By Odeisel

There have been many queens throughout the history of the world, both literally and figuratively; in title of rule and of figurative function. The title projects regalia and is large of presence. For a woman of Dana Owens’ considerable stature, the title is absolutely appropriate. From humble beginnings, Queen Latifah has risen to true icon status with film credits, musical accolades, and respect in many circles. Twenty years in the business. Eight albums. Sitcom star. Forty films, two SAG awards, author, and cover girl. The resume is in effect.

Aside from the acclaim, one thing that radiates from Queen Latifah is love. That earthy, hood love. She is a kaleidoscope of the 3rd grade teacher you had a crush on, the home girl in the crew, your big sister, your first girl that you always carry a torch for, and pretty much any positive feeling you ever had for a woman. On this day, at Sirius Radio she was backed by a live band with singers in tow to take it back to the music that powered her rise to stardom. The show was part confessional, part interview, and part jam session.  The Queen is a jack of many talents.

Latifah opened with hood anthem “Just Another Day.” The live band gives it added weight and richness. Her voice is crisp and the keyboards are supporting her album quality voice. Feels more like Latifah unplugged than a concert. Flawless.

“I always loved music…always had an interest in music,” recalled Owens on a break between songs. “I used to watch her [aunt] teach songs and watch how they [the choir] stacked vocals. My father was strictly a jazz man. Mom played flute, dad played percussion. Lot of music in my house coming up.” With a background like this, Latifah seemed certain to find a home in music.  Then came Hip-Hop.  It spoke to Dana, not only as music, or as a vehicle for self expression, but also as a force for change.  Owens continued, “Hip-Hop bit me like a bug. Being aware that we are descendents of Africa, one of the main issues of the time was apartheid and South Africa. Hip-Hop was a platform to express yourself. You didn’t have to just brag and boast but you could say something.”

But even then, she wanted to be different.  Even then, the desire to stand out burned inside of her. “I didn’t want to be MC Latifah. I wanted to be different. My first single [Wrath of My Madness] just says Latifah. There was no queen.” That title, she continued, would be attached after she signed a full album deal with Tommy Boy, following the success of that first single.

After a few questions from the host, she went back to the beats. “Cue The Rain,” her next number, is up-tempo with a hard drum and a meaty guitar held in check by her feathery voice. The song has more in common, in rhythm, with an 80’s rock song, but that’s the beauty of it. New from her, retro in spirit, and full of energy.

That same energy powered her advancement following her initial wave of success. She continued with her pseudo fireside chat, giving us the story of how ground-breaking sitcom (to which later show “Friends” is amazingly similar in construction) came about.

“ ‘Living Single’ came about when Will got Fresh Prince[of Bel Aire]. Me and [long time partner] Shakim said, ‘if Will can get a show, then we can get a show.’ The woman that used to direct Fresh Prince, Ellen Falcon moved over to ‘Living Single’ and did most of our show. We made that thing happen. Nobody picked the phone up and said ‘Hey, we got a show for you.’” Her hard work paid off in a big way. “As an emcee u come with a sort of cockiness,” she continued. “You have to be able to stand out in the crowd. My cast mates were amazing to work with.”

Her next song was “People,” a new, funky rap song. That Latifah chutzpah is in full effect on this. The emcee assertiveness replaces her light singing voice, and even as she sings the hook, her voice straddles the lower end of her range with that feminine yet non screechy boom. This song is bursting with an earthy personality and radiation. Royal illness. Very mature of topic and rich of sound.

From there she went to the well with her Grammy winning “U.N.I.T.Y.”  The predominantly female audience was all into it and with good reason. Songs like this, with good content and strong delivery, are sorely lacking on the female side of Hip-Hop. The horns were missing but the live band more than made up for that missing musical element. A reggae tinged extended version segued into a Go-Go powered breakdown showcasing not only the Queens musical flexibility as a performer, but also the band’s live talent for improve. Queen Latifah brought it home in a way that only performers with real musical understanding can deliver.

The afternoon, in retrospect was exactly what we should have expected from Dana Owens. She’s a gigantic personality who somehow always manages to fit in any room without being intrusive or sucking the air from the place.  She easily shared the triumphs of achievement and the pain of loss with the audience with an intimacy that was not the least bit contrived; a natural vulnerability from a woman secure in her image and talent. Authentic, attractive without a mask, sexy without the sleaze, and firm in belief. Regal. Just like a Queen is supposed to be.

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