Reviews (page 4 of 7)
A good album
Neblogas, geri rimai.
Star of Country Bears, Queen Latifah?? Will we get a Christopher Walken feature and get a full reunion? Didn’t she also host some reality show? Listen, all I know is, a single from an “Ice Age” sequel is in the suggested column, so we’re no doubt in for an artistic journey to the very soul of our highness. Dance For Me - Uhhh no. You can’t make me. We’re off to a rocky start with your demands. Alright song, excellent delivery. Hopefully it continues in this vein and doesn’t wear out its welcome over the next *checks notes* HOUR? Ugh. Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children - I couldn’t write a funnier title if I tried. Will this be ham fisted spirituality? Not really. It’s just another fun song. WITH DE LA SOUL? YES. Man, New York rap destroys all other regions. Like it’s not even close. This beat goes everywhere and stays super interesting throughout. I mean the child sample is dumb, but hey I’m having fun. Come Into My House - Pushy broad ain’t she? Calling women “broads” will never not be entertaining to me. This sounds like a RuPaul song. That is every bit the compliment I meant it as. Give me body? I mean come on. This should be playing at a ball. Hey I’ve seen the documentary. Latifah’s Law - The beats continue to be super fun and the flow matches that energy. She kind of sounds like friendly Ice Cube. Regular temperature cube. This fuckin’ rips. Wrath of my Madness - Got the HP Lovecraft feature on the song title here. Where did that come from? Everything is about being fun and having an attitude, but then we step into cosmic horror. Will this be about her loosening grip on sanity as she sinks deeper into the abyssal dark of the gaping maw beneath the stairs of her Massachusetts manor? False alarm. It’s just about rhyming. The Pros - Possibly about professionals, or maybe we can expect a track about the cons? OR, this is a song about the seminal television triumph known as Pros vs Joes. No. It’s a reggae influenced song about unity. NEVER MIND WHAT IS THIS BEAT? We could use less “Daddy O” but the beat is disgusting. In the best way. Daddy O stinks. Ladies First - Feminist rap. This song has always ruled and the one Queen Latifah song I knew before this. Great feature, fun lyrical content besides Queen Latifah insisting her rap partner should “get dumb.” I suppose she does spell Lady “LADIE.” Spelling is tough. Trust me on that. A King and Queen Creation - DJ MARK IN THE FUCKING HOUSE. This might be the best sample going. The samples are so layered and fun on this whole album, but this track really shines for production. Queen of Royal Badness - Man of this album was bad, I could certainly have a field day with this title. I could say uhh hmm YEAH SHE SURE IS. Fuck that would’ve been sweet. Like a poster dunk. This song is kind of the queen of royal midness. Evil That Men Do - Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone makes his presence known. This is some good preaching. Fuck America is a shithole. Maybe one day things will get better, Queen. Princess of the Possee - More questionable spelling but no question that this rules. She runs the world. Take that Beyoncé ya loser. Inside Out - Pretty hard to wipe the smile off my face for this one. It’s a good day and this just made it better. I’m not hanging on her every word or anything, but this was just delightful. There are enough meaningful moments to say that this has a lot of substance along with the infectious joy I’ve already praised. I cannot say enough about the beats on this record. How a person can hear jazz records and then loop it into a hip hop recording without any modern tools, is akin to asking me how a nuclear reactor works. These people are geniuses. Now this album is not scratching every musical itch I have but I’ll be damned if this isn’t a damn fine release and better than 90% of male rap released around this time. All hail the queen. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children, Latifah’s Law, Ladies First, Princess of the Possee
It started pretty fun and energetic, with less repetitive beats than usual, but fell off in the second half. I was enjoying it a lot in the beginning, but then it just turned into the same slow, monotonous stuff with very repetitive beats that is characteristic of hip hop from roughly that time frame, so I lost interest. The first half is pretty good, but everything after Ladies First is just meh, in my opinion.
It was fine. Not a lot blew me away but not a lot I hated either. Been a lot of meh for me on this list this last week or so. 5/10
3.5
I didn't like this at first, justifying my decision to put off listening for ages. Very 90s. Even though it came out in 89. But when it got to the Pros and Ladies First it really picked up. I literally laughed (in a good way) at some of the wordplay. And the second half held up. I would probably listen again. High 3.
This is the sort of rapping I tend to enjoy, no gangster rubbish. The backing tracks are good and there are some nice themes in there, but she seems to spend most of her time rapping about her rapping and since I'm listening to her rapping I don't need her to describe her rapping. If she had rapped about a wider range of stuff I might have been able to get into this, but on this one it was like, when are you going to tell me how great your rhymes are... Oh, literally the second line in every song. But if a shame.
Female MC holding her own in the early days of rap. Enjoyed some old school beats and cool samples. Yea, it feels dated, even a little soft or juvenile at times. But overall a fun blast from the past to remind me about the early days of hip hop.
Got tired of it realy quick Idk what she's trying to tell me
Ladies First was actually Len Houmous’ approach to all of his group encounters in the late 70s. 3.4 7/15 Ladies First
Fun blast from the past but outside of De La and ATCQ, Native Tongues posse didn't age all that well. Makes me want a Kid n Play hairdo and don a gigantic clay medallion.
What a blast from the past! I'm not sure I've ever heard most of the songs on this album before (or all that much from Queen Latifah in general), so it's nice to reacquaint with her fairly distinctive style. The videos for "Dance for me" and "Come into my house" were fun to watch, largely because it reminded me of a fashion era that hopefully will never get repeated, but also because those are two of her more accessible and energetic songs. I also liked it that De la Soul collaborated on the album, although "Mama gave birth to the soul children" is definitely *not* a great track on the album, sadly. Overall, the album starts off really strong and distinctive, but fairly quickly decays into that monochromatic rap/hip-hop sound of looping beats and generic rhyming rhythms, from about "Latifah's law" onwards (sorry, "Wrath of my madness"), although some of the subsequent tracks with featured artists inject a little more variety (mainly "The pros" but also "Ladies first" and "A king and queen creation" and "Evil that men do" somewhat). It *does* end on a strong track, "Inside out", and kudos to the queen for both writing and producing the album.
great first album and hard to believe she was 19 at the time. I love the variety of sounds and samples and wish the rapping was the same level as all the other music.
Well, this was a lot of fun - I really enjoyed the variety of music here with Queen Latifah’s assured rapping on top. The guest artists are a treat too, with De La Soul being a highlight. The only downsides were a couple of tracks featuring men, and some of the 80’s house beats sounded a bit weedy in comparison with the more substantial soul and funk tracks.
Queen Latifah's All Hail the Queen is a snapshot of Hip-hop right before the 90's. Female empowerment anthems, great rhymes reminiscent of Eric B. & Rakim, and a couple different styles Latifah switches between. Enjoyable rap album with great features.
