Short answers, pulled from the story.
Dana Elaine Owens arrived in the world on the 18th of March 1970 within the city limits of Newark, New Jersey. Her childhood unfolded primarily in nearby East Orange where she lived with her mother Rita Lamae and father Lancelot Amos Owens.
At nineteen years old Dana released her debut album All Hail the Queen through Tommy Boy Records in 1989. The record featured the hit single Ladies First which became the first collaborative track by two female rappers not in a group.
Her portrayal of Matron Mama Morton in the musical film Chicago earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2002. Catherine Zeta-Jones won the award instead but Latifah became the first woman in hip-hop to earn an Oscar nomination.
Jill Scott Erykah Badu Joe Sample George Duke Christian McBride and Stevie Wonder made guest appearances on her 2007 album Trav'lin Light. That album received a Grammy nomination in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category.
Queen Latifah became the first hip-hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the 4th of January 2006 located at 6915 Hollywood Blvd. Her debut album All Hail the Queen entered the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry in 2023 making it the earliest female rap recording to enter that registry.