Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Apparently this album was deemed to be culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant and was, as a consequence, selected for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. To me, it's just another mainly boring Hip-Hop album.
Feel like if I was listening to hip hop back then, this would have been great, but in a world with Kendricks and Aesop Rocks, this album just feels ancient. Not necessarily aged poorly, just that the beats and rapping are very simple, there's a lot of "I'm a great rapper, I'll destroy you at the mic" lyrics. That late 80's "I need to hit every beat extremely hard with my rhymes" with a very hard flow (which is now, unfortunately, synonymous with awful corporate training videos that try to be cool). A lot of the music is great and some of the sung choruses are great (The Pros, which weirdly has some of my least favorite rapping on the record. Which is funny because the sung choruses have better "rapping" with rolled/trilled lines that the actual rapping does not). Monie Love was great on Ladies First. Also, recognized the sample used on Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children as it was used in an episode of Better Call Saul, fun fact (Scorpio by Dennis Coffey). But overall, it gets the 2/5 simply because this style of rapping, to me, has just kinda been left behind and does not really work for me in today's landscape. Not necessarily a knock against the album itself and more just a reflection of how far hip hop has progressed since this album came out (and how far it's progressed due to this album's influence).
Pretty good fist is my favorite so far
I didnt really didnt care for this too much. Comparing to other females in same genre, Queen isn’t close to her peers especially Missy.
Boring 90s hip-hop. Did not sound very original, but it was not unlistenable. Stand-out: Come into My House
Wu Tang did it better
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
I think maybe this album requires a ton of historical context to properly appreciate, because it sounds very dated at this point. Not a must-hear album, I'm afraid.
Respect for Queen Latifah 3.5 stars
picks: princess of the posse, ladies first
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
Not for me
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
Refreshingly different. Not something I normally listen to but I dug it.
Such an amazing artist
doesn’t feel like it represents her stuff the best
I remember liking this a lot more when it came out. I guess hip hop has moved on a long way since then and this sounds quite dated now.
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.
Not really my jam
Felt like a time capsule. Nice to bop to
Cool to hear the groundbreaking female rap star from her time but not my favorite
Not terrible but probably won't revisit. Dated and repetitive rapping, although perfectly playable as filler/background. I guess inclusion to acknowledge her being a trailblazer in a male dominated industry.
a fun and enjoyable album that has a surprising amount of nods to modern ATL trap.
Fine. Dates, but important.
Pretty good. This was a pleasant surprise.
This was great! And honestly if we’d flipped these 2 albums I’d have been happier. But both were great, so ultimately it doesn’t matter. Of course nothing matters, but Queen Latifah is great so that’s good.
Considering the era of rap/hip hop and that I associate QL with Ice Tea and Ice Cube. And that this was an hour. I was not excited to listen. I was right.
This album is full of ~flavour~
I thought this was really good. I'm always happy to see women in underrepresented genres and Queen Latifah is a legend.
Love it and reminds me of Monie Love although I think this album was out before any Monie Love albums were.
3 maybe 4
Oh, late 80s rap is not my thing I guess. This type of beat and flow just feels a bit silly to me. 1/5
Damn she was young here! hehe kinda like this older type of rap / hip hop. What ever you call it. Princess of the Posse is good. I like that Jamaican sound. I really liked this album. 4 stars.
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
Guess I’m not a big Dana Owens fan 🤷🏻♀️
Really fun hip-hop album done by a black woman when it wasn't usual to do that.
classic latifah , album has aged fairly well considering
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.
“The Pros”’s dub lurch pinched me out complacency and makes me wish this record changed up more often; the style is mostly upbeat, keeps the toes flexing, but predictable. Once you’ve heard the first twenty seconds of the song, you’ll know how the rest will go. I like Queen Latifah’s voice and wish she sang about more than her rapping prowess.
Very enjoyable, from a weirdly innocent period in time [EDIT: re-runs for the last 5 days, helpful over the holiday period but I'm hoping for a banger or two over the weekend]
A lot of 80s hip-hop sounds very samey, and this is no exception.