2.5 stars Respect to Queen Latifah for carving space for female MCs in a male-dominated arena. The album is dated, and I probably wouldn’t put this on myself, but I also wouldn’t be mad if someone else did. Rounding up for historical significance. The songs are pretty repetitive, and even though I didn’t have time for a deep dive, the lyrics seemed pretty similar from song to song. I was super thrown off when it got to “Ladies First” - the version I know has a catchy “ooh, ladies first, ladies first” refrain. I guess that was the radio-friendly version. Notable: when I was trying to read the lyrics of the final track Inside Out, a Spotify glitch served me the lyrics of a VERY different song with the same title. I googled it and it’s a Korn song… I would really like some brain bleach now.
I tend to think of Queen Latifah as an actor first and foremost, and I usually forget that she’s also a rapper. Gun to my head, I don’t think I could name a single song that she sings. Even though I’m not familiar with her music career, I’m excited to listen to this album, because I imagine it’s incredibly influential on hip-hop, especially for female artists. For what it’s worth, I love this album cover. That’s a powerful pose from Queen Latifah, and it’s in stark contrast to the comedic film roles that I think of when I hear her name. I’m curious to see how she’s going to lean into that image on this album! I wasn’t blown away by All Hail the Queen, but it was fun album to listen to, and I imagine that from a historical context, this album had to have been a massive game-changer for female musicians, especially those in hip-hop. I really enjoyed Queen Latifah’s rapping. She has a great voice, and she sounds so incredibly young here. Her flow is crisp, her voice has power behind it, and I love that she leans into not swearing on this album, instead focusing her attention on messages of power for black women. The beats and samples were really good, and yes, they do sound dated, but it feels like opening a time capsule that transports the listener back to 1989. There were quite a few songs that stood out to me: -“Dance for Me” had an excellent groove that sucked me into this album right away. The samples were great, and Queen Latifah’s rapping was great too. -Whoever decided to include De La Soul on this song deserves a raise. They sounded great with Queen Latifah. I wasn’t a huge fan of the little kid voices, but this song was still really good. The vibraslap was awesome too. -I loved the house music beats used on “Come into My House.” This album had a lot of good grooves on it, but this song was one of the most fun grooves on the whole album. -“Ladies First” was outstanding. I loved the duet aspect with Monie Love, and the beats and production were fantastic. The message of the lyrics was outstanding too. -Queen Latifah tried to warn us about men, and yet here we are: with a pants-shitting conman back in the White House, and young white dudes on youtube debates bragging about being fascists, and then creating successful Go Fund Me’s when they get fired. Time is indeed a flat circle. “Evil that Men Do” had my favorite songwriting on the album, and it’s infuriating that this song is still so relevant over 35 years later. While those songs were great, the rest of the album was a bit ho-hum in my opinion. The beats and rapping were solid, but only a handful of songs really stood out to me. Still, the album as a whole works well, and from a standpoint of cultural significance, this album absolutely deserves a place on this list.
i liked the reggae influence and the feminism
i'm only familiar with queen latifah's acting career, so i appreciated the opportunity to listen to some of her music. i liked Ladies First and the general vibe well enough, but it didn't blow my mind.
Decent rap album, though it felt pretty repetitive after a while. A lot of the tracks have similar beats and production, so they all kind of run together. Still, this is a landmark album for a number of reasons, and I think deserves inclusion on this list. I also find it funny that all the commenters saying "she just brags about how good she is at rapping all the time, 2/5" don't seem to mind when the men recording most of the 90s rap and hip-hop albums on this list do it... HOW INTERESTING, i'm sure that's just a coincidence. favorites: dance for me, mama gave birth to the soul children, wrath of my madness, ladies first
I was a bit too young (and firmly not into hiphop) to have listened to this the first time round, so I don't remember having ever heard any of this before. Plus nothing from this album made the UK charts, so my main source of music as a pre-teen (Top Of The Pops) would have been no help. This is a really weird mix, as parts of it sound pretty fresh - you could imagine releasing them today and it not sounding out of place - but parts of this sound so aggressively late 80s, it's really jarring. Also, it appears Will Smith based his entire rap style on The 45 King ("A King and Queen Creation"). I enjoyed it, but less than I was expecting. 3/5
3/5
Groovy as all hell, superb flow and character - fun samples! Another time capsule. Favourite tracks: Come Into My House, The Pros, Ladies First
Back in '89, Queen Latifah came through the door not just kicking it down but waving a flag of female empowerment over a scene still very much a boys’ club. On All Hail the Queen, her regal presence is undeniable — she’s got confidence, charisma, and a clear mission. While her flow is solid (if sometimes a bit rudimentary), it’s her voice — firm, assertive, full of purpose — that carries most of the weight. The production, courtesy of the Native Tongues collective, leans heavily into the era’s sonic staples: horn stabs, thick boom-bap drums, and those zany sound effects that feel more like radio show bumpers than timeless hooks. That said, there are moments that still spark: “Latifah’s Law” flips a horn loop that later found fame on “Rump Shaker,” and “Wrath of My Madness” channels the energy of “The Bridge Is Over” with a bounce all her own. The standout “Ladies First,” featuring Monie Love, feels like a mission statement for hip-hop feminism — playful, defiant, and dripping with Salt-N-Pepa flavor. While some of the beats haven’t aged gracefully, Queen Latifah’s arrival still demands respect.
Nice old school vibe
The first female rapper to get massive exposure (with support of huge names like KRS One ou De La Soul). It’s still got that very 80s vibe, but personally, I think it still works really well, those warm jazzy or reggae samples are super smooth and she’s able to mix very well with various styles. The dancey mixes, with tracks like Come Into My House, sound way better than Soul II Soul, in my opinion. A major album, totally feminist, and a real milestone. Wrath of My Madness inspired every female rapper who came after. Big up even though that’s not a favorite of mine.
This is #day325 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… some classic late '80s beats with dashes of reggae, house, and jazz here. Fun as an occasional listen or as part of, say, female hip-hop essentials. "Evil That Men Do" is among the record's highlights. On the flip side, the number of times she's saying her name is Latifa and she's the queen is a bit too much. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day326.
It’s a product of its era, which is fine. My issue is that it’s very boring and repetitive.
classic. not for me
More rap albums need saxophones
Happy that I listened to this, and she's great at her craft, but this is indicative of a time of rap that isn't my favorite. Good for what it is, but a little too old for me.
I went into this one excited, Queen Latifah is such an icon and rightly deserves the title Queen. But I was honestly a little underwhelmed. Start off, she rocks the feminist vibes and supports her cultural vibes. She also doesn't focus on bad language or lyrical shock value to get her points across. Which I love. But....there were songs she barely sang on and others where she she seemed like an add on. The songs were good but others have done it a lot better. Her raps where clever, but others are more clever. She was fast, but not that fast. The beats were catchy but others are more catchy. She laid groundwork for women in rap and hip hop and that cannot be denied.
Hip-hop, like many music genres, is very male-dominated, so it was refreshing to get a female hip-hop artist for once. And I’m all about women power and fucking the patriarchy, which she clearly is too. The issue I had with this is that 90% of the time it just feels like she’s singing about how awesome she is, and also how awesome whoever this guy Mark is. She got a little deeper in songs like Evil That Men Do and Ladies First, but it primarily feels a bit narcissistic in nature. I do appreciate her rhymes and her vocals. She can lay down some great raps. And she obviously had a point to prove to the industry, which is what it feels this was largely about. I’m sure it was a huge struggle to get to where she was as a woman in hip-hop in the 80s. But I just couldn’t connect to a lot of it because it ultimately felt like a brag fest, and aside from a few of the more reggae sounds, it felt like a lot of the same thing.
