Queen Latifah To Be Inducted Into The Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame
Dana Owens was born in Newark 56 years ago. Now, as Queen Latifah, she will be inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in the “Musical Influence” category. Her career has been epic. She’s a producer, record label president, author, singer, rapper, actor, poet, drummer, guitarist and the recipient of more awards (including Grammys and Golden Globes) than she can possibly display on her walls. She’s spent her career knocking down walls for female artists. Her 1989 All Hail The Queen album featured her take on female empowerment called “Ladies First.” In 1993, her third album, Black Reign, was the first gold record by a female rapper. Her role as Mama Morton in the 2002 Chicago adaptation preceded her left turn into jazz standards on the 2004 Dana Owens Album. She pivoted back to her rap roots in 2009 on “Persona” which climbed to #3. In 2021, she was the first hip-hop artist to be awarded the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023, she was the first female rapper to be inducted into the National Recording Registry. The 2026 Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies are scheduled for November 14 in Los Angeles.
Influenced musically by Public Enemy, Run DMC and early blues singer Bessie Smith [1892-1937], she got the chance to portray Smith in HBO’s 2015 Bessie. Just ask Missy Elliott, Lizzo and Lauryn Hill about her influence on their own careers.