Queen Latifah Inducted Into New Jersey Hall of Fame

From her early days as one of hip-hop's most celebrated female rappers to her critically acclaimed acting career, Queen Latifah has always repped her native New Jersey. On Sunday (June 5), the Golden Globe and Grammy Award-winning Latifah, born Dana Owens, was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

The ceremony occurred at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Latifah's mother, Rita Owens, was on stage with the rapper-turned-actress as she was honored. Among her peers inducted into Jersey's Hall of Fame were actors Bruce Willis and John Travolta as well as singer Tony Bennett.

Besides the criteria of having made a lasting impact in your respective field -- whether entertainment, sports, et al. -- to be considered for New Jersey's Hall of Fame candidates must have resided for at least five years in the Garden State. Latifah was raised in East Orange, N.J. When she and her longtime business partner Shakim Compere formed Flavor Unit Management in the early '90s, their first offices were located in Jersey City.

Currently Latifah is serving as executive producer of the VH1 comedy-drama 'Single Ladies.'

Watch Queen Latifah's 'U.N.I.T.Y.'

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