Iii, gan jau šis ir kaut kas ļoti lielisks un ģeniāls, taču es to nemāku novērtēt. 😬 Not my jam!
Очень понравилось, такой старый хип хоп. То что надо
Yeah, it's dated, but a mainstream female rapper in 1989? Points for changing the game and paving the way.
Too hard on the edges
Was a lot better than I was expecting.
I found myself often tapping my feet and moving from side to side.
## In-Depth Review of *All Hail the Queen* by Queen Latifah Queen Latifah's debut album, *All Hail the Queen*, released in 1989, stands as a seminal work in hip-hop history. It not only marked her entry into the male-dominated rap scene but also established her as a powerful voice for women and a champion of social issues. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its lasting influence, while also assessing its pros and cons. ### Lyrics The lyrical content of *All Hail the Queen* is diverse, blending personal empowerment with social commentary. Queen Latifah's verses often reflect her experiences as a Black woman navigating a challenging landscape. - **Empowerment and Feminism**: The track "Ladies First," featuring Monie Love, is a notable anthem of female empowerment. It celebrates women's strength and contributions to hip-hop, challenging the notion that women are secondary in the genre. Latifah's confident delivery and Love's dynamic flow create a powerful message: “Ladies first, ladies first,” which became a rallying cry for female artists. - **Social Commentary**: Songs like "Evil That Men Do" tackle serious issues such as violence and inequality. The collaboration with KRS-One adds weight to the discussion, making it clear that Latifah is not just rapping for entertainment but also to provoke thought and inspire change. - **Personal Narratives**: Tracks like "Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children" reflect on heritage and identity, showcasing her lyrical versatility. The storytelling aspect of her lyrics invites listeners into her world, making her experiences relatable. ### Music and Production Musically, *All Hail the Queen* is a rich tapestry of sounds that blends hip-hop with elements of jazz, reggae, and house music. - **Production Team**: The album features production primarily by DJ Mark the 45 King, whose beats are characterized by their rhythmic complexity and catchy hooks. His work on tracks like "Wrath of My Madness" showcases his ability to create engaging soundscapes that complement Latifah's vocal prowess. - **Genre Fusion**: The incorporation of various genres is evident in songs like "Come Into My House," which embraces house music influences. This genre-blending approach was innovative for its time and paved the way for future artists to experiment beyond traditional hip-hop boundaries. - **Instrumentation**: The use of live instrumentation alongside samples gives the album a vibrant feel. For example, the saxophone in "Ladies First" adds an unexpected layer that enhances its appeal. ### Themes *All Hail the Queen* addresses several themes that resonate deeply with listeners: - **Empowerment**: Central to the album is the theme of empowerment—both personal and collective. Latifah positions herself as a leader among women in hip-hop, encouraging them to assert their place in a genre often dominated by male voices. - **Identity and Heritage**: The exploration of identity is prevalent throughout the album. Latifah reflects on her roots and the cultural significance of her experiences as a Black woman in America. - **Social Justice**: Many tracks confront societal issues such as violence against women and racial inequality. Latifah’s willingness to address these topics head-on distinguishes her from many of her contemporaries. ### Influence The impact of *All Hail the Queen* extends far beyond its initial release: - **Trailblazer for Women in Hip-Hop**: Latifah’s success opened doors for future generations of female rappers. Artists like Missy Elliott and Nicki Minaj have cited her as an influence, acknowledging how she reshaped perceptions of women in rap. - **Cultural Significance**: The album’s themes continue to resonate today as discussions around gender equality and representation in music remain relevant. Its messages have inspired countless artists to embrace their identities and advocate for social change through their art. - **Legacy**: Over three decades later, *All Hail the Queen* is celebrated not just as a classic hip-hop album but as an important cultural artifact that reflects the struggles and triumphs of women in music. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Innovative Sound**: The blending of genres creates a unique listening experience that stands out in hip-hop history. - **Strong Lyrical Content**: Empowering messages coupled with social commentary make for thought-provoking lyrics that engage listeners on multiple levels. - **Cultural Impact**: The album has had a lasting influence on both hip-hop and broader discussions about gender equality in music. #### Cons - **Production Variability**: While many tracks are well-produced, some may feel dated compared to contemporary standards or lack the polish found in later works. - **Filler Tracks**: A few songs may be perceived as filler or less impactful compared to standout tracks like "Ladies First" or "Evil That Men Do." - **Limited Vocal Range Displayed**: Although Latifah showcases her singing ability on certain tracks, some critics argue that she could have explored this aspect more extensively throughout the album. ### Conclusion *All Hail the Queen* by Queen Latifah remains a landmark album that transcends its era. With its powerful lyrics, innovative production, and significant themes, it not only solidified Latifah's place in hip-hop history but also paved the way for future artists. Despite some criticisms regarding production quality and occasional filler tracks, its strengths far outweigh any shortcomings. As both a musical achievement and a cultural statement, *All Hail the Queen* continues to inspire new generations of artists and listeners alike.
