All Hail the Queen

Latifah was the first major woman rapper to build a career on positivity, and this debut is proud, funny, and self-assured. Latifah knows she's the best so she doesn't have to tear down anyone else to prove it. Neatly produced (with simple, dance-friendly beats, mostly by loop-master DJ Mark the 45 King) and stylistically varied (including a couple of expert forays into dancehall reggae), it collects her early singles along with a bunch of convincing pronouncements of her royalty. Where she shines most, though, is on a couple of duets: "Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children," with De La Soul clowning around under her tutelage, and "Ladies First," with Monie Love deftly trading verses with her. --Douglas Wolk