Not awful. No mfer or n.
i've heard of QL but this is my first listen to her music. its decent bars and flow, but it just has a really dated feel. it sounds really good like NWA but it doesnt seem to have any political edge or message/meaning.
Popping beats that blast Lightning fast delivery Over big house bass
Fun listen, I'm a sucker for late 80's golden age hip hop. Quite refreshing to have one of a few women from this era rapping here. I like the songs but nothing really sticks, it's a fun listen but kind of inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Probably doesn't help that I've had a lot of good albums before this one.
Giving this three stars doesn’t mean this isn’t good - it just is a bit of a capsule of time. It’s a heck of a debut album and its impact was big but it doesn’t change the fact that the songs all sound similar and distinctly from their time period, in a limiting sort of way. There are probably more timeless collections of music from that period and better examples of hip hop/rap from that period. But if you’re digging deep this feels like a must-listen.
I don't think I've ever heard a Queen Latifah song before now (other than her movie ones). She's more of an actress to me! This album is from when she was 19, which is adorable. No slurs, so all hail the queen for that one. I find the whole "I'm the best at rhyming" plot to be so boring and played out, but considering this was the 80s, it probably wasn't actually that played out yet. I'll round up to a 3 because I like Queen Latifah and the occasional background sax/horns, but this isn't really something I'd ever listen to. Highlights: 'Come Into My House' (mentally dissertating about "What better off position can you be in?"), 'Ladies First' (likewise "I'm conversating with the folks who have no whatsoever clue")
Not really my kind of thing. Might be a good example of the genre, and I found it perfectly listenable, but I can’t rate it at more than average - 3 out of 5, maybe 6 out of 10.
Overall strong album. Although Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children's voice effect went on too long for me at the end of the song. Would happily work or workout to this.
I'm an 80s child who likes funk, saxophones, jazz, and spoken word, so this seemed very accessible. I'd happily have this on in the background. Occationally some of the lyricism/rhyme I think suffers from time passed on slower tracks, it's hard to unimagine the 35 years between then and now that telegraph what probably once sounded punchy. More uptempo tracks feel tighter/fresher. That said Princess of the Possee was great. Remixes didn't add anything imo.
Since getting into hip hop I’ve always been partial to hip house - it blew my mind to find out that this existed as far back as the 80s. Queen Latifah brings a good number of hits to this record, they make up about half of the tracklist and would be a fantastic soundtrack to a party. She’s got a variety of flows which match a strong mix of production and instrumentation - groovy basslines, saxaphones, surprising samples. She’s a good lyricist but I’m most impressed at her ability to land both serious points and humour, the result is fun but not insubstantial. The Pros made me really laugh - I love the idea of members of the public trying to match up to the Queen’s level of rap skill. The only awkward moment across the whole LP for me is the roll call of her children on Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children - I didn’t need that!
Low 3 for me, second half and track 2 dented the score considerably.
Loopit ja rummut naksuu old schoolisti ja tässä huokuu se alkuaikojen hiphop, mustat pantterit ja muu ajan kuva. Kyllähän tuota kuunteli mut biisit ei tunnu kuuntelemalla loppuvan.
Very fun and enjoyable. Kinda repetitive though.
Its okay, I thought I would enjoy this more than I did. I think I'd prefer the songs mixed with other genres in a playlist than listening to the whole album again. Everything sounded the same after awhile.
Three stars because I admire Queen Latifah as a celebrity, but this is pretty weak.
An early, cornerstone rap record that's actually fun to listen to. Engaging and concise. This sounds less dated than albums that came out shortly after. Queen Latifah is as compelling a performer and writer (if not moreso) as many of her contemporaries. As someone who grew up seeing her as largely an actress, it's cool to see that she's the real deal. Queen Latifah comeback album when.
Respecte tous les codes du hip-hop de l’époque: hagiographie de la MC, collaborations, irrévérence, revendications. Sa personnalité rend le tout digne d’intérêt
Very late 80s
Loved all the barriers and ceilings she has and is breaking .
Rating: 6/10 Very dated production and unremarkable lyrics but still fun to listen to. Her energy is great and the beats are still a lot of fun.
YES, all hail the Queen Latifah! This album is a breath of fresh air in 2025, so I can't imagine how empowering it was in 1989. I just love how Queen Latifah is unrepentant about being a Black woman, and in so many songs, too! I'm hard pressed to come up with another hip hop artist that was before her, because she is so blatant. She was and still is a huge inspiration for those who came after her. One of the samples I picked up was from "Come into My House" when it used "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward, and I think that was both cleverly done and a great way to pay homage to a Black woman artist who came before her. I noticed and was impressed that this is a mostly hip hop album that can get a little jazz-y and even has some inspiration from African music. One of my favorite things in music is when artists don't hold back and explore genres, and our Queen Latifah did just that. 3.5
I often cite Missy Elliot as a rapper who pushed women in rap into the mainstream; well, Queen Latifah walked in that space in the 80s so Missy Elliot could run in the 90s. Yes, this definitely sounds dated. But look, I couldn't help but jam to it. Latifah comes in with full force on this album and demands a seat at the table, talking about many social issues. And when all is said and done, she is actually quite skilled as a rapper. Queen Latifah really is THAT BITCH.
It's helpful that she frequently reminds listeners what her name is and how rap music works. Impossible to get confused! It's charmingly dated and quite repetitive.
This album starts out with more fire than I expected. Liked the beat on Latifah's Law (the horns on the end sound like an instrumental from a Jay-Z song). The Pros had an awesome reggae beat, but the rapping over it went to shit kind of quick. Disappointed with that one. Ladies First and A King/Queen Creation were the high point of the album. Although I found myself digging most of this album, I couldn't quite get to a 4. High 3.
I actually love seeing that house and rap have such a long common history as displayed on Come into My House. The Pros goes pretty hard with its reggae inspired instrumental and chorus. Mic passing on Ladies First is top notch -- among the best bar for bar tracks I've heard in a long time. Schoolhouse Rock reference on Inside Out was pretty corny ngl, but the song is otherwise pretty solid -- really enjoy the instrumental. Not that it counts, but the remix of Dance for Me at the end was quality -- far better than the original IMO. This was o.k. but never much more than that for me. She certainly could rock the mic, but I couldn't get into it for more than a track or two at a time. 3 for me
Not usually my jam, but I was bopping to the first few songs. It definitely started to drag a bit to the point where I was ready for it to be over just about halfway through. Low 3
Some corny late 80s beats throughout which I am never a fan of. But there were also some really cool sections and horns that saved this. She is also has a great voice for rap. Liked the songs with the features as well, the extra people were good additions.
Eh. Some of the backing tracks got me moving, but her rap style is pretty bland. 2.5 at best but I’ll be nice and round up.
