Biography

Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970), better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is a multi-talented American artist. She has carved out a niche as an actress, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Her musical debut in 1989 with the album All Hail the Queen was a huge success, featuring the chart-topping hit single Ladies First.

Over the years, Queen Latifah has garnered numerous accolades for her contributions to music, acting, and more. Her impressive array of awards includes a coveted Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. She made history as the first female hip-hop artist to be recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, solidifying her position as a true trailblazer in the industry.

Queen Latifah‘s album releases, including Nature of a Sista’ (1991), Black Reign (1993), and Order in the Court (1998), prove her impressive musical talent and creative vision. Her range and versatility as an artist are also evident in her acting roles. In 2002, she earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in the musical film Chicago, and in 2015, her portrayal of blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO film Bessie earned her a Primetime Emmy Award.

Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Full Name:	Dana Elaine Owens
Stage Name:	Queen Latifah
Born:	18 March 1970 (age 53 years old)
Place of Birth:	Newark, New Jersey, United States
Nationality:	American
Height:	1.78 m
Parents:	Rita Owens, Lancelot Owens Sr
Siblings:	Lancelot Owens Jr
Spouse:	Eboni Nichols
Girlfriend • Boyfriend • Partner:	Sean Moon (ex.), Jeanette Jenkins (2002-2011), Monifah Carter (1997)
Children:	Rebel Nichols
Occupation:	Rapper • TV Personality
Net Worth:	$70 million

Early Life & Education

Dana Elaine Owens, popularly known as Queen Latifah, was born in Newark, New Jersey, on March 18, 1970. She spent most of her early life in East Orange, New Jersey. Her mother, Rita Owens, was an educator at Irvington High School, where she studied, while her father, Lancelot Owens Sr., was a police officer. Unfortunately, her parents separated when she was ten, and her father passed away soon after.

Queen Latifah attended Catholic School in Newark and later transferred to Essex Catholic Girls’ High School in Irvington, where she played basketball for her school team as a power forward. After graduating from Irvington High School, she took classes at the Borough of Manhattan Community College after high school.

At the tender age of eight, Queen Latifah found her stage name, “Latifah,” which means “delicate” and “very kind” in Arabic, in a book of Arabic names. She also loved music from a young age, and at a grammar school play, she performed the song Home from the musical The Wiz.

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Sadly, in 1992, Queen Latifah‘s elder brother, Lancelot Owens Jr., lost his life in an incident involving a motorcycle she had purchased for him. Despite this tragedy, Latifah persevered and made a name for herself in the music industry, becoming a renowned rapper, singer, and actress.

Personal Life

In 2006, during her show Living Single, Queen Latifah continued to sport the key to the bike she had bought for her late brother, Lancelot Owens Jr., as a sentimental token of remembrance. Unfortunately, the rapper and actress has also had to endure some harrowing personal tragedies, such as the 1995 carjacking incident that led to the shooting of her then-boyfriend, Sean Moon.

She has also faced legal troubles, including an arrest in 1996 for possession of marijuana and a loaded handgun and a DUI arrest in 2002, which led to a three-year probation period. However, Queen Latifah has moved forward from these incidents and focused on her career and personal life.

Sadly, in March 2018, Queen Latifah‘s mother, Rita Owens, passed away due to heart failure, a devastating loss for the artist. Despite her reluctance to publicly discuss her private life, she finally acknowledged her partner Eboni Nichols and son Rebel Nichols during her speech at the 2021 BET Awards.

In addition to her personal life, Queen Latifah has also uncovered interesting insights into her ancestry through the show Finding Your Roots. She discovered that her ancestors had freed Negros listed by name in a pre-US Civil War census and specifically became free on October 1, 1792.

Throughout her career, Queen Latifah has also been involved in romantic relationships with Jeanette Jenkins (2002-2011) and Monifah Carter (1997), but since July 2010, she has been in a committed relationship with Eboni Nichols.

