Queen Latifah made U.S. authorities historical past after the Library of Congress elected her music for this yr’s Nationwide Recording Registry checklist. Latifah’s 1989 debut album, All Hail the Queen, is the challenge inducted amid 600 works and titles on the registry.
Yearly the cultural preservation entity shares a listing 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 influence on hip-hop and rap. It partially learn:
“The discharge of Queen Latifah’s debut album, All Hail the Queen, in 1989 solidified the success of her previous singles whereas additionally asserting that rap might be feminine, Afrocentric, and incorporate a fusion of musical genres. These genres additionally embrace reggae, in addition to hip-hop, home, and jazz, as she raps within the tune Come Into My Home. Furthermore, Queen Latifah sang in addition to rapped on the album. Lyrically, the album addresses race, gender, political, and social points that have been each modern and but stay common.”
The assertion additionally highlighted that Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens, was simply 19 when she shared the impactful challenge.
Furthermore, the assertion affirmed that whereas Queen Latifah wasn’t the primary feminine rapper, she additionally did ground-breaking work by way of collaborations, together with Monie Love on Girls First.
“The success of All Hail the Queen was each a product of, and led to, Queen Latifah’s success in different areas of the business,” LOC stated.
The music speaks for itself–past touchdown on the Nationwide Recording Registry–Queen Latifah has additionally secured no less than seven Grammy nominations. She received one in 1995 for ‘Finest Rap Solo Efficiency’ in U.N.I.T.Y.
However these different profitable lanes embrace appearing, the place Latifah has received a number of prestigious awards, together with an Emmy Award, a number of Display Actors Guild Awards, and a number of NAACP Picture awards.
Amongst these are dozens of nominations in talked about classes and loads of others just like the BAFTA Awards and Academy Awards.
In recent times we’ve seen the creator obtain her flowers for the ceilings shattered in her skilled life. And YES, that features music, appearing, and producing!
In 2019, Havard College 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 have been added to the Nationwide Recording Registry on April 12. Different 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 Need For Christmas Is You.
Daddy Yankee’s well-liked 2004 single, Gasolina, additionally made the minimize, coming in at quantity 24.
