Queen Latifah Biography (2)
Latifah will continue her string of successes in 2004 with starring roles in Fox's TAXI, with Jimmy Fallon, MGM's BEAUTYSHOP (a spin-off of the hit BARBERSHOP), Paramount's action film BAD GIRLS (which Latifah will also produce), with Jada Pinkett Smith, and Miramax's remake of the Korean film MY WIFE AS A GANGSTER.
Queen Latifah is also one of music's most well respected rappers. From her ground breaking 1989 debut All Hail the Queen, which set the visual and contextual standard for female rappers, to her bold foray into R&B, Latifah continues to define what a woman in the music industry should be. She has earned three Grammy nominations as well as a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rap Performance in 1994.
In the fall of 2004, Latifah will once again return to the music scene with two brand new albums, one demonstrating her singing talents and the other her rapping talents. As Latifah demonstrated both in LIVING OUT LOUD (1998) and her Oscar-nominated performance in CHICAGO (2002), her vocal talent is as impressive as her acting. Teaming up with Grammy Award-winning producer Arif Mardin, Latifah will present a collection of new songs as well as covers of timeless classics. On the highly anticipated rap album, Latifah will collaborate with Missy Elliot, as well as a slew of new artists off of her Flavor Unit label, including Cole, Gotti and Picasso.
Flavor Unit Entertainment, a production company owned and operated by Queen Latifah and her partner Sha-Kim Compere, is quickly establishing itself as one of the most important production companies in the film industry. Following the box office hit BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, Flavor Unit will produce MY WIFE AS A GANGSTER for Miramax, BEAUTY SHOP for MGM, and BAD GIRLS at Paramount with Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Overbrook. Flavor Unit is also producing a number of projects in which Latifah will not star, including THE COOKOUT with Lion's Gate, MY PEOPLE MY PEOPLE with Hyde Park, and JUST RIGHT with Disney.
For two years, Queen Latifah hosted a one-hour syndicated talk show appropriately titled, Queen Latifah. Queen Latifah's first experience with television was the series Living Single, which was a huge success and is currently in syndication.
Since her screen debut in Spike Lee's 1992 film JUNGLE FEVER, her film career has taken off. She starred in SET IT OFF, which earned her a nomination for a Spirit Award in the Best Actress category; she also co-starred with Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito in the critically acclaimed LIVING OUT LOUD. In 1999, she was seen in Universal's THE BONE COLLECTOR, directed by Philip Noyce and starring Denzel Washington. In 2002, she co-stared with Taye Diggs and Sana Latham in Fox Searchlight's BROWN SUGAR.
In addition to music, film and television, Queen Latifah has also written a book about self-esteem titled Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman.
Queen Latifah is diligent in her pursuit of excellence, as evidenced by the awards she has received for her work in film and music. Her sincere concern for others is revealed by the generous amount of time and money that she donates to worthwhile charitable organizations. Every year, Queen Latifah serves as co-chairman for the Lancelot H. Owens Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Established by her mother, Rita Owens, to perpetuate the memory of a loving son and brother, the foundation provides scholarships to students who excel scholastically but are limited in financial resources.
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