The Evolution of Queen Latifah

Follow the Queen on her way to the throne.

Leading Women Defined Esi Eggleston Bracey

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah: March 18 - The rapper, actress and Cover Girl is in her prime at 42. (Photo: EPA/JUSTIN LANE /LANDOV)

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All Hail the Queen! - All hail the Queen! Rapper-actor-model-entrepreneur Queen Latifah, who turns 43 on March 18. Looking back at her superstar successes, we're sure Latifah is proud. But the her journey to the top of the game wasn't a short one. Click on to see how the Queen got her crown. (Photo: EPA/JUSTIN LANE/Landov)

The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Dana Elaine Owens was born in East Orange, New Jersey, to a schoolteacher mom and a police officer dad. She found her stage name, Latifah, meaning "delicate" and "very kind" in Arabic, in a muslim book of names at the age of 8. She caught the entertainment bug early, singing “Home” from the musical The Wiz in a high school play.(Photo: WENN)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Dana Elaine Owens was born in East Orange, New Jersey, to a schoolteacher mom and a police officer dad. She found her stage name, Latifah, meaning "delicate" and "very kind" in Arabic, in a muslim book of names at the age of 8. She caught the entertainment bug early, singing “Home” from the musical The Wiz in a high school play. (Photo: WENN)

The Evolution of Queen Latifah - A demo of Latifah's made its way to now legendary record exec Dante Ross, who signed her to Tommy Boy Records and released her acclaimed debut album, All Hail the Queen, led by her classic feminist anthem, "Ladies First." The Queen was on her way.(Photo: Tommy Boy Records)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - A demo of Latifah's made its way to now legendary record exec Dante Ross, who signed her to Tommy Boy Records and released her acclaimed debut album, All Hail the Queen, led by her classic feminist anthem, "Ladies First." The Queen was on her way.(Photo: Tommy Boy Records)

The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Propelled by the uplifting, Grammy-winning "U.N.I.T.Y.," Latifah's third album, Black Reign, was her most successful yet, earning the Queen her first gold plaque. (Photo: Motown Records)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Propelled by the uplifting, Grammy-winning "U.N.I.T.Y.," Latifah's third album, Black Reign, was her most successful yet, earning the Queen her first gold plaque. (Photo: Motown Records)

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Queen Latifah in Jungle Fever - She was already rap royalty by the time she stepped in front of the movie camera for the first time in Spike Lee's 1991 classic. As outspoken waitress LaShawn, Latifah didn't exactly have the most screen time, but managed to steal enough scenes to launch an acting career that eventually surpassed her music one.(Photo: Courtesy Universal Pictures)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Expanding her boundaries just a few years after she entered the game, Latifah made her film debut as an outspoken, not-having-it waitress in Spike Lee's 1991 Jungle Fever. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Living Single - On this hip hopped pre-cursor to Friends, the overweight lover joined the cast in 1994 as Darryl, lover-then-friend of the character Regine (Kim Fields).(Photo: FOX)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah took her acting up another notch when she landed a starring role on the hit sitcom Living Single in 1993. (Photo: Warner Bros.)

The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Meanwhile, Latifah was also making moves behind the scenes — in the boardroom to be exact. She came up as part of DJ-producer Mark the 45 King's Flavor Unit crew, which also included Apache, Chill Rob and Lateef. But as her success grew, the brand evolved into her umbrella organization, responsible for all her business dealings, including production, management and real estate. Under Latifah and partner Shakim Compere, Flavor Unit became one of rap's preeminent management companies, with a list of clients and former clients that includes OutKast, Naughty by Nature and others.(Photo: Sony BMG)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Meanwhile, Latifah was also making moves behind the scenes—in the boardroom to be exact. She came up as part of DJ-producer Mark the 45 King's Flavor Unit crew, which also included Apache, Chill Rob and Lateef. But as her success grew, the brand evolved into her umbrella organization, responsible for all her business dealings, including production, management and real estate. Under Latifah and partner Shakim Compere, Flavor Unit became one of rap's preeminent management companies, with a list of clients and former clients that includes OutKast, Naughty by Nature and others.(Photo: Sony BMG)

Set It Off, Wednesday at 7P/6C - Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Kimberly Elise and Vivica A. Fox are women on a mission. Encore presentation on Thursday at 3P/2C.(Photo: New Line Cinema)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah stepped up her game when she landed a major supporting role in the classic 1996 heist flick Set If Off. (Photo: New Line Cinema)

The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah started getting more and more mainstream attention with the two-year run of her syndicated talk show The Queen Latifah Show.(Photo: Reuters)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah started getting more and more mainstream attention with the two-year run of her syndicated talk show, The Queen Latifah Show.(Photo: Reuters)

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Mama Morton Revisited  - Queen Latifah slayed her role as Matron Mama Morton in the film adaptation of Chicago. Hopefully, an official Broadway debut is in her near future. (Photo: Miramax Films)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah's biggest breakthrough yet was her role in the Best Picture Oscar–winning 2002 adaptation of the musical Chicago, which landed her an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress. The Queen had arrived. (Photo: Miramax Films)

Bringing Down the House (2003) - A year after her Oscar-nominated performance in Chicago, Queen Latifah starred opposite Steve Martin in this comedy about a convict trying to use an online companion to get charges dropped. The role marked Latifah's arrival on Hollywood's "it" list. Here's a look at the cast who brought us another kind of odd couple. (Photo: Touchstone Pictures)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah landed one of her first lead roles in the 2003 comedy and box-office smash Bringing Down the House, which also starred Steve Martin.  (Photo: Touchstone Pictures)

The Evolution of Queen Latifah - After showing off her surprisingly strong pipes in Chicago, Latifah followed through with a new LP, 2004's The Dana Owens Album, which found her switching lanes away from rap and belting out jazz standards. The boundary-breaking album was her most successful to date, selling more than 600,000 copies. (Photo: Flavor Unit)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - After showing off her surprisingly strong pipes in Chicago, Latifah followed through with a new LP, 2004's The Dana Owens Album, which found her switching lanes away from rap and belting out jazz standards. The boundary-breaking album was her most successful to date, selling more than 600,000 copies. (Photo: Flavor Unit)

The Evolution of Queen Latifah - For her regal work in film, TV and music throughout her career, Latifah was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - For her regal work in film, TV and music throughout her career, Latifah was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah added yet another role to her ever-expanding résumé when she became a spokesperson and model for CoverGirl in 2006. (Photo: COVERGIRL)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah added yet another role to her ever-expanding résumé when she became a spokesperson and model for CoverGirl in 2006. (Photo: COVERGIRL)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah had another star turn in 2010's Just Wright as a sports therapist who falls for her basketballer client, played by fellow rapper-turned-actor Common.(Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah had another star turn in 2010's Just Wright as a sports therapist who falls for her basketballer client, played by fellow rapper-turned-actor Common. (Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures)

The People's Choice  January 5, 2011 - After hosting last year's BET Awards, Latifah went on to host the 2011 People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Latifah is busy as ever in 2012. Her new movie with Dolly Parton, Joyful Noise, came out this past January, extending the Queen's reign over Hollywood. Watch the throne.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)