Queen Latifah - She's a Queen: A Collection of Hits

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Music reviews of She's a Queen: A Collection of Hits

Music Review: Note to Motown: The Queen deserves a better Greatest Hits CD
Rating: 3 Stars

I have a few qualms with the album. First off, the songs on the album are not in their original, untouched state. They have been both censored and edited to market the CD without an "Explicit Lyrics" sticker. I like to hear the tracks in their original, unaltered state, it maintains the initial quality of her art. I didn't like how the edited version of Queen Latifah's "Ladies First" single is included without her beatiful vocals on the songs hook. It's just the beat and all raps, no singing. That was disappointing for me.

Secondly, the tracks are not digitally remastered or touched up. It shows when you go from track to track. The volume level changes. The older tracks have a lower-quality sound, while her newer songs have more bass. Some of the older tracks sound like they were lifted from cassettes and it's rather annoying to turn up your stereo on some tracks and lower the volume for others.

Third, it seems like the collection was somewhat rushed and halfhearted. The booklet that accompanies the album is empty. There are no liner notes, no retrospective career-spanning commentary by a journalist or paid writer. It only includes the production credits for the tracks, the album doesn't even include any new or updated pictures of the Queen or a photo montage of her long ten-plus year career in Hip Hop music, television and movies (in fact, there isn't even a picture of Queen Latifah's face to be seen anywhere on this CD) . More thought and creative input should have been put into this collection by her record company.

Drama aside, the album does provide the dope jams. Let me not take away from any of the tracks as a whole because they are all gems. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Keep in mind, my qualms are with the lackadaisical production of the greatest hits collection, not the art lovingly provided by the Queen.

Plus, the tracklisting given by Amazon.com is wrong. The real tracklisting is...

1. Ladies First (featuring Monie Love)
2. She's A Queen (featuring Tha Rayne)
3. Winki's Theme
4. Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here
5. U.N.I.T.Y.
6. Black Hand Side
7. Go Head
8. Just Another Day
9. Set It Off
10. Paper
11. It's Alright

12. Come Into My House

The two new cuts on the album are the firey and bouncy track "She's A Queen" with some ill lyrics and the Ruff-Ryder inspired motorcycle street anthem "Go Head" (which is sure to make your head nod). I cannot stop bangin' her two new songs. They are bonafide classics and they add even more jewels to the Queen opulent crown. I wish she would've added some of her album bangers like "Superstar" and "I Can't Understand" (from 1993's Black Reign -- which in my opinion is her best album -- a pure classic) or "Wrath of My Madness" and "Princess of the Posse" (from 1989's groundbreaking album All Hail The Queen)

Overall, I recommend that you buy this album, even though it somewhat shortchanges her fans with its lack of thought in the production of the greatest hits collection. All the tracks are BANGIN' and give you a taste of the Queen's style over the last decade. She is one of the most formidable and long lasting MCs in hip hop and she deserves respect. Much respect to Flavor Unit and all hail the Queen!

The album receives five stars for the MUSIC, not the shoddy compliation!

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