til you do right by me
Brother you wait and see (Who you calling a bitch?)
(Here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.I.T.Y. that's a unity (You gotta let him know)
(You go, come on here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black woman from (You got to let him know)
infinity to infinity (You ain't a bitch or a ho)
(Here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.I.T.Y. that's a unity (You gotta let him know)
(You go, come on here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black man from (You got to let him know)
infinity to infinity (You ain't a bitch or a ho)
What's going on in your mind is what I ask ya
But like Yo-Yo, you don't hear me though
You wear a rag around your head and you call yourself
a "Gangsta Bitch" now that you saw Apache's video
I saw you wilding, acting like a fool
I peeped you out the window jumping girls after school
But where did all of this come from?
A minute ago, you was a nerd and nobody ever heard of ya
Now you a wannabe... hard
You barely know your ABC's, please
There's plenty of people out there with triggers ready to pull it
Why you trying to jump in front of the bullet (Young lady)
Uh, and real bad girls are the silent type
Ain't none of this work getting your face sliced
Cause that's what happened to your homegirl, right? Bucking with nobody
She got to wear that for life (Who you calling a bitch?)
(Here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.I.T.Y. that's a unity (You gotta let him know)
(You go, come on here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black woman from (You got to let him know)
infinity to infinity (You ain't a bitch or a ho)
(Here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.I.T.Y. that's a unity (You gotta let him know)
(You go, come on here we go)
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black man from (You must let him know)
infinity to infinity (You ain't a bitch or a ho)
The lyrics to Queen Latifah's U.N.I.T.Y. revolve around themes of gender and race equality with a strong focus on the empowerment of black women in the face of oppression. In the first few lines, the song reiterates the importance of unity within the black community, highlighting the strength and power that comes from standing together against systemic racism and discrimination. This message is reiterated in subsequent verses as Queen Latifah speaks out against misogyny and violence towards women, confronting the use of derogatory terms like "bitch" and "ho" which can belittle and dehumanize those they are directed towards.
The lyrics also tackle issues of domestic violence, with Queen Latifah addressing the fear and trauma that can come from abusive relationships. She encourages women to speak up against their abusers and not accept being treated as a personal object to be controlled or dominated. Throughout the song, Queen Latifah's messages of self-respect, empowerment, and fighting back against oppressive societal norms serve as a powerful call to action for all those marginalized within society.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh, U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.I.T.Y. that's a unity
Unity among black people is important
U.N.I.T.Y., love a black man from infinity to infinity
Respect and love black men unconditionally
(Who you calling a bitch?)
Questioning the use of derogatory terms for women
U.N.I.T.Y., U.N.I.T.Y. that's a unity
Repetition of importance of unity among black people
(You gotta let him know)
Educating men to not use derogatory terms for women
(You go, come on here we go)
Encouraging women to stand up for themselves
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black woman from infinity to infinity
Respect and love black women unconditionally
(You got to let him know)
Educating men to respect and not mistreat black women
(You ain't a bitch or a ho)
Rejecting derogatory terms used for women
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black man from Instinct leads me to another flow
Following instinct to address issues affecting black people
Everytime I hear a brother call a girl a bitch or a ho
Reacting to men using derogatory terms for women
Trying to make a sister feel low
Men should not try to belittle or degrade women
You know all of that gots to go
Derogatory terms for women must stop
Now everybody knows there's exceptions to this rule
Acknowledging nuances in language usage
Now don't be getting mad, when we playing, it's cool
Context matters in language usage
But don't you be calling out my name
Rejecting personal insults and disrespect
I bring wrath to those who disrespect me like a dame
Conveying assertiveness in response to disrespect
That's why I'm talking, one day I was walking down the block
Sharing a personal experience
I had my cutoff shorts on right cause it was crazy hot
Describing personal attire
I walked past these dudes when they passed me
Narrating a situation
One of 'em felt my booty, he was nasty
Experiencing sexual harassment
I turned around red, somebody was catching the wrath
Feeling angry and assertive in response to harassment
Then the little one said (Yeah me bitch) and laughed
Harasser trying to act tough in front of peers
Since he was with his boys he tried to break fly
Harasser trying to impress his friends
Huh, I punched him dead in his eye and said "Who you calling a bitch?"
Confronting the harasser with physical force
(Here we go)
Continuing the encouragement to stand up for oneself
I hit the bottom, there ain't nowhere else to go but up
Facing rock bottom in a relationship and aiming for improvement
Bad days at work, give you an attitude then you were rough
Addressing the impact of external stressors on personal relationships
And take it out on me but that's about enough
Setting personal boundaries for acceptable behavior
You put your hands on me again I'll put your ass in handcuffs
Standing up against domestic violence and abuse
I guess I fell so deep in love I grew dependency
Acknowledging unhealthy dynamics in a relationship
I was too blind to see just how it was affecting me
Coming to a realization about personal well-being
All I knew was you, you was all the man I had
Describing emotional attachment in a relationship
And I was scared to let you go, even though you treated me bad
Struggling to come to terms with a toxic relationship
But I don't want my kids to see me getting beat down
Prioritizing children's well-being over a harmful relationship
By daddy smacking mommy all around
Addressing the impact of domestic violence on families
You say I'm nothing without ya, but I'm nothing with ya
Rejecting codependency and emotional manipulation
A man don't really love you if he hits ya
Stating the obvious and condemning domestic violence
This is my notice to the door, I'm not taking it no more
Making the decision to leave an abusive relationship
I'm not your personal whore, that's not what I'm here for
Stating personal boundaries and rejecting objectification
And nothing good gonna come to ya til you do right by me
Expecting accountability and repentance before reconciliation
Brother you wait and see (Who you calling a bitch?)
Demanding respect and rejecting derogatory language
What's going on in your mind is what I ask ya
Encouraging introspection and open communication
But like Yo-Yo, you don't hear me though
Expressing frustration with being ignored or dismissed
You wear a rag around your head and you call yourself a "Gangsta Bitch" now that you saw Apache's video
Commenting on media portrayal of women and its impact on behavior
I saw you wilding, acting like a fool
Observing erratic or reckless behavior
I peeped you out the window jumping girls after school
Witnessing harassing or predatory behavior
But where did all of this come from?
Questioning the origins of violent and disrespectful behavior
A minute ago, you was a nerd and nobody ever heard of ya
Comparing past behavior to current behavior
Now you a wannabe... hard
Rejecting false or performative displays of toughness
You barely know your ABC's, please
Criticizing ignorance or lack of education
There's plenty of people out there with triggers ready to pull it
Pointing out the potential for violence in certain situations
Why you trying to jump in front of the bullet (Young lady)
Urging caution and self-preservation
(Who you calling a bitch?)
Reiterating the rejection of derogatory language
U.N.I.T.Y., Love a black man from (You must let him know)
Educating black women to assert themselves in relationships
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: D. OWENS, J. SAMPLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ThisBahamianGyal
This, ladies and gentlemen, is what TRUE female empowerment looks like.
@mrsbdubc2174
Yep, now you have to worry about being called a B from other women claiming it is a word of empowerment 🤦🏾♀️
@ThisBahamianGyal
@G. C. That's what I'm talking about. Much respect, sir.
@shavonnestacia2865
Exactly.
@dilmakbastien7566
Thank you!
@kicobubu
Amen to that!
@osariemenefosa4569
Who's with me jamming unity in 2023
Queen Latifah. ❤❤❤
@cash9739
I’m sorry…It’s Jan 8,2024 🕺 🙌🏽 Big Jersey
@user-by4qi3ww8e
Me!!!!
@user-cu8jt2ei9u
Sholl not me