Funky daisy age hip hop which hits a feminist position in the genre. She was 19. Decent and important but not earthstopping
Not my style
-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.
Gute Vibes, aber ein paar Lieder weiter geklickt
so fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! made me very nostalgic for some reason
"Rhymes are smokin', concentration can't be broken. Queen Latifah's Outspoken." Groovy and soulful like I expected from Queen Latifah. She blends rap with reggae, jazz, and hip hop. QL sets the expectation early in Latifah's Law. The Queen of Royal Badness has a lot to say, and this f*ggot ain't got nothin' better to do than listen. Latifah doesn't shy away from addressing racial apartheid, pleasure politics, feminism, and mass-incarceration. I wanted to take away a point for the chipmunk noises at the end of Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children, but after Evil That Men Do, I can't. 5/5.
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
Very 90s, not my stuff.
Naming yourself "Queen" is bold but, if you then drop a banger of a debut album like this, I can let it slide. Great Listen!
She's alright. I think there were better female rappers at the time but I can appreciate her impact in promoting women in rap. Musically it's got that old school hip hop vibe with pretty typical themes.
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
i was pleasantly surprised by this one. of course, i kind of forgot that queen latifah started off as a rapper but her flow is pretty decent and the beats here are super fun. it's not anything high brow or mind blowing, but it's extremely listenable. the highlight here for me was 'mama gave birth to the soul children' which features de la soul and is a killer track. but there's nothing here that's truly bad. it's pretty fun and a solid album.
I usually like older hip-hop records, but this one didn't age that well. The "go mommy" and other ad libs using some intensely vocoded samples is just... bad? The age on this record (mostly on the production sides) really shines through for me. It distracts from the other qualities of the music, as the beats are aight but just missing a little bang. 4/10
in a better world, one in which the work of female artists in hip hop was allowed the longevity and staying power it truly deserves, we'd be talking about Queen Latifah's debut album in the same breath as records like 3 Feet High and Rising. I don't just bring De La Soul up due to their inclusion on track 2 here (although that's a fantastic song!); 3 Feet High and All Hail the Queen are both emblematic of the ways in which rap music, and particularly rap albums, were evolving as the nineties were about to begin. I'm thinking especially of sample selection, conceptual focus, and most importantly, the expansion of subject matter! this is often cited as one of hip hop's first major feminist statements, and for good reason. I can think of times where I've heard female rappers attempt to prove that they can rap "as good as" their male counterparts, but Queen Latifah's perspective is much different. she isn't concerned with reaching parity with men, especially considering the evil they do (an evil she speaks about over a KRS-One beat on side B)! Latifah opens the album with a verse about how she might not be the best female MC you've ever heard, but MC stands for "Microphone Commando", and she'll command your attention anyway. she'll make you dance for her, a task made easier by some excellent beats from DJ Mark The 45 King! I love how rap songs from this era will sometimes have an instrumental break with a sample in one key, a section for the verses with a sample in a second key, and sometimes a hook that's in a third key! the subtle ways hip hop production breaks away from traditional tonality are not lost on me. the album's most iconic track, "Ladies First", is an ode to female solidarity, a message which I think has been somewhat lost in the modern rap landscape. since i started following hip hop in the 2010s, its culture's inherent misogyny has seemed to only allow for one, maybe two big female rappers to exist at one time. although, maybe with artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Doechii, CupcakKe and many others finding their way into a bigger pond this decade, that might be starting to change! decent 7/10.
Hell yeah! I wasn't sure how much female fronted rap there might be on the list, but I was delighted to see the Queen! A mishmash of genres and styles, and a sonic education which teaches more with each listen
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
The beat is super funky and the bars are tight, but the kids talking on "Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children" are a little creepy. "Come Into My House" is dope. "Wrath of my Madness" has a sweet beat and cool vocal sections. "Princess of the Posse" also has awesome sections. Her flow on this song sounds a lot like Phife Dawg. The album is great. It is little single-tone and at times the songs blend together. I wasn't super dialed into the lyrics but it's clear she has a lot of thoughtful bars about her negative experiences. 8/10
Perhaps she should try acting.
Completely forgot she used to be a rapper. Decent 80s rap, bit repetitive. Ultimately quite monotone.
Iconic at times. Great production all around, despite being a queen, Latifah gets out shadowed by her features a LOT
'Ladies First' is one of the best and most important hip-hop songs in the genre's history. It's the only song I knew of this album before this listen, a hip-hop feminist anthem backed by a crunchy bass and even chunkier drum beat. I love Queen Latifah but it's always been Monie Love's flow here that won me over. But it's really the back-and-forth between the two Emcees that's the hook here. Unsurprisingly, the rest of this thing is quite strong. It perfectly balances Afrocentricity and social consciousness (especially on 'Evil that Men Do') while still maintaining a strong braggadocious edge. Like Chuck D, Queen Latifah has a strong, authoritative voice, and a super enjoyable, expressive delivery style. The beats aren't all that unique, but there are some standouts - I really like the production on 'Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children'. The house direction of 'Come into My House' was enjoyable...a genuine banger with that one. The reggae tone of a song like 'The Pros' was another standout moment, I like that strange synth sample on the hook. I enjoy the ragga hooks whenever they crop up in general, my favorite being on 'Wrath of My Madness'. Solid '80s hip-hop, any fan of this style will find something to enjoy here.
I apologize Queen Latifah, I wasn’t familiar with your game. Thoughtful, well-produced, full of charecter. “Come Into My House” is the highlight for me
Ace, a few very good tracks that I will re-listen to. A high quality album.
Fine but a bit repetitive and not really my lane. 2.5
It's good, but it feels a bit uncooked - if I listened to it blindly I would have said it's Queen Latifah
Nice
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.
Tedious self-agrandising, plodding rap. Oh per-lease, why? I don't believe this list is curated at all - at least, not by a music lover.
I don't know what I thought Queen Latifah sounded like but it wasn't this. This is cool. It's like a 3.5, more something pleasant to have on than something I'll come back to. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
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.
What a stunning album to be recommended on the 6th of November 2024. It's inanity and honesty heart breaking that women have been signing about and fighting for the same issues of rights and bodily autonomy for so long, and I just despise the men in power. Why can't we grow? Why can't we push forwards?? Why are we stuck in stasis as a society? Anyway, this album is spectacular. Favourite track: Ladies First.
LP
Ladies First Princess of the Posse
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.
Know Queen Latifah from her acting and not from her music. After listening to this I feel I haven't missed much. Not repetitive enough to really hate it but irritating enough.
Not a single track stood out. It sounds like 80's hip hop alright.
Yuck. Bad and at times cringe. DNF
Surprised how much I liked this one. Cool beats and a fun vibe.
Super not for me but I totally get it.
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.
Horrid. 1.5/5.
A great debut, and a pretty classic part of hip-hop history.
It’s fairly good - but I am more of a rock person, so I normally wouldn’t put this on voluntarily. But I’m glad I listened to it. It’s just too long! I prefer albums to be around 40 minutes. Not more than one hour
There are some very cool horn licks in these beats, but they are ultimately repetitive. The lyrics feel pretty bland to me as well, but there’s some good things here.
I am not a fan of this genre and all this album did was to reinforce that dislike. Give me props, I listened to to the whole recording, excruciating as that was. Ugh!
# 347 : I don't love it, I don't hate it. I thought it was very ordinary and Quiet forgettable. Good 80s rap that again loses a point for length. Too much sampling and not enough Queen, weak lyrics. I probably won't go back to this.
Really enjoyed it
nice hip hop
Surprisingly good one.
While Queen Latifah's first album is a strong attempt it falls short. In later years we would come to know her for her wonderful singing voice, however- this album does not showcase that. Instead, listeners will note a fairly uninteresting rap album with several standout tracks. This album starts out middling and gets slightly better as it goes, however it never goes off. She almost eats a couple times with Ladies First, Latifah's Law, and Evil That Men Do. But it's kinda samey to my ears. For context, Latifah was only 19 when this album came out. Being so young she was not able to pull together an album that comes close to other rap and hip-hop albums of the era.
Enjoyable record, I'm a huge fan of the late 80s sound and production of hip hop albums.
I guess I slept on the queen, this is really good. Nice production, interesting flow, pleasant tone, positive lyrics. It’s just missing a killer hit that sticks in my head to push it to top marks.
really solid late 80s rap
Bog standard 80s hip hop, not bad but wouldn’t listen to again
Good stuff, positive vibes, great beats, good message. Don't know what more you want.
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
Oh surprise surprise ANOTHER hip hop rap album to endure. How many more ??
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
Thank goodness Queen Latifah is only a queen in her own mind! While her confidence shines through in every track, I just can’t help but think that she’s her biggest fan. This is one rap album that would have been better without the rapper!
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
Meh.
Not terrible, but IMO doesn't stand up well to most of the other hip-hop albums on this list from that same era.
Okay. Didn’t knock my socks off
It was alright Rating: 2.5
Yes. This is an album of its time. But, this is a very, very solid debut. She's comfortable with several styles of flow and more than a few styles of beats. With this one album she planted her flag and proved she belonged with all the other rappers that were already popular. Female or male
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!
makes u wanna bust a motherfuckin move highlights: dance for me, ladies first, the evil that men do, inside out (feb 18 2026)
Some big beats and enjoyable old-school rap by a pioneer.
Listened to half of it. Decent enough but not memorable. 4/10
Enjoyed that.
Not my fav.
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
Not so great, but listenable.
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.
This was fun, if a little too pop and polished to rev me up too much. Great voice, obvious samples, but I guess that was how we did it back then. Lots to sing along to - It's A Shame especially. Good, but not (quite) great.
I bloody love the Daisy Age ecosystem at play here. The stories from different artists intertwine and overlap. Mama Gave Birth holds it all together with the cartoon character plot. There's a great back and forth rhythm. Impossible not listen without swaying to the beats.
this girl got flow.
Just the same all the way through with very little making me want to listen again. One and done.
FUN producers did a SIIICK job on this i really really love this. 4.7/5
Enjoyed this album. Rap that wasn’t too offensive or derogatory. Also liked the horns
Comin’ with that Boom-Bap sound, back in the tail end days of positivity in hip hop. It isn’t the hardest hitting record ever to come down, but it’s eclectic, energetic, spirited, and fun. It’s a bit of a time capsule, but even if the rest of the world has moved on from this sound, it’s a worthy representative of the joy of the old days.
I only know her from shite movies so imagine my surprise to find this is good
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.
Backgrounds are pretty fun, but I really don't like this style of rap. Just falls flat.
I wonder how many folks were surprised she was a rapper before she became a actress? She's the female Ice Cube and that's not a compliment. The best part of this album was the sample of Dance With the Music by Sly and the Family Stone. Look this was OK, but just reeks of the ultimate cheesiness of the beginning of the 90's and the downfall anything good from the rap genre. Occasional good vibes and beats but could never get into her singing/rapping. Nothing I care to revisit and for the most part, struggled to find anything good to say about this album. 2
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)_/¯
This is alright. It does have the worst De La Soul cut I have ever heard, not because of the beat or the rhymes, but because of the extended outro where they pretend to be babies.
i had fun
Not great. Not really much interesting here. Maybe in the time context it was more interesting or influential. But, it doesn't really hold.
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).
Timeless beats, effortless flows, excellent production, excellent features, an undeniable classic of New York rap
Not quite the bite of Missy Elliot, but love a strong woman.
Favorite Track: Come into My House
NO ME GUSTA
This is like 3 Feet High and People's Instinctive...but with all the wit and invention sucked out and replaced by one-note samples and raps about one topic (me). Yes great that she was a successful female rapper, but being significant and making great music are not the same thing. And soooo long.
If I wanted to listen to the Beastie Boys, I'd just listen to the Beastie Boys. Just saying....
Prima, beetje Afrika bambaataa vibes hier en daar
It was ok neither here nor there
An album full of hip hop songs that felt really long and a little boring, but then again I am not a fan of hip hop music.
Good listen. Some good moments
It was fine. It's hard to go back to that time for these types of albums
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
Really not my kind of music but one or two songs I could like. Between a 2 and a 3.
I want to like this, I want to hype a woman rapper up, especially one as cool as Queen Latifah is. But this sucks. The lyrical content is solid, empowering and what have you. Something about the combo of it with the “music” though just grates on me. It just became so repetitive and one note the longer it went on. It’s too bad because I usually view late 80s rap much more favourably than this, but I just didn’t like it.
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.
For an old school hip hop album this bangs. I probably won’t pick it up very often if ever, but pretty amazing given its context in musical history.
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 🤴🤴🤴
Nope
Favourite songs: Ladies First, Queen of Royal Badness, Latifah's Law, Evil That Men Do, Wrath of My Madness, Come Into My House, Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children Least favourite songs: Inside Out 4/5
OK, I get why this should be on the list - No other album represents women in rap in this period (80s-90s) as well. Love the Queen - That doesnt make it a great 5 star album, though. It loses a star for a little less than half of the album being filler tracks and some lackluster production. 4/5
Is a queen latifah album or a de la soul album
Very much of its time and I wish it had stayed there. It was very dull and instantly forgettable.
Definitely dated and repetitive but I like early hip-hop and am impressed by a 19-year-old Black woman breaking into the male-dominated rap game in 1989.
Undeniably influential. The style aged a lot better than most from the early days of the era, which is also an achievement. I probably won't really return for many, but it's a landmark moment in the genre, so that alone is worth the occasional re-listen
Generic 90s pop/dance music for the most part. Best Song: Wrath of My Madness
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
Hip hop worked on me this time, I think becuse of her voice
Не раздражает - и на том спасибо. Это не худший из устаревших хип-хоп альбомов, что мне встречались (честно сказать, даже обидно, что некоторым из них я не поставил 1) - уже хорошо. Лучшая песня - Ladies First.
Gut zum Einschlafen.
Solid album. Even though 80's rap can sound dated with some of the drum sounds, I prefer this to the over saturated rap we have today. Not something I'll revisit but I enjoyed listening.
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
The down-votes of this record as “dated” are unhinged. Don’t trust these people to tell you the color of the sky. This record is an artifact of a time and sound, and it’s a brilliant one at that.
Terribly boring.
This was actually pretty good.
I enjoyed it
Actually pretty good.
It's fine - very much a sound of it's time.
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
Might be groundbreaking.... still sucks. 1 stars
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
I'll take my Queen over Dolly all day long. Still fresh today.
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.
