Maps of Music

Nature of a Sista' (1991)

Where the lyrics of Nature of a Sista' take you, and where it was really made.

Queen Latifah's second album sold over 500,000 copies worldwide, yet low sales led Tommy Boy Records to drop her after its release.

Key places

D&D Studios, New York City (1991)

Recording site D&D Studios — Nature of a Sista' was recorded in various New York City studios, and D&D Studios is one of them. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Soundcastle Studios, Los Angeles (1991)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — The album was also recorded at Soundcastle Studios in Los Angeles. The point is placed at the city center, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Calliope Productions, Boston (1991)

Recording site Synchro Sound Studios — The album was also recorded at Calliope Productions in Boston. The point is placed at the city center, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Teentwon Studios, Copenhagen (1991)

Recording site Medley Studios (Copenhagen) — The album was also recorded at Teentwon Studios in Copenhagen. The point is placed at the city center, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Nature of a Sista' is the second studio album by American rapper Queen Latifah
• Released September 3, 1991 on cassette, CD and LP through Tommy Boy Records
• Follow-up to her 1989 debut album All Hail the Queen
• Her final album with Tommy Boy Records
• Predominantly hip-hop, with elements of reggae, jazz, R&B, new jack swing and house music
• Lyrics revolve around gender politics and romance
• Twelve tracks, with instrumentals provided by live musicians

Background

• All Hail the Queen sold approximately 450,000 copies and raised Latifah's profile
• Nature of a Sista' was considered among the most anticipated hip-hop releases of the year
• Latifah said she moved away from hardcore hip-hop to experiment with other genres and to have more creative control over her work
• Latifah and American producer Shakim Compere served as the executive producers

Recording

• Completed between 1990 and 1991
• Recorded in New York City at D&D Studios, Hit Factory, Power Play Studios, Quadraphinc Studios, Quadraphonic Studios and Unique Recording
• Also recorded at Soundcastle Studios in Los Angeles, Calliope Productions in Boston and Teentwon Studios in Copenhagen

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

• Reviews were mixed: some critics praised Latifah's verses and the variety of musical styles
• Others felt the album was a poor follow-up to All Hail the Queen
• Marisa Fox of Entertainment Weekly praised Latifah's verses and said the songs showed her softer, more feminine side
• Fox also wrote that Latifah had toned down the sass and become more sensual and sophisticated
• A Vibe writer praised the album for pushing the boundaries of musical genres
• Alex Henderson of AllMusic called it a decent sophomore effort with more strengths than weaknesses and commended Latifah for projecting a positive image
• Henderson criticized the album for devoting too much space to Latifah boasting about her microphone skills
• A Rolling Stone writer called it a disappointing follow-up to All Hail the Queen, citing a lack of growth in her rapping style and a lack of focus

Reappraisal

• A 2005 Rolling Stone article praised Latifah's experimentation with different music styles
• In 2018 The Source's Ime Ekpo wrote that the album showed Latifah had evolved into a more sensual artist
• The Boombox's Jacinta Howard felt the album showcased her versatility and cited Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here as one of the most hard-hitting entries in her catalog

Records

• Peaked at number 117 on the Billboard 200 on October 5, 1991, staying on the chart for 23 weeks
• Reached number 32 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on February 22, 1992, staying 32 weeks
• Sold over 500,000 copies worldwide
• As of April 11, 2017, sold over 273,000 copies in the United States
• Fly Girl peaked at number 16 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart
• How Do I Love Thee peaked at number 13 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart
• Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here peaked at number eight on the Hot Rap Songs chart

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

Trivia

• Latifah performed the album track If You Don't Know on the sketch comedy series In Living Color
• She wrote How Do I Love Thee during the filming of the 1990 movie House Party 2
• She held an album release party at an Indian restaurant in New York City
• The album's lead single Fly Girl featured Latifah wearing an African headdress with a group of back-up dancers
• After the release, Latifah said she wanted to sell a million records, and that high status would open more doors

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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