Solid hip hop.
Nothing bad about this one, but it didn't do much to move me at all. Feels quite slow and formulaic after 35 years of subsequent hip hop history. 3/5
She has bars, beats didnt age bad
Honestly, way better than I was expecting. I feel like this holds up better than Run DMC, Public Enemy, and NWA. Sure it runs on too long like everything else but the beats were better, NO SKITS!!!!!!!!!, no unnecessary whining hype men. I feel like this could actually have a better retrospective.
Still not a huge fan of hip-hop but Latifah's got a good voice and fast delivery. It's also refreshing to have an album in the genre that's not misogynistic, drug-fueled, and using racial slurs every other word. Maybe that's the real reason she's the Queen?
A fun time but nothing mindblowing
I liked this but not as much as I hoped. Many of the tracks were just straight beat and verse, which just weren't that fun to listen to. The tracks that got a little more inventive were more listenable. The sax on Latifah's Law was pretty good. I wasn't in a place for the lyrics to sink in, I suspect if I had been I would be a little more pro on this
Some styles of music can seem timeless and sound fresh decades after release, but listening to late 80’s rap feels equivalent to playing Oregon Trail on an Apple II. This album makes me feel like a musical archeologist. This is what this style of music sounded like then, but not what it sounds like now, and the music itself is not good enough that how dated it sounds doesn’t matter. There is some rap from this time period that is still enjoyable despite it making me feel like I’m listening to Smithsonian recordings of Depression-era folk songs, but this isn’t it.
I have never listened to Queen Latifah before, and couldn't name any of her songs, but I always thought that she was somewhat of a big deal in the hip hop scene, but I guess not because this album only has 1K ratings on RYM and is ranked #487 for 1989 which isn't great. Also 7 of her top 10 songs according to Spotify are from film soundtracks, and if you go to the "Popular Releases" section her #1 most popular release is from Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs which is really funny, because I don't think anyone saw that movie. Ok that's enough talk about number, this album is good but not great. A lot of songs have really fun beats, but some have some truly awful parts like those chipmunk children voices, or that reggae song that goes on for too long. High 3.
This was enjoyable. Many of the reviewers said it sounded dated, but the meshing of hip hop and house music on some of the tracks here reminded me of Beyonce's Renaissance album so it's still clearly remained culturally relevant.
No standout songs but it’s cool as an album
This wasn't bad at all, pretty standard feeling 90s hip-hop from 1989. Just not really my jam.
I appreciate the effort but conversely this didn't do much for me.
A good listen but it didn't hold my attention enough to really pay attention to. Very of its style/era.
She can spell her name remarkably fast. I liked this, it's fun.
I was a 16 year old metalhead when this came out. So I was not jamming on this type of thing back in the day. Aside from the odd music video or two, she pretty much flew under my radar as a musical artist. While this is not my usual cup of tea, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. But it's definitely a relic of late 80s hip hop/house music where high top fades and Africa necklaces ruled the scene. Album 6/1001
I may give this a 3.5 based on the fact that it is an album that came out in '89 and doesn't sound as date as some other stuff in hip-hop at that time. Plus, being a female MC, especially at that time, was pioneering. However, I feel there are better hip-hop and stuff that is still more listenable today. Therefore, I can't personally bump it up to 4.
Funky, fun and still topical, delivered in an instantly recognisable style. Favourites were Come Into My House, Ladies First and Inside Out. I really disliked the baby voice on Mama Gave Birth unfortunately and wasn’t a big fan of The Pros either. But overall it’s cool and a great example of that hip hop era. (3.5 stars)
I like the blend of genres, but the chosen samples are plain annoying at times, so I can't really get into it
cover is terrible lol Haven't heard of her before Hey pretty cool rap Flow is pretty repetitive but well executed
Good example of its genre but not my thing
It's fine, but pretty unremarkable hip hop from this era. Not really my thing. I think she's turned into a pretty great actor these days though.
2.5
Very passable old-school hip hop.
a little weak compared to others in this era but enjoyable. low 3
Very 1989 hip hop but it's pretty solid given the time. Queen Latifah definitely brought it but I will say the album is too long for what it is; some fluff could've been cut. 7/10
Blind album and know the artist by name. I know this is her style from back in the day and while it was good at the time, looking back, I prefer other groups like De La Soul.
Banede vej for female MC som lauryn Hill senere. Ægte badass som blandede jazz, hiphop, funk og afrobeats til en god mixtur. Fine tekster og god lyd og sjovt at lytte til. 3,5 vil jeg sige, da det ikke rigtig er mig.
Solid rhymes and familiar flows make this an easy, pleasant listen, but I won’t be bending the knee (or lending my ear again) anytime soon.
It was ok but rap isn't really my bag
Very eighties American hip pop.
Is it dated? Is it repetitive? Did I head bop along to it? Yup to all the above. Will I listen again? Probably not.
Just love her. Mostly because of Last Holiday, but I’m really happy for her here, too.
I have a new respect for Queen Latifah after hearing this as she was pretty good for her time but I find the sound very dated.
The mama gave birth song is really hard to listen to
Honestly, its got solid beats, solid flow, solid bars. And it sounds very much like hip hop in 1989 and feels like Fresh Prince with a tinge of Public Enemy.
It was good, but none of the songs really hooked me or were very memorable
This was a fun rap listen because just like the others 90's rap we've heard in this project, the lyrics were fun and playful but also making statements about the state of America and being black in the country. As an extra bonus, Latifah talks about what being a woman is like and raises others up with her lyrics. Very rah rah in a good way. Closer to 3.5 for me, but I also don't anticipate listening to this a ton.
This has the feel of a lot of those 80s hip hop albums that don't really hold up anymore and I only like for nostalgic reasons. And since I never really listened to this when it came out, there's no nostalgia for me. That said this is definitely a better example of that kind of album than most. I don't know if I'd listen again, but I'm glad I heard it once. 3.5 stars
Kinda samey throughout
I appreciate how awesome it is to get a female voice/perspective in the late 80s rap scene and she can definitely rap. However, as far as enjoyment goes, I wasn't really into it. Rating: 3
Here's the thing, this is ground breaking and listening to 19 year old Latifah spit around the time of other OG MC's is amazing. This hold up to all of them. But, it still suffers from the early repetitive malaise of rap where there's a lot of 1st person bravado and not a ton of story. The best track to me is the De La Soul collab with the multiple flow and style changes. 45 is great and as a producer really punches the first couple of tracks with good beats, but as the album wears on it gets a bit thin. Maybe a 3.5 for groundbreaking, but going with a:
It's kind of goofy
Can something be TOO 90s hip hop? (I know this came out in the 80s but it’s 90s to me and I’m the one writing this??)
Really fun 80s hip hop
All hail the queen for a solid 3 star album that is a serious product of the late 80s.
The combination of hip hop and dance was enjoyable. It's production is a little dated, sounding like exactly like it's release date, and lyrically it doesn't stray much further than how she is the best rapper, but her voice and flow is really good, and the beats are faultless, so it never bored me or felt painful to listen to at all. Favourite tracks were either The Pros or Ladies First. It really does deserve props for its influence. Weird baby voice on track 2 creeped me out. Probably deserves a 7 but I'll give it a 3. Slightly uninspired Album cover.
Some great tunes: De La Soul with the assist in MAMA GAVE BIRTH TO THE SOUL CHILDREN. Others, WRATH OF MADNESS, and A KING AND QUEEN CREATION. Enjoyable intro album from the Queen.
Felt like a time capsule. Nice to bop to
a fun and enjoyable album that has a surprising amount of nods to modern ATL trap.
Fine. Dates, but important.
3 maybe 4
A low 3 stars, as I like the instrumentals (real jazzy backdrop) and some of the lyrics/flow works well. It also has a spice of Jamaican music to it as well. But her shitck gets old by the 2nd half, as all her raps sound the same, the album sticks to the same song structure over and over and over again.
it’s a decent album i’m not too keen on hip hop myself as i haven’t heard enough to know what’s good and what’s not but for paving the way for women in this genre i’ve got to give extra points really great
Really fun hip-hop album done by a black woman when it wasn't usual to do that.
Enjoyed it more than I expected to
Better than expected,
I liked the Queen's style but would have liked this better if it showcased her with more lyrical diversity.
A lot of 80s hip-hop sounds very samey, and this is no exception.
Was a lot better than I was expecting.
I found myself often tapping my feet and moving from side to side.
Funky daisy age hip hop which hits a feminist position in the genre. She was 19. Decent and important but not earthstopping
-she has some really good flow actually. the album kind of reminds me of a non-European Neneh Cherry- Raw Like Sushi -not sure if I’d want to listen to every song on here again since a lot of them kind of blended together. nevertheless she did a good job and the strong points are very strong -Favorites are The Pros and Ladies First
I completely forgot she was also a rapper... good early rap vibes
I love Queen Latifah and wish I could rate this higher, but the whole album is very repetitive. Ladies First is a classic of course.
The queen! Vibey but nothing that really stood out to me.
Thought this would be a 4 but it’s a 3. Idk I listen to her sometimes, there are other songs of hers I like a lil better. Song specific comments: -Mama gave birth to the soul children did wayyyy too much of the child voice sound effect. -Come into my house I hope someone does or did a drag dance to this song at some point - Then too many of the songs sounded like the same thing
A favourite of mine, positive lyrics and top beats, but admittedly a few too many dodgy tracks. 3.5
Before breaking out as an actress, Queen Latifah was a rapper. She was the feminine counterpart to N.W.A., providing a much-needed perspective to a number of sociopolitical issues of the day. While a bit dated by today's standards of hiphop, her energy and message are still valuable and worth hearing.
Paved the way for the female mc’s though is a bit dated. 3/5
respect
A really cool hip-hop feminist album from a 19 year old. Great to see De Las Soul on here. She is clearly wise beyond her years and I love the reggae tunes in here. Ultimately not something I need to put on regularly but I respect it.
For an album that's just over an hour long, it's very repetitive. There isn't a lot of variety between the beats, soundscapes, or samples that are used. However, it's also VERY 1989 in its sound, and for that, even if I wasn't familiar at all with any of the singles that were released, it was quite nostalgic sounding, and enjoyable enough to garner the album a positive rating.
Often repetitive late 80s to time capsule.
W female rapper Solid tunes
Not super my style hip-hop wise, but it did get better about halfway through. Queen Latifah is a name I've heard before, but I did not know that it was music she was famous for Standouts Latifah's Law The Pros Ladies First 3/5
Can see why this is included, it's just fine in my mind though, nothing amazing nothing terrible 3*
This was decent but the raw rappy sound felt a bit dated to me. Favorite song was: 7. Ladies First 5/10
Iconic at times. Great production all around, despite being a queen, Latifah gets out shadowed by her features a LOT
It's good, but it feels a bit uncooked - if I listened to it blindly I would have said it's Queen Latifah
The whole album is Latifah stamping her authority. I can't jack my body, but when the Queen orders me I feel legally obliged to.
I forgot Queen Latifah also had a music career, and this is the first time I’ve heard any of it. It’s neat! Solid late 80s hip hop, fun sampling. A decent record.
Love this record.
This one's a lot of fun. The beats are fun, the flow is for the most part smooth, and some of the songs lyrically are pretty solid. There's a few too many generic brag raps that are underwhelming and not particularly clever, and I would have preferred a bit more tempo and dynamic variation song to song, as it got a bit stale toward the end, but I liked it more than I expected to.
Not a single track stood out. It sounds like 80's hip hop alright.
Surprised how much I liked this one. Cool beats and a fun vibe.
No. 274/1001 Dance for Me 3/5 Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children 2/5 Come into my House 3/5 Latifah's Law 3/5 Wrath of my Madness 3/5 The Pros 3/5 Ladies First 4/5 A King And Queen Creation 3/5 Queen of Royal Badness 3/5 Evil That Man Do 3/5 Princess of the Possee 4/5 Inside Out 3/5 Average: 3,08 Really cool listen, but sounds a bit dated.
A great debut, and a pretty classic part of hip-hop history.
Really enjoyed it
nice hip hop
Enjoyable record, I'm a huge fan of the late 80s sound and production of hip hop albums.
feels like ahead of it's time but wasn't there to see it so idk
During this era of hip-hop/rap, Queen Latifah feels like a breath of fresh air compared to her male contemporaries (i.e. NWA, Dr. Dre, etc). She certainly has some skills on the mic (for this era of music) and this record is filled with dope samples and beats. However, her flow and style for most songs do start to get repetitive. For instance, the chorus outro on “The Pros” goes on for waaaaaaay too long. Overall, a decent record and a nice change of pace for what she brought to the hip-hop/rap space during that time. Favorite track: Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children
First, it's one of those albums that didn't age very well - it is stuck in late 1980s and does sound really dated, second, it started off really well until I realised that most of the songs sound very much the same (same beats and rapping), which makes it a way too long album overall. It's ok, but it's a generous 3 because of the reasons I mentioned.
Bueno
I like Queen Latifah as a person but this isn't for me
All Hail the Queen is the debut album by Queen Latifah, originally released in 1989. I never listed to Queen Latifah prior to this, and wow I was surprised at her skills on the mic. Sure, her themes get a bit repetitive but that was how hip hop was at the time. The instrumentals are really cool. It's wild to compare how sampling has evolved over the years. I find a lot of the 80s hip-hop instrumentals tend to be more danceable. I guess it makes sense since breakdancing was at its peak. The samples are really funky and I even hear a lot of reggae influence. Queen Latifah definitely paved the way for future MCs like Ms Lauryn Hill.
enjoyable hip-hop with energy, especially first half
Un autre album hip-hop qui a mal vieilli. J'ai beaucoup de respect pour elle car elle s'est taillé une place dans un milieu ou très peu de femmes ont réussi à le faire à l'époque. Mais la majorité des chansons sonnent toutes pareilles, les paroles sont tout le temps sur le même sujet (comment elle est une meilleure rapeuse que tout le monde, qu'elle est la Queen, etc.). 5/10
3.5
Pretty good old school hip hop. Likeable record.
