Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970), better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actress, model, television producer, record producer, comedienne, and talk show host. She has long been considered one of hip-hop's pioneer feminists.

family

Latifah was born in Newark, New Jersey, and lived primarily in East Orange, New Jersey.[5] She is the daughter of Rita (née Bray), a teacher at Irvington High School (Latifah's alma mater) and Lancelot Owens, Sr, a police officer.[6][7][8] Her parents divorced when Latifah was ten.[8]

Latifah's older brother, Lancelot Jr., was killed in 1992 in an accident involving a motorcycle that Latifah had recently bought him.[8]

• Wikipedia
  • 5. On Da Come Up with Clap Cognac from HipHopRuckus.com, date February 24, 2009. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
  • 6. Owens attended Essex Catholic Girls' High School in Irvington, but graduated from Irvington High School, Hyman, Vicki (July 18, 2007). "The Queen holds court". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  • 7 Witchel, Alex (October 5, 2008). "Her Highness Still Rules". The New York Times.
  • 8. Stated in interview on Inside the Actors Studio, 2006
• official site, imdb, emmys.com, "Latifah, Queen." Contemporary Black Biography. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 30 Apr. 2015 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>, Queen Latifah by Amy Ruth. Twenty-First Century Books, 2001 - Juvenile Nonfiction - 112 pages, Corbis images Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony