Which 1989 album by Queen Latifah was her debut studio release?

Queen Latifah’s 1989 debut studio album was “All Hail the Queen.”

The album introduced Latifah as a confident rapper whose music combined socially conscious lyrics with jazz, reggae, soul, and funk influences. Tommy Boy Records released it when she was still establishing herself in the New York hip hop scene. The record helped broaden expectations for women in rap without limiting Latifah to a single subject or style.

“All Hail the Queen” includes the singles “Wrath of My Madness,” “Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children,” and “Ladies First.” The last of these, featuring British rapper Monie Love, became an important feminist hip hop anthem and helped make Latifah an international figure.

Her later albums moved through different styles, and she also built a successful acting career. Those later achievements can make the debut easy to confuse with “Black Reign,” her third album, which included the hit “U.N.I.T.Y.”