Okay didn't know Queen Latifah had an album Meh, very mid album only worthy mentions are "Ladies First" and Wrath of my Madness" and maybe "Inside Out"
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+
Please no.
Not my cup of tea
Late 80’s hiphop/ house has aged badly.
Man, this is dated as hell. It just comes off very cheesy to me.
why does queen latifah go fucking hard that's a solid 4
All Hail the Queen is novel and fun and funkayy. Nonetheless, it's unable to rise above the inherently dated production and style.
"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.
Congratulations to Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children for getting told "God, shut the fuck up" by myself, a person who put the track on by his own free-ish will
Not a great fan of this. 1.5 but I'll give it a 2
Fresh!
This is a joy, art, musical, inventive.
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!
Latifah jumps a bunch of contemporaneous styles and influences like nobody's business and pulls them all off effortlessly with the appropriate help of some very appropriate feature guests.
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.
Self-aggrandizing yet also preachy
Solid 4, some of the beats were really cool and the arrangements were interesting enough to keep me listening
Love the beats and the little things throughout the album. She’s cool
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.
This is so dated, and I’m sure it slapped in 1989, but it’s not the best hip hop I’ve heard. It’s not been the best old school hip hop I’ve heard.
I made it through the album, barely. I've found early rap to be hard to listen to. She has some good melodies, but is a little too high swagger for me to dig.
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
Decades ago, it was definitely nice to hear one or two songs to identify with an oppressed group.
Cool rhymes, but I'm definitely not in the target audience for this one.
I’m probably not the target audience, but even if I was, most of the beats on All Hail the Queen are quite bland. Latifah delivers some great bars along the way and “The Pros” is an absolute highlight - overall it’s just not that interesting, no matter how important of a record it might be.
She probably has better ones than this, right? House music? So sampled. But good still
Very 80s hip hop. The Queen is cool though
Assertive and energetic, with a positive vibe. Although it's true that the album gets a little redundant in terms of style, it was really enjoyable to listen to. After having to sit through NWA the day before, this was so refreshing. Fave Songs: Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children, Ladies First, Latifah's Law, Evil That Men Do, Princess of the Posse, Dance for Me
Mix of semi-gangster rap and club dance music. She is a good rapper I just don't like it.
This album was hailed as a great masterpiece of female hip hop. It seems to me only be interesting from that regard. Production, lyrics, delivery - all that got better around the same time or later on other albums. To me, this album feels a lot more dated than other albums of the time.
This album suffers because of the beats. Queen Latifah has a great voice for rap, and her skills are at least on par with other rappers from this era (she has better songs on her other album that I've heard, Black Reign), but these instrumentals are either uninteresting or poorly constructed, in my opinion. For a lot of these songs, it feels like the samples aren't in the same key with one another, or the bassline doesn't fit, or they're based around an annoying loop or something. It brings the whole thing down, unfortunately.
I had no idea Queen Latifah was a musician lol just thought she was an actress. Anyway, I just really dislike this period of hip hop. Pretty much everything from my Run DMC reviews also applies here. This one is probably just a tad better and more listenable though
Weak, cheesy, shit lyrics on this album. Beats are mid. I did not like this at all and don’t think it belongs on this list
Activist queen!
Not my favorite but not bad
All hail the queen is right!
It has been a very long time since I last listened to this album. The hip-hop of the late 80s feels good to me!
Wow! This was a great weekend of music. Just as with yesterday's PJ Harvey, as soon as I finished All Hail the Queen I just started it over again. Fantastic!
This seems to be the album where Queen Latifah seized the throne. Rap still isn’t going to be ideal for me, but it’s good to get some different rap like this in the mix!
3.75
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.
Gwn niet mijn ding, repetitief
Funky, jazzy, and just a ton of fun. Some of the samples remind me of 80s electro and it's just goofy enough to be so enjoyable.
I'm sure I'm disrespectful in ways I don't understand but none of this grabbed me. It's not awful but I can't see a ton in here that's great.
