Hip-Hop Actors That Took The Screen: Queen Latifah

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In August, Queen Latifah took to twitter to big up the Girls Trip” cast and crew, celebrating the huge accomplishments that the summer blockbuster received. Along with the positive reviews, Girls Trip became the first film written, produced, directed, and starring African Americans to gross over $100-million dollars. Latifah, one of the stars of the film, is no stranger to the silver screen, and perhaps to the surprise of some younger viewers; to hip-hop. The marriage between Hip-Hop stars and hollywood has been well documented throughout the years. We seen Will Smith go from rapping on the playgrounds of West Philadelphia, to becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars. We also seen Ice Cube’s epic transition from rapping to filmmaking. Queen Latifah jumped from wax to the screen as gracefully as anyone. As an emcee, Latifah was considered a Queen in the game (no pun intended) by uplifting women with positive messages in her records, while competing in a male-dominated rap industry. Latifah released her debut album “All Hail The Queen” in 1989, and became the leading woman in hip-hop’s golden era after the success of her anthem “Ladies First”.

Latifah would go on to release her second album “Nature of a Sista” in 1991, followed by “Black Reign” in 1993. Black Reign produced what maybe Latifah’s most recognizable song U.N.I.T.Y, which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. 1993 was also the year that Latifah began to attain major acting roles , starring in the fox sitcom “Living Single”. Then came 1996, the year that the Queen made a big splash on the big screen by landing a leading role in the cult-movie “Set It Off”. Set It Off, which also stars Jada Pinkett Smith (who also stars alongside Latifah in the aforementioned Girls Trip) is a crime drama, in which four friends decide to become bank robbers. Being set in Los Angles, the film was a huge success in the urban community riding off the momentum of the gangster- rap influence that was prevalent at the time in hip-hop. Latifah had a stand-out performance amongst fans playing the “Cleo” who was the most rough and rugged of the four characters.

In 2002, Queen Latifah began to garner mainstream acclaim and fame on the screen after her performance in the musical-drama “Chicago”. Her performance in Chicago landed her an Academy Award nomination, which although she didn’t win, the nomination awarded her a new level of notoriety. Latifah has since had roles in films such as Beauty Shop, Last Holiday, and The Secret Life of Bees, to name a few, and produce and host her own television talk show, as well as co-staring in the Television series “The Star”.

Latifah’s career in hip-hop and on the screen has been very impressive. As an emcee she is still very respected and the source of many female emcees today. She has been a recipient of a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Emmy Award. Not many can make that claim, All Hail the Queen.

@DJChalant