Queen Latifah: ‘I’d Love to Make Another Rap Album’

Singer/rapper/actress Queen Latifah, who releases her second jazz album ‘Trav’lin’ Light’ on September 25th, is also planning a return to rap. The star – real name Dana Owens – has been a regular in Hollywood of late, with high-profile roles in movies such as Hairspray and Chicago says current songs in the hip-hop industry are ‘too superficial’. “I’d love to make another rap album,” Latifah tells Billboard.com. “I have some music I’ve already been working on. But everything has to have its proper place; I don’t really want to drop the rap album while (‘Trav’lin’ Light’) is out. I really want to respect every genre for what it is, and I’d prefer to record a rap album and be out there promoting it.” But the Queen is keen to return to her rap roots and record a new album – almost a decade after her last release. She tells Billboard.com, “I think there’s a bunch of rap heads and hip-hop lovers who are my age. They just want good music that’s not shallow. There’s still room for me to do my thing.” Latifah’s last foray into the rap industry was 1998’s ‘Order In The Court.’ “Trav’lin’ Light,” her new album due Sept. 25 from jazz label Verve Records, is the entertainer’s second foray into the jazz, soul and blues arena following her 2004 effort, “The Dana Owens Album.” The disc features covers of both standards and pop songs made famous by 10cc, Smokey Robinson, the Pointer Sisters and Donny Hathaway. She begins a tour to support the album on Sept. 29 in Dallas. View the list below. September 2007 29 – Dallas, TX – Majestic Theater October 2007 1 – Iowa City, IA – Hancher Auditorium 4 – Mt. Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino 5 – Cleveland, OH – Playhouse Square 6 – Skokie, IL – North Shore Center 8 – Verona, NY – Turning Stone Casino 9 – Stamford, CT – Palace Theater 10 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theatre 12 – Rehoboth Beach, DE – Rehoboth Beach Convention Center 13 – Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods Casino 14 – Bethesda, MD – Music Center 15 – Baltimore, MD – Lyric Opera House 17 – Wilmington, DE – Grand Opera House 19 – Atlantic City, NJ – House of Blues 20 – Newark, NJ – New Jersey Performing Arts Center 21 – Bethlehem, PA – Zoellner Arts Center 24 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom (two shows) 26 – Troy, NY – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall 27 – Kingston, NY – Ulster Performing Arts Center 29 – Harrisburg, PA – The Forum 30 – Newport News, VA – Ferguson Center November 2007 2 – Atlanta, GA – Symphony Hall 3 – Biloxi, MI – Beau Rivage Theatre 4 – Lafayette, LA – Heymann Performing Arts Center 6 – Naples, FL – Philharmonic Performing Arts Center 7 – West Palm Beach, FL – Kravis Center West 8 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall 10 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live 13 – Costa Mesa, CA – Segerstrom Concert Hall 15 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theater 16 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues 17 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center 19 – Escondido, CA – California Center for the Arts 20 – Palm Desert, CA – McCallum Theater

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