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Home » Blogs » Dorothy Snarker's blog » Queen Latifah brings back the rap - and the butch

Queen Latifah brings back the rap - and the butch

by
Dorothy Snarker

All hail the queen! All five of them. Queen Latifah’s new album, Persona, was released this week. And wouldn’t you know, one of the personas on its cover just happens to love butch drag. How very interesting.

Of course, this isn’t the first time the queen has suited up for a record. Latifah went pin-stripe sexy on the coverof her 2004 collection of standards The Dana Owens Album. Thank you, ma’am, may I have another.

Persona is return to hip hop for Latifah. But, as the title suggests, it’s also a tour through several musical styles, from rap to R&B and techo. The Oscar-nominated actress alternately sings and raps on the record, and it features guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes. Wait, Busta Rhymes is still around?

So, are you excited to have Latifah back on the mic? And, are you intrigued by her drag king look?

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    • Submitted by
    Dorothy Snarker
    on August 28, 2009 - 10:00am.
    TAGS :: 
    lezmaig's picture

    !!better yet!!

    Submitted by
    lezmaig (17 posts)
    on August 28, 2009 - 11:01am.

    i think it's even more interesting that her butch drag persona is positioned ahead of the others.....uhhhhh

    lorieux's picture

    Butch drag?

    Submitted by
    lorieux (2 posts)
    on August 28, 2009 - 11:15am.
    I wouldn't call her outfit "Butch Drag" at all. It is a woman's tailored suit and she's wearing heals. The only thing that looks a tad butch is her hair, and even that is feminine enough. She looks damn hot though!!
    Sherika's picture

    just sexy

    Submitted by
    Sherika (17 posts)
    on August 29, 2009 - 5:07pm.

    I wouldn't call that outfit "butch drag" either. I mean it's more masculine than her other outfits but it doesn't scream butch. I think women in suits are just sexy. lookin all smart and sexy. (let me catch my breath) I do think it's interesting how the suit pic is front and center. I like the Queen anyway I can have her. *muah!

    I am a dreamer and a lover but not a fighter.

    StunStatus's picture

    I'm Tryna See What Dat Be Like

    Submitted by
    StunStatus (81 posts)
    on August 31, 2009 - 7:45pm.

    I think  she's making a statement with the suit and its position...

    Its a power suit... Masculine by design but cut for a woman = In a male dominated industry she's coming from a position of power.

    Positioned in the front = To show she's about her business first and foremost, "While I can be all of these things don't get it twisted I'm bout my bread"

    And the heels & the hair = She's STILL a trend setter 

    But maybe I'm over-thinking....

     And mmmm mmm MMMMM if I do say so myself

    "Can I call you Campbells girl?... Cuz you are Mmm mmm Good"

    Viva's picture

    About time

    Submitted by
    Viva (2376 posts)
    on August 28, 2009 - 11:25am.

    because she's my Queen, I bought the dreadful mess that's the Dana Owen's album, but Persona's great. A couple of club bangers on there, love it. Go Get it! Support Black Music and Cinema! lol

    InesDesoto's picture

    *-*

    Submitted by
    InesDesoto (117 posts)
    on August 28, 2009 - 12:10pm.

    she's a  F.R.O  enthusiast

    VIRUS DETECTED

    A Muse's picture

    very butch in those

    Submitted by
    A Muse (512 posts)
    on August 28, 2009 - 2:03pm.

    very butch in those high-heels. very butch indeed. LOL

    and I love me some queen latifah :D

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Films, tv, games, travel, sport, books - everything you want to chat about on The Trial Run. Make new friends or meet old ones

    weight watchermus prime's picture

    Love her.  Can we swap her

    Submitted by
    weight watcherm... (3 posts)
    on August 28, 2009 - 2:41pm.

    Love her.  Can we swap her for our Bristish queen? Queen Latifah the first, has a nice ring to it. We could also fit Missy Elliott in here as well :)

     

    BAS's picture

    Drag?

    Submitted by
    BAS (553 posts)
    on August 28, 2009 - 4:09pm.
    How exactly is wearing a woman's suit with heels drag? Don't get me wrong, it's hot, but it isn't drag.
    Brutal_Romance's picture

    Butch drag?

    Submitted by
    Brutal_Romance (384 posts)
    on August 28, 2009 - 4:46pm.

    tailored suit and heels, if this is going to be anywhere near the gay scale it would be more Bette than butch. but the pose is interesting though.

    What a dream would it be if she was actually gay, *sigh*.

    Yardgrrl's picture

    Butch drag?

    Submitted by
    Yardgrrl (4 posts)
    on August 28, 2009 - 8:42pm.
    What?  That's really reaching...a tailored suit and heels ain't butch all on their own, I haven't quite figured out the butch mystique, but it's a leetle more complex than that.
    Arizona Summer's picture

    where can i get that?

    Submitted by
    Arizona Summer (52 posts)
    on August 29, 2009 - 12:22am.

    i love that hardcore black outfit on the right! I'd love to rock that with a whip...

    Anyway, gotta love the Queen. Smart, funny, sexy, not afraid to show off all aspects of her sexuality ... straight as she claims them all to be ... what a fantastic person, I'm awed at least.

    Cassie's picture

    oh my! (in the a good way)

    Submitted by
    Cassie (11 posts)
    on August 29, 2009 - 1:10am.

    ughhh actually, I found this...

