Which artist released the 1989 album All Hail the Queen?

Queen Latifah released the 1989 album All Hail the Queen.

The album was her debut studio record and presented a confident blend of political awareness, Afrocentric themes, humor, and jazz- and funk-influenced production. It included the singles “Wrath of My Madness,” “Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children,” and “Ladies First,” the latter featuring British rapper Monie Love.

All Hail the Queen helped establish Queen Latifah as a distinctive voice in hip hop at a time when women rappers were often marketed narrowly. The album’s title signaled both self-respect and authority, while its songs addressed sexism, community, identity, and artistic independence. Queen Latifah later expanded into acting, television production, and singing, but her public career began with this rap album. It is distinct from Nature of a Sista’, her second studio album, released in 1991.