Queen Latifah made U.S. authorities historical past after the Library of Congress elected her music for this 12 months’s National Recording Registry listing. Latifah’s 1989 debut album, All Hail the Queen, is the challenge inducted amid 600 works and titles on the registry.
Every 12 months the cultural preservation entity shares an inventory of 25 recordings inducted into the registry–from songs to important speeches and even radio broadcasts. Latifah landed at quantity 21 amid the 2023 inductees.
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The Library of Congress’ announcement praised the artist’s impression on hip-hop and rap. It partially learn:
“The release of Queen Latifah’s debut album, All Hail the Queen, in 1989 solidified the success of her past singles while also announcing that rap could be female, Afrocentric, and incorporate a fusion of musical genres. Those genres also include reggae, as well as hip-hop, house, and jazz, as she raps in the song Come Into My House. Moreover, Queen Latifah sang as well as rapped on the album. Lyrically, the album addresses race, gender, political, and social issues that were both contemporary and yet remain universal.”
The assertion additionally highlighted that Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens, was simply 19 when she shared the impactful challenge.
Moreover, the assertion affirmed that whereas Queen Latifah wasn’t the primary feminine rapper, she additionally did ground-breaking work via collaborations, together with Monie Love on Ladies First.
“The success of All Hail the Queen was both a product of, and led to, Queen Latifah’s success in other areas of the industry,” LOC mentioned.
The music speaks for itself–past touchdown on the National Recording Registry–Queen Latifah has additionally secured at the least seven Grammy nominations. She received one in 1995 for ‘Best Rap Solo Performance’ in U.N.I.T.Y.
But these different profitable lanes embody performing, the place Latifah has received a number of prestigious awards, together with an Emmy Award, a number of Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a number of NAACP Image awards.
Among these are dozens of nominations in talked about classes and loads of others just like the BAFTA Awards and Academy Awards.
In current years we’ve seen the creator obtain her flowers for the ceilings shattered in her skilled life. And YES, that features music, performing, and producing!
In 2019, Havard University named her an honoree of the W.E.B. DuBois medal for her contributions to Black historical past and tradition.
Then, in 2021, she accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on the BET Awards–full with a tribute efficiency starring Lil’ Kim, Monie Love, MC Lyte, and Rapsody.
All 25 recordings had been added to the National Recording Registry on April 12. Other notable entries in Black music included Koko Taylor’s 1966 hit Wang Dang Doodle, Wynton Marsalis’ 1985 Black Codes, and Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You.
Daddy Yankee’s in style 2004 single, Gasolina, additionally made the reduce, coming in at quantity 24.