Queen Latifah 'She's A Queen- A Collection of Hits' album

In the male dominated world of Rap and Hip-Hop music, it is still rare to find a female MC who puts substance above sexual prowess, skills above fashion styles and positivity above bling-bling mentality. So when that rare individual steps out - you take notice. So it is with rapper/actress/author/entrepreneur QUEEN LATIFAH.

Queen Latifah, arguably the most respected and revered female rapper of our time, returns to her musical roots with the release of her greatest hits - a collection of music culled from a decade plus in the hip hop game. Aptly titled SHE'S A QUEEN: GREATEST HITS COMPILATION, the 13 track CD, containing two new original songs, provides the perfect showpiece for a career that has been defined as groundbreaking, genre defying and socially significant to the hip-hop community - and indeed to her generation.

Queen Latifah

The award-winning entertainer was born Dana Elaine Owens in Newark, New Jersey in 1970 and later dubbed Latifah (Arabic word meaning "sensitive") by an aunt. This self proclaimed Queen burst onto rap music's scene in 1988 with the single, "Wrath of My Madness," followed by her groundbreaking 1989 debut album, ALL HAIL THE QUEEN. As part of the early 90's consortium of positive rap groups/artists, Native Tongues, which included A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love, 45 King, De La Soul (who discovered and produced Latifah's first album) and MC Lyte, Latifah rocked the mic with lyrics of empowerment of self, community and most notably of women. These themes have yet to be addressed more significantly since - even by most of today's female rappers.

SHE'S A QUEEN: GREATEST HITS COMPILATION contains songs from all four of Latifah's Grammy nominated albums, starting with her 1989 Tommy Boy Records debut, ALL HAIL THE QUEEN, to her most recent CD, the 1998 Motown release, ORDER IN THE COURT. Also included on the set are cuts from the hit motion picture soundtracks, Set If Off and New Jack City. Singles include "Ladies First," "Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here," "Just Another Day," "Paper," "Black Hand Side," "Set It Off," "It's Alright," "Come Into My House," and the anthematic - top 20 hit single, "U.N.I.T.Y." Additionally, SHE'S A QUEEN: GREATEST HITS COMPILATION includes two new tracks, "She's A Queen," produced by Kenny Flav and the Timbaland produced party jam, "Go Head."

After grabbing the attention of the music industry and fans alike with "Wrath of My Madness," Latifah followed up with the brash and boastful "Ladies First" (featuring fellow female rapper, Monie Love). The crazy upbeat dance track garnered Latifah major radio attention and established her as an MC to be reckoned with. ALL HAIL THE QUEEN delivered yet another standout cut - the classic house flavored, "Come Into My House." Flexing her singing chops as well as her razor sharp rap skills, "Come Into My House," pulsated on dance floors of clubs around the world.

Firmly ensconced in her position as rap's dominating female MC, Latifah kept the rhymes flowing with her second album released in 1991, NATURE OF A SISTA'. The album featured "Fly Girl" and the classic hip-hop track, "Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here." In 1993, Latifah signed with Motown Records and in 1993 she released her Gold certified album, BLACK REIGN. The award winning album produced the laid back odes to her ?hood, "Just Another Day" and "Black Hand Side." In 1994, Latifah took home the Grammy Award for the Best Rap Solo Performance for the universal anthem for respect, "U.N.I.T.Y," which was also featured on the album.

In 1998, after an almost five year break from full-time recording, Motown released ORDER IN THE COURT. Latifah's fourth album found the multi-talented entertainer in full possession of her sharp and powerful lyrical skills. The project produced the standout singles, "It's Alright" and "Paper," a Wyclef Jean produced rework of the Marvin Gaye classic, "Heard It Through the Grapevine." Latifah performed the updated Motown classic at the Super Bowl XXXIII Motown Half-Time Show in San Diego.

Latifah's accomplishments in the music arena are but one part of her success story. The accomplished performer is also a respected television and film star. After spending five years on the hit Fox Network television series, Living Single, Latifah has gone on to appear and star in films, including her critically acclaimed performances in Set It Off, Bone Collector with Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and Living Out Loud - surprising her fans as she confidently belted out jazz standards, in her role as a lounge singer. Latifah appeared in the made-for-TV movie, Mama Flora's Family and also spent two years executive producing and hosting her own nationally syndicated daily talk show - Queen Latifah.

Adding to her already impressive list of credentials, the Cover Girl model added author to the list with the 1999 publication of Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman. As she had with her music and television show - Latifah used her life experiences as material - and delivered a message about the importance of developing strong self-esteem and illustrating everyone's potential for becoming a king or a queen.

With Flavor Unit - the entertainment company she co-owns - as her base, Latifah has entertained, educated and demonstrated why she represents the very best of humanity. She has graced us with her regal style and talent on records, on stage and on both the big and small screen for more than ten years. First and foremost, Latifah will be remembered as the rap music female MC who dared to be different. The one who stood toe to toe with her male contemporaries- rhyme for rhyme. As the magnificent MC who demanded respect for herself and her fellow sisters, QUEEN LATIFAH reigns supreme.

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Queen Latifah - She's A Queen- A Collection of Hits