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
Not my thing
If you want the perfect example of early female rap …. This is as good as any album from that period …. Unfortunately, it is one dimensional, no real range or change in the music or rap (other than guest vocals). Liked it but it got boring
So I’m guessing this is on the 1,001 list related to Queen Latifah being one of the first female rappers – so I get that, and I also think it’s impressive for a 19-year old female in the male dominated hip hop world… That said, just how many songs do you need to have on an album where you reference how “dope” your rhymes are, talk about how you can out-rap anyone, and mention your name – along with DJ Mark The 45 King? A couple of songs? Perhaps half the album? Nope – apparently EVERY SINGLE God-damn track needs to make some reference to the “Queen & King”… Absolutely wore me out… Additionally, the sound on this album seems incredibly dated to me (i.e. and it didn’t age well either…) – as I guess a lot of hip-hop back then tended to sound like this – and then of course the lyrical content of 80%+ of the songs was about what a great rhymer she was, and how she could take on anybody… Sure, 1 or 2 songs like that would have been fine – but just about every song on the album – well shit got pretty dull, pretty quickly IMO – but I guess when it came out, it sounded different… The only lyrical content that was along the lines of what I expected was “Evil That Men Do” – after of course the obligatory first few minutes of rapping about what a great rhymer she was – the rest of it was interesting, and would have preferred more of her perspectives like that… Also liked the reggae feel of “Princess Of The Posse” – just had to put up with all the lyrics about how great she was – though the chorus by the back-up singers was fine… Giving this a 2 for historical significance, and the inaugural work of a 19-year old female in a male dominated genre, but at the end of the day – the quality of the songs throughout an album HAVE to mean something, and the endless repetition on this one was just insufferable…
Better than expected, but still not one I’d revisit.
queen indeed
4.5
Not the album for me. Not deserving a 1, so here's a 2. Will I listen to again: 0%
rather dated but not unenjoyable
Give me something good.
incredible queensmanship
Thug queen
Anstrengender Golden Age HipHop.
noooot my taste
Every song sounds exactly the same. The album’s only saving grace is that Queen Latifah IS a good rapper, and that’s not even enough to get me to listen again
This was a fun album - forthright feminist lyrical flows over a heavy cocktail of funk, disco and hip-hop. I liked it!
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.
Better than I excepted.
A mislim album je totalno demode ali je super zabavan
Stor 2'er! Synes godt nok at det bliver lidt samey i længden og beatsene er ret datede, selvom de egentlig lyder meget godt og Queen Latifah er en god rapper. Ladies First er en banger! Ret skuffet over den med De La Soul - tror jeg havde forventet mere af et album der kom ud samme år og på samme label som deres debut.
Nogle af beatsene er virkelig fede!
Det var sgu ikke lige mig. Musikken var meget cool..
Awesome classic hip-hop sounds. I love how warm the overall mix is, it really shows up her voice.
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!
The only other Queen Latifah music I've listened to before this is "When you're good to Mama" from Chicago (My favourite song from my favourite musical!) I'm voting this album up higher than I would if I only based my scores on the actual music (I can't seperate other personal factors when rating the albums - I'm just rolling with it) So - the music is fine, not amazing, and in my opinion not the best example of female rap artists from the late 80s (I ask again WHY oh WHY isn't Salt n Pepa on the 1001 list?? Its a travesty) but the reason I am adding an extra 2 stars is because there are NOT ENOUGH WOMEN REPRESENTED IN THIS LIST, the music industry is already so biased against female artists and this list seems even more so! Hats off to Queen Latifah for making her mark on the entertainment industry and generally kicking arse as a powerful female voice. Not even just as a female voice but one who spans other Intersectionalities too - yassss Queen!
First listen Saved 0/12
Very repetitive songs and there isn’t a huge difference between the tracks. I think there is a very special place in music hell for songs that use the sound of kids in their tracks. I wanted to like this album way more than I did, and I think that is because of how dated it sounds. Oh did I mention it was repetitive? 2.1
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.
Just could not get into it