Queen Latifah is one of the most important rappers in history. She first hit the rap scene all the way back in 1989 at just 19. It was in that year that the rapper released her debut album, “All Hail The Queen.” The album’s empowering and Afrocentric lyrics were an instant hit. Subsequently, the Queen has gone on to inspire multiple generations of female rappers. Overall, the New Jersey native has made an incredible impact on the industry. Now, she has ensured her voice will live on forever.
On Wednesday, the Library of Congress announced that Queen Latifah had been inducted into the National Recording Registry. The registry is a database that preserves culturally significant recordings. Other inductees on this year’s list include Mariah Carey’s holiday standard “All I Want for Christmas is You,” Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” and Daddy Yankee’s 2004 smash “Gasolina.’ The registry was first created in 2000. Most of the inductees have been older jazz and rock songs. However, there have been a few hip-hip entries in the past. Jay-Z’s album The Blueprint and Dr. Dre’s The Chronic are two notable standouts.
Queen Latifah Inspires Multiple Generations
NPR would go on to explain why Queen Latifah was chosen for induction. “Her album showed rap could cross genres including reggae, hip-hop, house and jazz — while also opening opportunities for other female rappers.” On that point, her impact on female rappers is perhaps what she’s best known for. In 1993 she released her classic single “U.N.I.T.Y.” The song became a rallying cry for black women against the sexism they often face in hip-hop and society at-large. It speaks to the song’s longevity that it still gets play 30 years after its release.
However, it’s not just the rap game that Queen Latifah has conquered. After putting music on the back burner, the star became an A-list actress in the 90s and 2000s. Indeed, she is near the top of the short list of rappers who succeeded in Hollywood. Additionally, she has also dipped her toe in the daytime talk show waters. Two different iterations of “The Queen Latifah Show” ran from 1999 to 2001 and from 2009 to 2011. Additionally, the star long since solidified herself as a fashion icon. Overall, regardless of whether she’s rapping or acting, Queen Latifah has had a truly legendary career.
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