She’s great for that early style of hip hop
It was fine. I appreciate the bravado without violence or sex and that the queen staked her place, but it's not something I would choose to listen to.
Liking the samples used. Really like the early-90s style of rapping.
It is amazing at how dated genres of music can get. Doesn't make music bad or great - it all depends on what age you were during that time. It has been said that your music taste is fully developed late high school early 20's... and if you were that age when this was released awesome!
Some big beats and enjoyable old-school rap by a pioneer.
Enjoyed that.
Music mix is good; the singular, monotonous theme of each song is tiring. Our take away, I guess, is QL is amazingly spectacular; if she says so. I rate this a low 3, possibly 2.9 for that reason.
She sure likes to remind that we're listening to a Queen Latifah album. Not bad old school hip hop but like a lot of its contemporaries it gets redundant pretty quickly
Glad I finally got a chance to listen to the famous Queen Latifah. I'll never be a fan, as it sometimes goes nowhere and it's become repetitive, but that was a cool and pleasant listen nevertheless.
Enjoyed this album. Rap that wasn’t too offensive or derogatory. Also liked the horns
3.5/5. There’s a lot of influential albums out there but is anyone going around calling Queen Latifah their favourite artist?
Liked it, but gets a bit repetitive at over an hour long.
3 I’ve seen a lot of comments referring to this album as being dated, and while I could have probably guessed this is a product of the late 80s/early 90s myself if I didn’t know any better, I still thought the production was really solid. I mean, I know we don’t really hear hip hop beats quite like these ones anymore nor have we for some time now, but honestly, I think that’s kind of a shame given how catchy and groovy they are here - if anything, I’d be more likely to classify this album as classic instead of dated. That to say, while I enjoyed most of what I heard here, there wasn’t much in particular that stood out to me. The opener Dance For Me is, in fact, quite danceable and probably the best track here, and then Mama Gave Birth to Soul Children is an enjoyable follow-up (especially given the De La Soul feature), but from there, things start really running together. The next track on the album that stood out to me in any significant way me was Ladies First, which is one of the catchier tunes here and a solid feminist anthem, but the track that really ended up speaking to me was actually Evil that Men Do, especially the bar: “A woman strives for a better life, but who the hell cares? Because she's living on welfare The government can't come up with a decent housing plan So she's in no man's land It's a sucker who tells you you're equal” Preach! But yeah, as a whole, this was good, but I think it could have been better with a bit more diversity in the beats and songwriting. It’s still a fun, groovy vibe for sure, but it doesn’t really create a super memorable listen, and as a result, this album dragged just a touch and felt a bit longer than its 50 minute runtime would suggest. I will say, I was kind of surprised to see how few plays this has on Spotify given that Queen Latifah is like a household name. These days maybe she’s just more known for her acting career? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Man does she sound young. It's good, well produced with strong musical choices and beats. Best cut is "Mama Gave Birth" the one with De La Soul (which says something, one supposes).
Not quite the bite of Missy Elliot, but love a strong woman.
Favorite Track: Come into My House
Prima, beetje Afrika bambaataa vibes hier en daar
It was ok neither here nor there
Good listen. Some good moments
Favorite Track: Wrath of My Madness Dance for Me Ladies First
This was pretty good There were a couple of really great tracks in here
Some great instrumentals, and I like her flow! But I will probably never listen to this again.
3.5
Queen Latifah has an amazing flow to her lyrics and a fantastic voice. This is a positive album and I would hazard a guess that she had fun making it.
I can understand why MCs of the era talk so much about others biting their style, there are basically 3 flow patterns and maybe 10 rhyme schemes shared by everyone. That's why when someone like QL does manage to distinguish herself even a little, it becomes a big deal. I like the dancehall vibes too. Although there are no bad songs here, there's nothing I'd throw into my rotation either. 3 crowns out of 5 🤴🤴🤴
Is a queen latifah album or a de la soul album
Solid record, really dope production and lyrics. It was really hard for a lady emcee to breakthrough and for the most part she seemed authentic but there will always be a little bit of that feeling she's trying to be too much like one of the boys, hip hop has a checkered past when it comes to a lot of things ladies on the mic not getting their respect is one of them
Definitely of its time, but still solid.
Despite claims that the album is dated (I believe it is), it was still enjoyable and a great effort. This isn’t my favorite genre, but it has multiple solid tracks! I won’t likely return to this a lot, but I am glad I listened
This was actually pretty good.
I enjoyed it
Actually pretty good.
pretty good, but got tiring before the end
I don't really think Queen Latifah's voice works for rapping... but it's a fine album nonetheless. Fav track: The Pro's
Consistent but not samey. Not particularly my sounds but could listen all day…
C’est le genre de rap/hip-hop que je tolère le plus, c’est moins fâché et macho que la grande majorité du style
Tons of powerful lyrics and strong beats, capturing empowerment and resilience. Queen's delivery is sharp. There are standout moments that remind you why she was so influential in the industry. It's a solid listen.
Groovy album from late 80s, never heard it before, but the jam is pretty good. Honestly, I didn't even know Queen Latifah was a singer, I guess I wasn't interested in rap/funk from 80s and 90s. The fact is, I'm still not. Cool few songs that come and go, no strings attached. Nice bit of trivia, but nothing more than that.
Hip-hop femenino. No está mal. Ni fu ni fa.
Hyvät kasarikolinat vielä, vaikka 90-lukua koputellaan - ja hyvä niin, koska tämä kuulostaa raikkaalta kahden vuosikymmenen räpin sekoitukselta. Pidin! Letkeä.
Lämmin flow, terävät tausta ja riittävästi melodiaa (kiitos Jamaikalle). Lisäksi julkaisuvuodelle oireellinen kaoottisuus pysyy aisoissa. 3+
"All Hail the Queen" Latifah-- in her early new jack swing/ Native Tongues era packed with as many themes of empowerment as old school funk samples. Everyone from the Meters to Sly Stone gets pulled up here, making for a pretty robust sonic potluck of soul. Nice deviation with a reggae track "The Pros" which breaks up the NJS/ House sound a little but could use more range in general. Can't be mad at this album though, it's a lot of fun.
This is on the cusp of being a 4 for me, but it was just a little too light. Some of the lyrics were socially conscious, but only one or two of the songs. The beats and raps were all pretty fresh, and it was a positive album overall. Unlike "Raw Like Sushi," there weren't any "stay away from my man" songs. There's something kind of wholesome about this era of rap, and this album exemplifies that. I'd listen to it again, and I could see my opinion improving over time.
Fun to listen to, and the beats stay fresh. A few tracks surprised me with how dance influenced they are, although given the era perhaps I shouldn't be surprised. She really exudes confidence and flows as well as the best of the golden age hip hopists. If this kind of music is your thing, you'll probably like it more than I. In general, I don't find myself going to hip hop often, so it's only a 3 for me, but a strong one.
Queen Latifah is amazing and I’ve always enjoyed her acting as well as her music. She had great features on this album and it was nostalgic to listen to.
