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.
Wrath Of My Madness
Queen Latifah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The R.E. posse said "Yo Latifah we can do this"
So I paused in the thought and in my brillance I caught
And I agreed because I already knew this
Now you should want to flex, cause I'm in full effect
Queen Latifah is five-oh on this set
You've been begging and dying for somebody's rhyming to set you free
For God so loved the world he gave to me
The mic, this mic in my hand, I'm rulin
So prepare your mind for my lifeline
And meet the new Queen of Royal Badness
Latifah has the spirit so head for the water
And dive into the wrath of my madness
(Latifah: rasta chorus)
Cost of living getting higher cause them to rhyme our way
Queen Latifah getting higher cause her to rhyme our way
Some MC's have gold and African vein
And using each other to compete with
Their subjects I pity because their rhymes are not witty like mine
To write a rhyme so delicious you can eat it
There are those who like my taste, but don't consider biting
There's penalties for those who don't do writing, just be reciting
Everyone else's word that took a lot of thinking
It's not my fault your thoughts are shrinking
while mine are growing, yes you know like all the woman inside of me
Despite what you do or say, and even in spite of me
Brothers, catch my eye with little hijinks like eye winks
Dying to have a lover of my likeness
So release all your shyness, call me "Your highness"
And dare to feel the wrath of my madness
(Latifah: rasta chorus)
Cost of living getting higher cause them to rhyme our way
Queen Latifah getting higher cause her to rhyme our way
Word of mouth is always everlasting
And everlasting are the words that I bring
The ruler of the ring is Lord Ramsey
And music is made by Mark the 45 King
You tremble for my treble, you're begging for the bass
The voice is too vicious, the same as the pace
The crowds, they love me, they give only hugs
The shrinked-to-fit buttonflies fit quite snug
As a bug, you know why? Because I'm bugging
Of the beats that DJ Mark is loving
So plex on the sounds that I'm pumping
I'm jumping with the energy to turn your mind to gladness
Come on, just get into it, don't lie and say you've been through it
Feel the wrath of my madness
(More rasta singing)
I scene is mine cause I took it
I took it for the money and I took it for the fun
Don't step up in my face, you don't want to feel the taste
Don't try and play me out, cause I am not the one
Brothers on my brastrap, sisters clocking my sound, why?
Because they want to be down with the
Queen L-A-T-I-F-A-H in command
I supply the concept for you to understand
For those who want to bite, don't make me have to fuss
The only thing you get is the gluteous maximus
Suckers on the tip, you're loving me, you're leaving me
You wish that one day you could have this
Come on, you know the time, just be thankful for the rhyme
And get up on the wrath of my madness
(Extended ragga outro)
In "Wrath of My Madness," Queen Latifah is asserting her dominance in the rap game by delivering clever and powerful rhymes with a smooth flow. She raps about turning down collaborations, but eventually agreeing to work with R.E. posse as she knows she has the skills to shine on the track. She asserts that her lyrics are superior to others, stating that she writes rhymes so delicious you can eat them, while others' rhymes are not witty like hers. She challenges other MCs to step up to her level and face the "wrath of her madness."
The chorus, sung in a Rasta style, declares the increasing cost of living and how it is affecting the world. It also asserts Queen Latifah's superiority by proclaiming that she is getting "higher" because others are starting to rhyme like her. The verses are full of confident declarations, from her skills as a teacher and ruler of the mic, to the love and adoration of her fans.
Overall, "Wrath of My Madness" is an empowering and confident track that asserts Queen Latifah's talent and ability to rule the rap game.
