01of 16Raymond Boyd/Getty ImagesBorn Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, Queen Latifah began her career as a rapper who made her impact rapping about the Black American experience, specifically bringing awareness to issues affecting Black women. She created a lane for herself in hip-hop during a time when men dominated the genre and used her music to empower all women.Her debut albumAll Hail the Queencame out in 1989 and five years later, she won a Grammy for best rap solo performance for “U.N.I.T.Y.” in 1994. The Queen went on to become the first rapper to perform at the Super Bowl, and put out six more albums before taking over Hollywood through television, movies and musicals.Here, she is seen performing at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago in February 1990.
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Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
Born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, Queen Latifah began her career as a rapper who made her impact rapping about the Black American experience, specifically bringing awareness to issues affecting Black women. She created a lane for herself in hip-hop during a time when men dominated the genre and used her music to empower all women.
Her debut albumAll Hail the Queencame out in 1989 and five years later, she won a Grammy for best rap solo performance for “U.N.I.T.Y.” in 1994. The Queen went on to become the first rapper to perform at the Super Bowl, and put out six more albums before taking over Hollywood through television, movies and musicals.
Here, she is seen performing at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago in February 1990.
02of 16Steve Eichner/Getty ImagesLatifah rocks the house in front of a big crowd at the famous Apollo Theater in N.Y.C. in June 1994.
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Steve Eichner/Getty Images
Latifah rocks the house in front of a big crowd at the famous Apollo Theater in N.Y.C. in June 1994.
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Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
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Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
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06of 16EverettShe had a starring role as Khadijah James in the beloved seriesLiving Singlefrom 1993 to 1998.
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Everett
She had a starring role as Khadijah James in the beloved seriesLiving Singlefrom 1993 to 1998.
07of 16D Stevens/New Line/Kobal/ShutterstockLatifah played Cleo in 1996’sSet It Offalongside actresses Kimberly Elise, Vivica A. Fox and Jada Pinkett Smith.
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D Stevens/New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock
Latifah played Cleo in 1996’sSet It Offalongside actresses Kimberly Elise, Vivica A. Fox and Jada Pinkett Smith.
08of 16Takashi Seida Columbia/TriStarThe actress portrayed Thelma, alongsideAngelina Jolie, inThe Bone Collectorin 1999.
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Takashi Seida Columbia/TriStar
The actress portrayed Thelma, alongsideAngelina Jolie, inThe Bone Collectorin 1999.
09of 16MIKE NELSON/AFP via Getty ImagesThe star also hosted her ownQueen Latifah Show,first from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2013 to 2015. Here, Latifah sits down with then-presidential candidate Al Gore at Smith Community College in Riverdale, Iowa, in October 2000.
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MIKE NELSON/AFP via Getty Images
The star also hosted her ownQueen Latifah Show,first from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2013 to 2015. Here, Latifah sits down with then-presidential candidate Al Gore at Smith Community College in Riverdale, Iowa, in October 2000.
10of 16Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagicLatifah was cast as Mama Morton in the critically acclaimed 2002 musical filmChicago. She acted alongside Christine Baranski, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Renée Zellweger, Denise Faye, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs and John C. Reilly in the film, which took home the Oscar for Best Picture. The role also earned the star her own Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
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Latifah was cast as Mama Morton in the critically acclaimed 2002 musical filmChicago. She acted alongside Christine Baranski, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Renée Zellweger, Denise Faye, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs and John C. Reilly in the film, which took home the Oscar for Best Picture. The role also earned the star her own Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
11of 16Mary Ellen Matthews/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesShe’s also appeared onSaturday Night Liveseveral times — once as host in 2003 and once as host and musical guest in 2004.
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Mary Ellen Matthews/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
She’s also appeared onSaturday Night Liveseveral times — once as host in 2003 and once as host and musical guest in 2004.
12of 16Steve Granitz/WireImageIn January 2006, the mega-star was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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Steve Granitz/WireImage
In January 2006, the mega-star was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
13of 16Virginia Sherwood/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesThe late great James Lipton interviewed the multi-hyphenate onInside the Actors Studioin 2006.
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Virginia Sherwood/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
The late great James Lipton interviewed the multi-hyphenate onInside the Actors Studioin 2006.
14of 16Paul Gilmore/NBCShe went green to play The Wiz in NBC’sThe Wiz Live!in December 2015.
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Paul Gilmore/NBC
She went green to play The Wiz in NBC’sThe Wiz Live!in December 2015.
15of 16Barbara Nitke/CBSHer latest series,The Equalizer,made its big premiere following the Super Bowl on CBS in 2021.
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Barbara Nitke/CBS
Her latest series,The Equalizer,made its big premiere following the Super Bowl on CBS in 2021.
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Queen Latifah.Bennett Raglin/Getty
In June 2021, the rapper and actress was honored with the lifetime achievement award at the 2021 BET Awards, an embodiment of the show’s theme, “Year of the Black Woman.”
source: people.com