Career

Queen Latifah is a name that’s synonymous with hip-hop royalty. An original member of the Flavor Unit and beatboxer for the hip-hop group Ladies Fresh, she was a trailblazer in the music industry. Her demo recording caught the attention of Fab 5 Freddy, the host of Yo! MTV Raps was later brought to the attention of Tommy Boy Music employee Dante Ross, who signed her to the label. Her track, Wrath of My Madness, was sampled by Ice Cube and Lil’ Kim.

As an artist, Queen Latifah significantly impacted hip-hop by rapping about the difficulties that black women face, with her songs tackling issues like domestic violence, street harassment, and relationship issues. In 1989, when she was just 19, Fab 5 Freddy helped her sign with Tommy Boy Records, and she released her first album, All Hail the Queen, which cemented her as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

Her work didn’t go unnoticed, and Queen Latifah was awarded a Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1992. She also made history with Monie Love as the first female rapper from two different groups to collaborate on a song titled Ladies First. Her 1993 album, Black Reign, went gold and won the Grammy for U.N.I.T.Y.

But Queen Latifah‘s talents extend beyond rapping. She has a two-octave vocal range and is considered a contralto with the ability to sing and rap. She shifted from primarily rapping in her earlier projects to singing soul and jazz music. In 2004, she released The Dana Owens Album, featuring these genres. In 2007, she performed live in front of a crowd at the Hollywood Bowl, accompanied by an orchestra and backup singers. That same year, she released Trav’lin’ Light, which included collaborations with well-known artists such as Jill Scott and Stevie Wonder. The album was nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album” category.

Queen Latifah‘s versatility is also evident in her film career. She began her acting career in 1991 and 1992 in supporting roles and made appearances on TV shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper. She starred in the FOX sitcom Living Single, which gained widespread recognition.

Queen Latifah had a prominent role in Set It Off and Living Out Loud and played Thelma in The Bone Collector with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. She also had her talk show, The Queen Latifah Show, from 1999 to 2001 and from 2013 to 2015.

Queen Latifah has also produced and starred in several films, including The Perfect Holiday in 2007, which featured Terrence Howard, Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Charlie Murphy, Jill Marie Jones, and Faizon Love. The following year, she appeared in the crime comedy Mad Money with Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes, and Ted Danson.

Aside from her music and film career, Queen Latifah hosted Saturday Night Live and presented at the 81st Academy Awards in 2009. She spoke at Michael Jackson‘s memorial service, hosted the 2010 People’s Choice Awards, sang America the Beautiful at the 2010 Super Bowl, hosted the 2010 BET Awards, and starred in Joyful Noise alongside Dolly Parton in 2012.

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Net Worth

Queen Latifah has an estimated net worth of $70 million. She has earned her wealth from a variety of sources. 

She made her initial fortune as a successful rapper, singer, and songwriter; her songs have appeared on five gold and platinum albums. She has also starred in numerous films, TV shows, and commercials.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @Queenlatifah
• Twitter handle: @Iamqueenlatifah

Discography

• Walk The Dinosaur
• you Can’t Stop the Beat
• U.N.I.T.Y
• I Know Where I’ve Been
• Big, Blonde, & Beautiful
• Just Another Day
• He’s Everything
• Higher Medley
• Ladies First
• When You’re Good To Mama 
• Come So Far
• Fix Me, Jesus
• Who Can I Turn To?
• Jersey
• Cell Block Tango
• Weekend Love
• Name Callin’
• Class
• It’s Alright
• Freedom
• Hello Stranger
• Black Hand Side

Filmography

• Joyful Noise
• Just Wright
• Taxi
• End Of The Road
• Bringing Down The House
• Beauty Shop
• Mad Money
• Last Holiday
• Girls Trip
• Barbershop
• The Dilemma
• Brown Sugar
• Artic Tale
• Set it Off
• The Cookout
• Bessie
• House Of Bodies
• Hairspray
• Valentines Day
• Chicago
• Juice
• House Party 2
• Hustle