Line by Line Meaning
My mellow Latee was kicking flavor
My friend Latee was doing well and entertaining
The R.E. posse said "Yo Latifah we can do this"
The R.E. group invited Queen Latifah to join and collaborate
So I paused in the thought and in my brillance I caught
Queen Latifah stopped and realized the potential of this opportunity
And I agreed because I already knew this
Queen Latifah agreed to collaborate because she was confident they would succeed
Now you should want to flex, cause I'm in full effect
You should want to show off because I'm confident and in control
Queen Latifah is five-oh on this set
Queen Latifah is the authority and in charge of this performance
You've been begging and dying for somebody's rhyming to set you free
You've been desperately waiting for someone's lyrics to inspire you
For God so loved the world he gave to me
Queen Latifah believes her talent is a gift from God
I'm coolin teaching those needing schoolin
I'm relaxed and educating those who require guidance
The mic, this mic in my hand, I'm rulin
I'm in charge and in control of the microphone
So prepare your mind for my lifeline
Get ready to listen to my words and wisdom
And meet the new Queen of Royal Badness
Meet the new dominant and powerful rapper, Queen Latifah
Latifah has the spirit so head for the water
Latifah has the confidence and energy, so face your fears
And dive into the wrath of my madness
And embrace the passionate and intense lyrics I'm about to deliver
Cost of living getting higher cause them to rhyme our way
The high cost of living makes people want to listen to our music and lyrics
Queen Latifah getting higher cause her to rhyme our way
Queen Latifah's reputation is growing because of her unique style and lyrics
Some MC's have gold and African vein
Some rappers have wealth and African heritage
And using each other to compete with
They use each other to compete and stand out
Their subjects I pity because their rhymes are not witty like mine
I feel sorry for their fans because their lyrics aren't as clever as mine
To write a rhyme so delicious you can eat it
To write a lyrical masterpiece that is enjoyable to listen to
There are those who like my taste, but don't consider biting
Some people enjoy my style, but refrain from copying it
There's penalties for those who don't do writing, just be reciting
Those who don't write their own lyrics but just recite others' works will face consequences
Everyone else's word that took a lot of thinking
Others' lyrics may have taken a lot of work and thought to create
It's not my fault your thoughts are shrinking
It's not my responsibility that you can't come up with clever lyrics
while mine are growing, yes you know like all the woman inside of me
While my lyrics are improving, like the strength of all women
Despite what you do or say, and even in spite of me
Regardless of what anyone says, even myself
Brothers, catch my eye with little hijinks like eye winks
Male admirers try to get my attention with small actions like winks
Dying to have a lover of my likeness
Desiring a partner with similar interests and talents as me
So release all your shyness, call me "Your highness"
Don't be timid, address me as royalty
And dare to feel the wrath of my madness
Embrace the intensity and passion of my lyrics
Word of mouth is always everlasting
Positive reviews from others are long-lasting
And everlasting are the words that I bring
My lyrics will continue to be relevant for a long time
The ruler of the ring is Lord Ramsey
Lord Ramsey is the one in charge of the performance
And music is made by Mark the 45 King
Mark the 45 King is responsible for creating the music
You tremble for my treble, you're begging for the bass
You're excited for the music and my powerful lyrics
The voice is too vicious, the same as the pace
My voice is intense and matches the quick tempo of the music
The crowds, they love me, they give only hugs
The audience loves me and shows their appreciation with hugs
The shrinked-to-fit buttonflies fit quite snug
My clothing fits perfectly and snugly
As a bug, you know why? Because I'm bugging
I'm super excited and passionate about my performance
Of the beats that DJ Mark is loving
I'm excited about the music that DJ Mark created
So plex on the sounds that I'm pumping
Enjoy the music and lyrics that I'm delivering
I'm jumping with the energy to turn your mind to gladness
I'm energetic and enthusiastic, hoping to bring happiness to your mind
Come on, just get into it, don't lie and say you've been through it
Enjoy the performance, don't pretend you've experienced anything like it
Feel the wrath of my madness
Embrace the passion and intensity of my lyrics
I scene is mine cause I took it
I'm in control and dominating the performance
I took it for the money and I took it for the fun
I did it for both financial gain and enjoyment
Don't step up in my face, you don't want to feel the taste
Don't confront me, you won't like the outcome
Don't try and play me out, cause I am not the one
Don't try to deceive or manipulate me, I won't fall for it
Brothers on my brastrap, sisters clocking my sound, why?
Male admirers are interested in me, and female fans are admiring my music
Because they want to be down with the
Because they want to join and be associated with
Queen L-A-T-I-F-A-H in command
Queen Latifah is the one in charge
I supply the concept for you to understand
I provide the idea and meaning for you to comprehend
For those who want to bite, don't make me have to fuss
For those who want to copy me, please don't make me angry
The only thing you get is the gluteous maximus
The only thing you'll get is my behind
Suckers on the tip, you're loving me, you're leaving me
People are initially interested in me, but then quickly move on
You wish that one day you could have this
You wish you could have what I have
Come on, you know the time, just be thankful for the rhyme
Enjoy the music and lyrics, and be grateful for them
And get up on the wrath of my madness
Embrace the passionate and intense lyrics I'm about to deliver
Lyrics ยฉ Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: QUEEN LATIFAH, MARK HOWARD JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zosblackdenali
Rip 45 King. When I heard he passed this is the first track that popped into my head. Classic
@shirleystewart3369
This song still hits after all of these years! Congrats Queen on your BET Lifetime Achievement Award, well deserved!
@mister1651
RIPower to the 45 KING
@anwarphilip7460
THAT CHORUS.......PRICELESS......
@harlemsfinest7707
Queen Latifah came down to Hampton University around the time this album came out. We had no idea who she was but by the time she was done with her set we knew then!!! As the years went on we would always see her around in different places and she always gave love. Much love to Queen Latifah from Harlem NYC โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
@okolopierre8132
.
@marshalledwards7311
Newark , New Jersey
@jahlaune
I was just in my kitchen washing dishes and this songs beat came to my head. Hail the Queen , good memories
@rolandwashington1728
True...she is one of the best
@haroldwilliams6439
That's how I was feeling a few minutes ago in my garage the beat just came to my head... LOL... You know vibe!!!