     Queen's got good taste ;) 

    http://orvillelloyddouglas.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/queen-latifiah-lesbian-lover-jeanette-jenkins/

    Arizona Summer's picture

    whaaaat?

    Submitted by
    Arizona Summer (52 posts)
    on August 29, 2009 - 1:35am.

    Is this real? i remember reading in a couple different places that she .... well i guess she just said her sexuality is no ones business. hmmmmmm

    Yay if she's gay!!! 

    Arizona Summer's picture

    whaaaat?

    Submitted by
    Arizona Summer (52 posts)
    on August 29, 2009 - 1:35am.

    Is this real? i remember reading in a couple different places that she .... well i guess she just said her sexuality is no ones business. hmmmmmm

    Yay if she's gay!!! 

    Cassie's picture

    oh yeah, totally is her

    Submitted by
    Cassie (11 posts)
    on September 1, 2009 - 12:56am.

    oh yeah, totally is her business.

    But, its awesome she's found someone... they look cute together.. *lil girl glee scream* EEeee!! lol

    D.O.W's picture

    I love Queen La

    Submitted by
    D.O.W (93 posts)
    on August 29, 2009 - 10:36am.

    I hope the album is good. 

     

    http://juststef.wordpress.com/


    D.O.W's picture

    I love Queen La

    Submitted by
    D.O.W (93 posts)
    on August 29, 2009 - 10:36am.

     I hope the album is good. 

     

    http://juststef.wordpress.com/


    Suzzie's picture

    .....

    Submitted by
    Suzzie (159 posts)
    on August 29, 2009 - 10:59am.
    .....I have been rendered speachless by those pictures!!!! She is such a gorgous woman. I havn't heard any of her music, except as Mama Morton on 'Chicago' and wow did that blow me away, plus, she's hot! I may have to check this album out!
    .★.Matt The Rock$tar.★.'s picture

    Agreed not butch drag at all!

    Submitted by
    .★.Matt The Roc... (2393 posts)
    on August 29, 2009 - 2:33pm.

    This screams tribute to the original Audrey Hepburn pants suit (which I think was more masculine than this) but I beg to differ that this is the complete opposite of butch drag. You would not catch me dead in this doing a butch drag performance and I would be laughed off the stage. 

    But on a lighter note glad she is coming out with new material!

    Matt's world you just live in it!

    Kate Mac's picture

    not butch. just a whole lotta hottness

    Submitted by
    Kate Mac (82 posts)
    on August 29, 2009 - 5:11pm.

    Wow, if that's butch than I have been classifying myself wrong all alone. Someone said that's more Bette than Butch and I have to agree. The suit is tailored and it is popping her volumptious ta-tas so i don't call that butch.

    "Yeah we both got dreams we can chase alone or we can make our own."

    www.lezzbuzz.com @lezzbuzz  www.shedate.com

    swandiver's picture

    Agreed then? - Not butch but mad hot.

    Submitted by
    swandiver (81 posts)
    on August 30, 2009 - 4:26am.

    Not sure who the suit reminded me of but of the others from left to right:  Mary J, Patti LaBelle (in the 90's, true diva form), Ella Fitzgerald (or maybe Dinah Washington), Tina Turner (rockin' out).

     www.swandiver.wordpress.com

    "Great minds discuss ideas.  Average minds discuss events.  Small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt

     

    butch_in_canada's picture

    Yeah, I agree.  Heels

    Submitted by
    butch_in_canada (11 posts)
    on August 30, 2009 - 10:32pm.
    Yeah, I agree.  Heels aren't butch.  I think the Queen can be butch though.  I think she's wonderful and I love all her movies and music.  She's a class act. 
    Melissa Hsu's picture

    :D!

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on August 31, 2009 - 6:29am.
    i def want to get this album!
    NCSha25's picture

    Thanks!

    Submitted by
    NCSha25 (23 posts)
    on August 31, 2009 - 11:18am.
    Love it can't wait for the album and Queen looks hot!
    allthingslword's picture

    There isn't one outfit that

    Submitted by
    allthingslword (42 posts)
    on August 31, 2009 - 1:09pm.

    There isn't one outfit that I would call "Butch."  If anything, it just looks like a suit from the 1920's and 1930's.

    Or

    Maybe because it is from the 1920/1930's when the only women who wore suit/pants WERE considered BUTCH! That would be a "down low" DOUBLE ENTENDRE!!!! 

     

    Peep out my website at http://www.allthingslword.com

    PARTY like a ROCK STAR and FUCK like a PORN STAR!

    1, 2, 3 :)'s picture

    lol it doesn't look butch at

    Submitted by
    1, 2, 3 :) (63 posts)
    on August 31, 2009 - 7:44pm.

    lol it doesn't look butch at all. She's just wearing a suit haha!! Maybe some people are reading too much into her outfits haha :P

    slow downnnnnnnnnnn casanova :)

    Chi's picture

    I know butch

    Submitted by
    Chi (341 posts)
    on September 17, 2009 - 10:04am.

    And that aint it. She very feminine looking in all the pictures :)

    So uh... without sounding like an diot.. but is she really gay/bi? I mean, there's the rumours but was that trainer really ehr gf, and did she actually come out?


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