Queen Latifah

Dana Elaine Owens also known as Queen Latifah, an American musician and rapper. Queen Latifah is an American actor, rapper and singer. Queen Latifah is the daughter of Newark New Jersey native. Her parents are Lancelot Sr. as a police officer as well as Rita teacher in Irvington High School. Latifah's parents divorced after Latifah was 10 years old. aged, was 10 years old. Latifah attended Catholic school in Newark New Jersey and was raised by the Baptist Church. Latifah is a word that means gentle and generous. The name was given by her cousin to her at the age of eight years old. Latifah was always tall, standing 5'10", she was the strong forward for her high school basketball team. She performed the hit song Home from The Wiz at a high-school play. Latifah was the first to begin beatboxing for Ladies Fresh. Latifah was a part of the original Flavor Unit group that included a variety of MCs, as well as producer DJ Mark 45 King. Mark James aka the 45 King, made a recording of Queen Latifah's Princess of the Posse rap. The recording was given to host Yo! MTV Raps Freddy. The single caught the eye of Tommy Boy Music employee Dante Ross who has signed Latifah and in 1988 issued her first track Wrath of My Madness.