Queen Latifah and her Flavor Unit Entertainment partner, Shakim Compere, are set to produce a biopic exploring the life and career of the Grammy Award-winning rapper. This project is the first of a collaborative agreement with Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Jesse Collins Entertainment to create a series of biopics centered on influential hip-hop artists.

“We all came into this industry together, and Hip Hop has shaped each and every one of us,” Queen Latifah and Compere said in a statement announcing the project and the partnership. “Hip Hop’s impact has expanded beyond just music and has created a lasting impression on culture and society overall. It is a dream to be able to collaborate with friends and colleagues that have not only a shared understanding, but are able to tell these stories that were the backdrop of our lives.”

“When you bring talented people and teams together, you can create something truly special,” Smith added. “I’m thrilled to work alongside Flavor Unit, Jesse Collins Entertainment and HarbourView, to highlight the incredible stories of some of our favorite artists and icons. There’s no better story to start with than the one of Queen Latifah, an undisputed legend who has both entertained and inspired us for so many years.”

Queen Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens, started her career beatboxing for the hip-hop group Ladies Fresh. She was an original member of the Flavor Unit, a collective of emcees and DJs from New York City and New Jersey. At 19 years old, she released her debut album, All Hail the Queen, in 1989. From 1993 to 1998, she gained further acclaim, starring in the popular Fox sitcom “Living Single.”