Queen Latifah

Dana Elaine Owens, better called Queen Latifah in the United States is a rapper and actress. Queen Latifah is an American rapper, actress as well as a singer. Queen Latifah was born in and raised in Newark New Jersey the daughter of Rita teacher who taught for Irvington High School and Lancelot Owens Sr. an officer in the police force. Her parents divorced around the age of 10. Latifah was brought up in the Baptist church, and attended Catholic school at Newark New Jersey. Latifah can be described as an Arabic word that means "delicate and kind". The cousin she had granted it to her at the age of eight. Always a tall girl her height of 5'10 inches Latifah was a forward for the basketball team at her high school. The play she played in her high school she performed "Home" from The Wiz. Latifah began beatboxing with the women's fresh rap group. Latifah is among the founding members of the Flavor Unit, which was at the time a group made up of DJ Mark the 45 King. Mark James aka the 45 King, recorded a version of Queen Latifah's Princess of the Posse rap. The recording was given to host Yo! MTV Raps Faddy. Dante Ross of Tommy Boy Music, who worked for Latifah during that time and was awed by the single. In 1988 she released Wrath of My Madness as Latifah's first single.