PopularLemonade

The Queen was one of the most quintessential role models in my early years.   Being a young doll at the playground, screaming “Who you calling a bitch!? U.N.IIIII.T.Y!” before I really even knew what she was spitting about or the gender issues that she so eloquently addressed.  She transformed herself from the beatboxing Flavor Unit diva into an international superstar.  Then came the annoying CoverGirl commercials, musicals, and a wide variety of shitty movies (anyone remember Set it Off? ) and some not so shitty movies (Juice, Brown Sugar, etc.).

With over 20 movie roles and multiple sitcoms, we obviously haven’t seen the last of Queen Latifah, but what about that classic hip hop shit that inspired a whole generation of women?

You can imagine my surprise when I heard Latifah spitting on Rhymefest’s mixtape, The Manual, which dropped a few weeks ago and can be downloaded for free HERE. I was blown away.  Gone are the red carpets and commercial advertisements and the mass appeal of pop music.  Latifah goes hard!

The Queen is expected to drop a full-length rap LP this summer featuring production by Dr. Dre & Missy Elliot.  How many 39-year old women make rap albums?

Classic Queen Latifah throwback video
“Just Another Day”