If there is any figure in hip-hop culture that has mastered the art of brand ambassadorship, it is certainly Queen Latifah.
Queen Latifah has had a quite eventful month. Last week, the New Jersey native was the recipient of the National Medal of Arts, presented by President Joe Biden. Alongside Missy Elliot, she made history as one of the first hip-hop artists to receive this prestigious honor.
In the week prior, she performed A Tribe Called Quest’s “Can I Kick It?” at the group’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, joined by fellow hip-hop luminaries. Last Thursday, the “U.N.I.T.Y.” artist announced her new brand ambassadorship with Good American, the denim infused body positivity brand co-founded by Khloe Kardashian and Emma Grede.
“Introducing American Icon Queen Latifah for Good American. Queen is a true trailblazer who has refined the entertainment industry, breaking boundaries in music, film, and television,” Good American shared on Instagram.
“Me for Good American,” Latifah wrote in her Instagram post, featured with breathtaking images of the hip-hop legend adorning the brand. The post went on to thank the photographer Cass Bird for “capturing this iconic moment.” Hence, Latifah was declared as one of the brand’s Good American Icons.
The series’ inaugural run appears to be inspired by ‘90s fashion, with Latifah and Supermodel Cindy Crawford, who became the first to star in the Good American Icons series in September, appointments to the role being fitting, as both were fashion staples who sported denim amid pop culture in that era.
“I’ve worn Good American for quite some time now in various projects,” Latifah revealed to The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview. “I’ve worn their jeans on The Equalizer. I’ve worn a suit of theirs at the Super Bowl, to an after party. I wore a denim outfit just the other day to my bodyguard’s 60th birthday. We partied all night.”
From her classic “U.N.I.T.Y.” black sleeveless V-neck button-down with sky blue denim jeans to her consistent denim flaunting throughout her starring role in Living Single, Latifah contributed to the comfort and popularity of relaxed denim wear in the ‘90s. This style has made a comeback in 2024, with even those of the IG model ilk embracing the nostalgic look.
Latifah is among the handful of female emcees from hip-hop’s Golden era to dominate waves of brand ambassadorships. The principal lyricist of “Ladies First” acquired her first brand deal in 2001, where she became the official face of CoverGirl cosmetics. Using Latifah’s likeness, CoverGirl launched the Queen Collection fostering inclusivity with a wider range of tones, particularly those of the deeper hues. Her relationship with the makeup brand was renewed in 2022, making Latifah the face once again.
The Grammy and Emmy award winner has also graced deals with Pizza Hut and Jenny Craig. In 2018, she was named the Godmother of Carnival Cruise’s ship, Carnival Horizon.
Queen Latifah’s BioPic Is Underway
Queen Latifah’s coming into hip-hop prestige is a tale to be studied. Among the earliest globally recognized female rap artists, the legend is in the process of developing her own biopic. It will be produced through her co-founded production company, Flavour Unit Entertainment, alongside Will Smith and Miguel Melendez under Westbrook Studios, and Jesse Collins Entertainment.
“We’ve seen a lot of people tell our stories who weren’t there and really have no idea how much more involved these stories are. It’s important to see how it all happened from people who were actively in the room,” she shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
Latifah’s biopic will be the first installment of a series of hip-hop biographical films by this collaboration. The uniqueness of Latifah’s effort lies in the fact that such biopics prioritize the involvement of people who were present and witnessed the beginnings and evolution of these historical hip-hop figures.