Queen Latifah

Dana Elaine Owens is an American artist and rapper, best recognized under the stage name, Queen Latifah. Queen Latifah is an American rapper, actress and performer. Queen Latifah was born and was raised in Newark New Jersey the daughter of Rita a schoolteacher who worked for Irvington High School and Lancelot Owens Jr. an officer in the police force. Her parents divorced at the age of Latifah was ten years old. Latifah was a student at a Catholic school and received her education at Newark New Jersey. She attended at the Baptist church. Latifah refers to an Arabic term that translates to "delicate and kind". The cousin she had granted it to her in the age of eight. Always a tall girl at 5'10, Latifah was a power forward on the basketball team at her high school. in a school show, she performed the song Home from The Wiz. Latifah began beatboxing with the rap group Ladies Fresh. Latifah was part of Flavor Unit - a group of rappers who gathered around the producer, DJ Mark the 45 King. Mark James aka the DJ Mark the 40 King, created a demo of the rap Princess of the Posse by Queen Latifah. The song was recorded and given to Yo! MTV Raps Faddy. Dante Ross, an employee of Tommy Boy Music who heard the song, and then made a deal with Latifah in 1988 to release her debut track Wrath of My Madness.