How Did Queen Latifah Impact Society

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The queen of hip-hop – formally known as Queen Latifah was born on March 18, 1970 in Newark, New Jersey. Born as Dana Elaine Owens to Lance and Rita Owens, Latifah encountered a portion of her professional name (Latifah) from her cousin of Muslim heritage at an early age, Latifah meaning “sensitive” and “delicate” in the Arabic language. Queen Latifah – as we may all know her as is one of the most well respected women in the industry; she has had a strong impact on the African American society as well as a variety of other ethnicity groups – from starring in hit films, being one of the most talented women MCs to being the talk show host of her own television show, the QUEEN has definitely impacted the women media society robustly. During her college career Latifah adopted her now well-known name Queen Latifah, and linked up with Afrika Babaataa’s Native Tongues in which she sought her positive Afrocentric awareness to hip-hop. She later was …show more content…

In 1993 Latifah secured a record deal with the famous Motown, which released Latifah’s third album Black Reign. Latifah dedicated this album to her decease brother who died in 1991 from an accident on the motorcycle that Latifah purchased for him as a gift. This album did not only put her back on the map but it sold more than 500,000 copies. Her hit single “U.N.I.T.Y from her Black Reign album brought forth fame that Latifah did not expect; in 1995 Latifah earned her first Grammy Award for Best Solo Rap Performance, making history throughout the hip-hop society. The song spoke lyrics so powerful that it brought forth change. Latifah’s lyrics spoke of the personalization of black women sexuality, and it also spoke against domestic violence. U.N.I.T.Y had a huge impact of the feminist side of hip hop, it proved that women rappers did have a powerful position when it came to the male dominated hip-hop

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