QUEEN LATIFAH - DANA ELAINE OWENS

Early Life and Influences

Dana Elaine Owens was born on March 18, 1970 in Newark, New Jersey. She was raised primarily in East Orange and spent part of her youth in Irvington. (Encyclopedia Britannica) Her mother, Rita (Bray), was a schoolteacher, and her father, Lancelot “Lance” Owens Sr., served as a police officer. (IMDb) Dana had an older brother, Lance Owens Jr., who also became a police officer; tragically, he died in a motorcycle accident in 1992. Her parents divorced when she was about eight years old, and she was raised in a Christian (Baptist) environment, attending church and also going to Catholic school in Newark for part of her education. (Hollywood Walk of Fame)

As a child, she was given the nickname “Latifah” by a cousin around age eight. The name comes from Arabic and means “delicate” or “very kind” (or “sensitive”). (Encyclopedia Britannica) She later adopted the moniker Queen Latifah as her stage name, choosing “Queen” to evoke power and presence in the emerging hip-hop scene. (Biography)

From an early age, Latifah displayed a multifaceted set of interests. She sang in her church choir, and as a young girl participated in school productions — for example, in primary school she performed “Home” from The Wizard of Oz. (Biography) By her first year of high school, she was rapping informally in restrooms and locker rooms; later she co-founded a rap group called Ladies Fresh along with friends Tangy B and Landy D. (Biography)

Latifah was also athletically inclined: in high school, she played power forward on the girls’ basketball team in state-level competition. (Hollywood Walk of Fame) Her height (about 5′10″) gave her a presence both on stage and on the court. (IMDb) Additionally, reports note that she trained in karate under her father’s guidance, which contributed to a sense of discipline and physical confidence in her youth. (This detail, sometimes included in earlier biographical sketches, may be drawn from interviews and anecdotal sources.)

During her teens, Latifah’s mother stayed connected to her children’s social circles and even invited a local DJ, Mark “The 45 King” James, to school dances. James became an early mentor; his basement in East Orange served as a gathering spot for Latifah and her friends, where musical ideas and demos were exchanged. (Biography) Latifah and her friends began calling their circle the Flavor Unit, a loose collective of artists and aspiring performers. (Biography)

While still in high school, Latifah worked a part-time job (for example, at a fast food chain), helping to support herself and build life experience. (Biography) After graduating high school (Irvington High School), she took some communications courses at Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York City. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Musical Breakthrough and Early Albums

At around age 18, Latifah began recording demos. Her first single, “Wrath of My Madness,” was released in 1988 via the influence of DJ Mark the 45 King and others. (Biography) In 1989, she signed with Tommy Boy Records and released her debut album All Hail the Queen. (Wikipedia) All Hail the Queenblended influences of jazz, reggae, soul, and socially conscious rap—an early vocal stance for feminist and Afrocentric themes. (Encyclopedia Britannica) The album included the now-classic track “Ladies First,” featuring Monie Love, which remains one of her signature songs. (Wikipedia)

Her second album, Nature of a Sista’, was released in 1991 (also under Tommy Boy). (Wikipedia) It didn’t match the commercial impact of her debut, and Tommy Boy did not re-sign her. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Undeterred, Latifah signed with Motown Records and in 1993 released Black Reign. (Encyclopedia Britannica) Black Reign became the first solo album by a female rapper to earn RIAA gold certification. (Wikipedia) The standout single, “U.N.I.T.Y.,” confronted issues of sexism, violence against women, and respect—delivering a powerful message that resonated widely. (Encyclopedia Britannica) “U.N.I.T.Y.” achieved chart success (reaching the Billboard Hot 100) and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1995. (Wikipedia)

After some years’ break, Latifah released her fourth album, Order in the Court, on June 16, 1998. (Wikipedia) However, Order in the Court did not achieve the same commercial heights as her earlier work. (Wikipedia)

Over the years, Latifah has also explored more jazz, soul, and traditional singing styles, releasing additional albums such as The Dana Owens Album (2004), Trav’lin’ Light (2007), and Persona(2009). (Wikipedia)

Expansion into Film, Television, and Business

By the early 1990s, Latifah was branching into acting. Her first on-screen credit was in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever(1991). (Encyclopedia Britannica) Over time, she appeared in numerous films and TV shows, developing wide range and versatility. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

In 1993, Latifah was cast as Khadijah James in the Fox sitcom Living Single, and she remained in that role through 1998. (Wikipedia) This role increased her visibility and allowed her to showcase her comedic timing and acting presence. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

One of her most celebrated film roles came in Chicago(2002), where she played Matron “Mama” Morton. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, expanding her acclaim beyond music. (Encyclopedia Britannica) She also starred in commercial successes like Bringing Down the House (2003), Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Beauty Shop(2005), Last Holiday (2006), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Joyful Noise (2012), Girls Trip (2017) and others. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Latifah also ventured into television talk shows. She launched The Queen Latifah Show, which first aired in September 1999 and ran until August 2001. (Wikipedia) A revived version aired from 2013 until March 2015. (Wikipedia)

In parallel with her creative work, Latifah cultivated business interests. She founded Flavor Unit Entertainment (also sometimes called Flavor Unit Management) along with her partner Shakim Compere, managing and producing projects for herself and other artists. (Biography) Her production credits and executive roles have grown over time.

She has also received numerous awards and honors across multiple fields—music, film, television. Over her career, she has won a Grammy, a Primetime Emmy, a Golden Globe, multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards, and NAACP Image Awards; she has also been nominated for (among others) an Academy Award. (Wikipedia) In 2006, she became the first hip-hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Wikipedia)

In recent years, Latifah has continued to act in television. From 2021 to 2025 she starred in the CBS revival of The Equalizer as Robyn McCall. (Wikipédia)

Challenges, Personal Growth, and Public Persona

Latifah’s ascent was not without personal trials. The death of her brother in 1992 was a profound loss, and in later interviews she has described periods of emotional struggle, identity searching, and needing professional psychological support (in one account, upon recommendation from Jada Pinkett). (These more intimate reflections come from personal interviews and memoir-style narratives.)

In the public record, she has faced some legal challenges. For example, in 1993 she was arrested after being pulled over for speeding, and charged with marijuana possession and carrying an unlicensed handgun. (Wikipedia) In 1995, a municipal complaint was filed alleging that 240 illegally copied tapes were found in a video store she once owned (though by that time she had already sold the store). (Wikipedia) In November 2002, she was pulled over in Los Angeles for an alleged unsafe lane change; she was arrested after failing a sobriety test. (Wikipedia) (As with many public figures, media accounts sometimes differ in specifics or emphasis.)

Latifah has always maintained an emphasis on self-esteem, dignity, and respect—especially for Black women. In 1997, she published From the Heart of a Queen, a motivational book drawing on life lessons and her personal philosophy though not intended as full autobiography. (Wikipedia) Over time, she has embraced a public persona that celebrates body positivity and self-worth, refusing to conform to narrow standards of beauty. (Vogue) She has often declined to publicly discuss romantic partners, choosing to retain privacy in her personal life. (Wikipedia)

Her leadership style, artistic choices, and business acumen have helped her become a role model for many—especially women and women of color—who see in her a figure of strength, versatility, and unapologetic authenticity