3.5!
An album produced by some of the greats in the Hip Hop Industry in the late 80's, from De La Soul to KRS-One to The 45 King (who, after listening to A King and Queen Creation could indeed better stick to producing and not pick up a mic). Queen Latifah shows she can MC with the best on this album, has a good flow and can adjust to laid-back beats like on 'The Pros' and even hold up marvelously on the much harder Boogie Down Productions-style beats on 'Evil That Men Do.' The host of different producers also makes this an album with several styles that were popular in the time, a little bit of soul, a little bit of jazz, some reggae, a hint of house Remembering she was 19 when this album was released, you can certainly see how much influence she has had on the genre and what came after. And still... Many of the songs are lazy, the lyrics are only bragging songs, there's not a song with an interesting train of thought or with anything more to say about how flavourful she is. Not all songs are strong, and some are just plain weak. Interesting debut.
Turns out I’m a fan of older school rap. Pleasantly surprised. Did not listen to this while growing up other than one song. Pretty good stuff.
I find that 80's hip-hop has been one of the genre's that I understand the importance of and enjoy it in general, but a full album is a bit disappointing. 2.5/5
Cool rhymes, but I'm definitely not in the target audience for this one.
Not my favorite but not bad
Some of the production felt dated, but other tracks came thru more as classics. Really enjoyed listening to this one, didn't realize how talented a rapper QL is
While I’m no judge of rap or house, she is so assertive and commanding. It’s no wonder she hass done so much. She’s a force.
I wasn't sure what to expect but I liked a few tracks on here. They weren't all gems. For a first album tho, Queen Latifah as a rapper showed her potential. Her cadence, confidence and cool are undeniable. I liked Wrath of My Madness, Ladies First and Queen of Royal Badness
Better than expected, but still not one I’d revisit.
rather dated but not unenjoyable
My first impression was that Queen Latifah really sounds like an actor here. Maybe it's because I knew her in that capacity first, but something about this release does sound a bit performative. Still, the samples are fun, and you can bop your head to it. De La Soul's appearance early into the album really fits, because her style here is somewhat like a gender-flipped version of their stuff. It sounds aged, but eh, it's fun and captures the vibe of that era of rap. Don't know if I'll go back to it as soon as I go back to DLS, though.
A mislim album je totalno demode ali je super zabavan
Nogle af beatsene er virkelig fede!
I liked this album. I hadn't heard it before; in fact, I'm ashamed to say that I only knew of Queen Latifah from her beautiful voice acting with the character Ellie in Ice Age! So far, although I'm only 122 albums in, I don't think this challenge features enough women. The music industry is dominated by blokes (mostly white!), so it's nice to have a bit more representation of women in this album choice. I'd probably still prefer to listen to her as Ellie, who has a very special place in my heart from so many viewings with my children!
Nice flow, good beats and instrumentation, and Latifah’s smooth voice combine for a pleasant (if a little lengthy) 80s hip hop album. Lyrically is where the album stumbles - I can take some self-referential lyrics, but literally every song contained at least one line containing the word “Queen” or “Latifah,” and almost all songs reference being a female rapper. Not to diminish her accomplishments as a female in a male-dominated genre, but it was hard to relate to the songs as someone who is not a rapper or named Queen Latifah. “Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children” was the best track.
Can't deny how important this record was for female MCs but it is sadly filled with songs that have many parts to them that annoy me (like the dumb sounding "kid" voices on Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children). Some great lines and flow but sagged by some lackluster songs, too many to look past regardless of the great ones on here. Still not a 2 star record, but close
Have to admit this is a banger. Female rapper from the 80s litteraly checks NO boxes, but queen comes thru. The beats are on fire and her flow remains interesting, something the fellas couldn't even accomplish back then
I enjoyed this ! 3*
Pretty good! I feel like I always forget that Queen Latifah was a rapper before being an actress, so this is a good reminder. Also I might have this one on vinyl? Will have to double check, but I may have gotten it as part of an album club. I've heard it before though, and it's pretty good. Her style of rapping reminds me so much of Ice Cube, and that makes it funnier that she played his husband in 22 Jump Street (not sure where else that may have occurred). Unfortunately this one does strike me as a bit dated, hard not too since it's 1989, but it's still quite good. An enjoyable listen to be sure. Favorite tracks: Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children, Latifah's Law, The Pros. Album art: The Queen striking a regal pose. Amid all the current conspiracies with the royal family in England, this becomes a tad bit funnier to me. But it's a solid picture, and here the white space adds power. The logo is great too. 3.5/5
What do people think who first met Ice-T on Law and Order? Then they go back and listen to songs like 'Black 'n' Decker' or 'Cop Killer'. Maybe it's just as weird as me, a guy who was a 12 year old listening to The Iceberg and then seeing Ice-T on a network police procedural. Anyway, Trugoy! Trugoy's here! Is that all of De La Soul? Hey look - I didn't walk away with a favorite here but this thing has a lot of life in it.
Pretty good late 1980s hip hop with some fun guest spots. A couple of samples that made my lip curl - and was that a little reference to Patra on 'Queen of the Posse'?
This has some entertaining bits, but quite a few songs sounded pretty similar to me. Not bad and I didn't hate it, anyway.
She really said Queen a lot huh
inevitably sounds dated, but still quality and a good listen.
I mean, not bad... but it all sounds pretty much the same to me after a while.
HL: "Dance for Me", ”Latifah’s Law”, “Wrath of My Madness”, “Ladies First” (track 1) unexpected Sly and the Family Stone (Track 2) unexpected De La Soul feature Kind of like Ice Cube, I primarily knew Queen Latifah as an actor, not a musician. This is pretty good! I found the forays into reggae/dancehall cheesy at first, but it’s growing on me even as I type this. Also, the best songs are pretty early on in the record, but it has a smooth finish with “Inside Out”, and “Irie say in the fire you will burn” 3.5
Cool
This was definitely a trip back in the Time Machine. It was refreshing in the way it displays hip hop with a fun loving and party type vibe. She was a trailblazer for sure and I recognize the significance of the work for the time. Not sure I will be revisiting this one though. 2.5/5 rounded up due to the artist’s staying power and evolution into television, film and icon status.
Okay.
Síðníundi svo sömplin eru ekki alveg eins þurr og maður kannski óttast. Ansi hresst en ekki ýkja eftirminnilegt eftir eina hlustun, en ég get bara ekki meira þegar ég er að reyna einbeita mér við vinnu.
Solider Hip-Hop
Enjoyed without feeling like I'd listen again
Ignoring the obvious 80s style and production here, I actually found myself enjoying this one. Clever use of some samples and sounds. But damn, I don’t need to be told that you are the Q-U-E-E-N on every song. I get it. Still, it’s a nice statement record and it clearly opened the door for future female rap artists.
Gotta love that 80s / early 90s rap beat and some of the simple / expected rhymes. Surprisingly caught myself head bobbing to this more than I thought. My rating is between a 2 and 3 and rounding up for the groove factor.
It’s not what I generally listen to, but respect for the trail blazing and the empowerment of women.
