Queen Latifah

Dana Elaine Owens better known as Queen Latifah, is an American musician, actress, and rapper. Queen Latifah is an American actress, rapper and performer. Queen Latifah was born and lived in Newark New Jersey the daughter of Rita teacher who taught in Irvington High School and Lancelot Owens Sr. as a police officer. Latifahs parents split up after Latifah, then ten years aged, was 10 years old. Latifah was raised in the Baptist faith and attended Catholic school in Newark New Jersey. Her stage name Latifah meaning delicate and very gentle in Arabic was handed to her by her aunt when she was eight. Always a tall girl the 5'10 tall Latifah was a power forward for the basketball team at her high school. She performed the hit song Home from The Wiz at a performance in high school. Latifah started beatboxing for the group known as Ladies Fresh. Latifah became part of the Flavor Unit in its original form, which consisted of a team of MCs led by producer DJ Mark The 45 King. Mark James (aka DJ Mark the 45King) recorded a demo of Queen Latifah her rap Princess of the Posse. The recording was given to host Yo! MTV Raps Freddy. Dante Ross, an employee of Tommy Boy Music who heard the song and signed Latifah in 1988 to release her debut single Wrath of My Madness.