Maps of Music

Black Reign (1993)

Where the lyrics of Black Reign take you, and where it was really made.

Black Reign was Queen Latifah's most successful album up to its release, yet it peaked only at number 60 on the Billboard 200.

Key places

Skyline Recording Studio, New York City (1993)

Recording site Skyline Recording Studios — The album's engineering credit points to Skyline Recording Studio in New York City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Unique Recording Studios, New York City (1993)

Recording site MSR Studios — Unique Recording Studios in New York City is also linked to the album as a recording location. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Black Reign: third studio album by American rapper Queen Latifah
• Released in 1993; the French article gives 16 November 1993
• Her most successful album up to that point
• 15 tracks, total running time 51:40
• Features include Heavy D, KRS-One and Treach on Rough, and Tony Dofat on Weekend Love

Background

• The album marks the artist's move to Motown
• Distributed worldwide by Motown

Recording

• The engineering credit links the album to Skyline Recording Studio, New York City
• Unique Recording Studios, New York City, is also linked to the album as a recording location

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• Born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970 in Newark, New Jersey; grew up mainly in East Orange, New Jersey.
• Started as a beatboxer and rapper for the Flavor Unit crew; signed to Tommy Boy Records and released debut album All Hail the Queen in 1989 at age 19.
• Black Reign (1993) became the first album by a solo female rapper certified Gold by the RIAA; its single "U.N.I.T.Y." won a Grammy Award.
• Order in the Court (1998) was released through Motown Records; later albums include The Dana Owens Album (2004), Trav'lin' Light (2007), and Persona (2009).
• Performed at Super Bowl XXXII halftime show as the first rapper to do so.
• Starred on the Fox sitcom Living Single (1993–1998) and hosted The Queen Latifah Show (1999–2001, 2013–2015).
• Earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Chicago (2002), and a Primetime Emmy Award for the HBO film Bessie (2015).
• Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006, becoming the first hip-hop artist to do so.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2026.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Trouser Press wrote that Latifah rhymes over bottom-booming jeep beats and sings to sweet soul and dancehall, and in Winki's Theme, a song for her late brother, to a live jazz quartet
• The New York Times praised her as one of hip-hop's true vocal virtuosos, citing quick-changing syncopations when she raps and a sweet, strong singing voice
• An Italian article quotes Allmusic's Ron Wynn: a return to controversial material that made her the best female rapper

Records

• Peaked at number 60 on the Billboard 200, her most successful chart result up to that point
• Peaked at number 15 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
• Sold over 500,000 copies, achieving gold status
• RIAA gold certification on 29 April 1994 (French article)
• The first Queen Latifah album certified gold by the RIAA (Italian article)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album was a major influence for young adult novelist Jason Reynolds, who started writing poetry after discovering Black Reign at age nine.
• Track 12 samples Message From The Inner City by The Crusaders, according to the Discogs notes.
• Winki's Theme, a song for her late brother, features a live jazz quartet.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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