Lots of great beats. Not a rap fan but ripping some short ring tunes might happen!
Ok ok! This one is dedicated to Dana ☝🏼 I listened to a few songs …. Feels dated but it’s fun tho
Voimakas! 3/5
Ei ehkä kaikkein ajattomin klassikko, mutta moni biisi sai vielä tanssijalan vipattamaan.
Samasta liian pitkästä CD-levyongelmasta kärsii tämäkin, monen muun aikalaisensa tavoin. siistejä hetkiä kyllä levyllä. 3/5
i don’t really like rap but i like her words
(3 alto, casi 4)
5.5/10 Highlights: Wrath of my Madness Princess of the Possee The Pros
I always forget that Queen Latifah started as a singer, now that she is more famous as an actress. That album cover is so 80s it hurts. She really was the queen, dropping bars like nobody's business, this album would have done a lot for female rappers at the time, and so much so it's been inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry, based on its "cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage". Best: Dance With Me Worst: A King and Queen Creation 3.5 stars
Props to Queen Latifah. Easy listening to a rap sound beginning.
De La Soul on track 2! This is pretty good. Probably a 3.4. Probably pretty noteworthy but not top 1001.
Queen Latifah made music? I must be too young that I only knew her as an actress. Dance for me is a fun start, girl can rap! A fun album, very 80s hip hop. Mama gave birth has some weird chipmunk shit, fuck that. Also enjoyed Ladies First. Overall 3*, fun album.
Pretty solid 90s hip hop. Not my favorite genre though so middling review.
Good 80’s hip hop album, but really does just feel dated now, has not lasted the test of time well, but was clearly influential. So probably earns its place on the list to get a 3 star rating.
The sound of this album is definitely a product of its time. That certainly doesn't mean it's a bad album though. I was enjoying it at the start but after a while the songs all started to blend together. It lacks a bit of variety to push it higher in my estimation.
Old-school hip-hop. Pretty decent at times, but fairly annoying at others.
2.5
This album is Queen Latifah’s debut. It is a confident album that puts Queen Latifah’s blackness and femininity at the forefront. Musically, this record is from the golden age of hip hop and features fairly simple beats and samples. It’s pretty enjoyable for the most part though it’s a bit dated. Queen Latifah has a great flow and delivery.
This album is not bad but it lacks a bit of variety.
Pretty tight, though must of the beats and music sounds pretty similar. I think she's a better actress than rapper - although she was instrumental to music, Not my style
I was completely surprised by this. Feminist hip-hop ... we need more of it.
Interessante não sabia que era rapper, mas nada de mais
Zanimljivo ali nije "my cup of tea"
albumi kuulostaa kun se olisi 80-luvulta, sen takia se on huono. jos albumi ei kuulostaisi että se olisi 80-luvulta, niin albumi olisi hyvä. tämä on objektiivinen ja järkeenkäyvä kritisismi.... ehkä näyttöaikaa vähän liikaa... katsoppa vaihteeksi näitä elämän pikseleitä, kaikkialla niitä on dance for me
Take me back to the 80s! A fun album. Don’t want to listen to it all day. A product of its time and overall enjoyable.
Some cool features, enjoyed a few tracks especially
An interesting look at 80's hiphop, only a few tracks hit the spot for me but a fun time.
Pretty goodn
Skárra en margt.
Fun songs. Kind of amazing how completely formed her persona was with a debut album at age 19 - it's so clearly the Queen Latifah we all know.
I can see the influential and noteworthiness of it, but generally I'm not super into it. It's fine.
File under : the good hip hop. I wish these albums were a tight 40 minutes though they’re always an hour and change and it’s just a little too long
This is her debut album and it feels like it. Not just for her, but for rap as a genre. The lyrics are mostly great, but the flow is so incredibly slow that it’s almost comical. Production and samples are great as well, but there isn’t anything to really get excited for. High highs and low lows for me. 3/5
Enjoyed it
I know this is a seminal album that paved the way for women in hip hop, but it’s not my thing. I love the message, not a fan of the delivery. Similar to LL, the delivery of the rhyme is just so so. 3/5.
It's certainly limited and showing its age, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. It's rather one-dimensional with its lyrical content, but the beats are catchy and it has a charm.
good shit!
40 Based on this scale: 1 - 0 to 19 2 - 20 to 39 3 - 40 to 59 4 - 60 to 79 5 - 80 to 100 Decent. I disliked this kind of music at the time, but today, I can see that this is a decent album.
Typisch van die ouderwetse hiphop, uit de golden age of hip hop. Wist niet eens dat dat de jaren 80 waren, maar ik kan me dat helemaal voorstellen. Ik ben niet zo'n hip hop liefhebber, maar hetgene wat ik af en toe nog wel ok vind om te luisteren, is wel vaker het oudere werk. Het is vrij kaal, maar de beatjes zijn het leukste. Op dit album is dat ook weer. Toch is het vrij afwisselend nog, met af en toe wat ska en reggae invloeden, en gelukkig wordt er niet gesmeten met allerlei krachttermen. Prima albumpje, stukken beter dan Missy Elliott.
I really enjoyed bits of this album, other points I could go without. The jazz infused beats, for example Latifahs Law, are the highlights of the record for me personally. While I did really enjoy this album, I also would say it ain’t all too memorable for me. I would only give it a 3, but a high 3.
A little too nineties, I'm sorry Queen you're a queen. It is not my scene
Good to hear a rap album free of the violence and misogyny that typically dominate the lyrics. Not my preferred genre, but I found the lyrics clever and I enjoyed the guest artist contributions.
Feels so 90's. Reminds me of listening to an MC Hammer cassette in my walkman as a kid. Didn't hate it, don't think I will ever listen to it again.
Fresh sounding 80s hip hop, decent listen, and one track going on rotation - The Pros
I liked the one with De la Soul and Ladies First the best
Decent. Some good samples and rhythms. Some songs were annoying though which made it a bit uneven but there's enough good stuff to give it a passing grade.
Just ok
It’s ok.
Enjoyable. But not blown away, as I expected to be.
3 - This was definitely one of my preferred listens when it comes to this era of hip hop. The beats were interesting enough to keep my attention. It's a bit bloated, though, and loses me towards the end. Still, not bad.
It's pretty decent but two things strike me (1) she rates herself a bit doesn't she? (2) not very African is it?
I heard Ladies First back in the day, but not familiar with anything else of hers. It wasn't bad. Yeah, the rapping delivery sounds outdated, and the lyrics were a bit corny, but that's just how rap was back then, so I can't fault it too much for that. There was a lot of saying her name, spelling her name, spelling other words, complaining about other rappers copying her, etc. Pretty fun stuff until it fizzled a bit in the end. I can see why she stood out among female rappers of the time.
Fine!
Good debut, especially for it being in '89.
Definitely not a fan of rap, so 3 stars is high for a rap album for me. She's definitely good at what she's doing in the instrumentation and samples are good enough to not be annoying. Of course the whole "I'm the best, come battle me" shtick is really dumb, but the feminist twist gives it some welcome flavor.
The highs were high and the lows were low. Overall enjoyable experience though.