Queen Latifah Celebrates Birthday With Lil Kim, Missy, Lyte, Yo Yo
Sometimes you have to stop what you're doing, sit down at the computer, and blog immediately.
Such protocol was in order when I logged onto Twitter today. I saw the update that would eventually save me from having to search for info about the all-star female MC performance at Queen Latifah's birthday party Saturday night at S.I.R. Theater in Hollywood.
@DJEQUE posted a link to footage from the party.
Last week my favorite female rapper Yo Yo told me that a performance at the upcoming Queen Latifah party was going down. Late last night I saw tweets that implied that Yo Yo's involvement was part of an even bigger deal.
Clicking on DJ Eque's link launched a Flip video (uploaded
by @RealTalibKweli) of MC Lyte in the midst of performing her gold certified
and Grammy nominated single "Ruffneck" as Queen Latifah introduced her and
added hypeman ad-libs. (NOTE: The link has been removed from this blog because it has changed to private.)
The DJ rolled into Remy Ma's verse from the Terror Squad's "Lean Back" and then the Lady of Rage's "Afro Puffs." The Virginia-bred former Death Row lyrical murderer emerged delivering her record from the Above The Rim soundtrack.
Latifah summoned Yo Yo to the stage for "You Can't Play With
My Yo Yo." They turned to the audience and shook their backsides in sync.
Latifah sent a shoutout to Shawnna from Ludacris' Disturbing Tha Peace while
listening to a snippet of "Gettin' Some."
Latifah then went to the front and announced that she needed to make way for a queen. She reached her hand into the audience to welcome Lil' Kim for an abbreviated version of "Lighter's Up."
Latifah closed out her guest star segment with Missy Elliott, who performed "Get Ur Freak On."
This year is the twentieth anniversary of Latifah's "Ladies First." So this turned out to be a dope celebration, two fold.
Yo Yo described the night as historical. "Latifah has done
what no promoter could do," Yo Yo said about Latifah's ability to bring so many
significant female names on stage.
"I just love Latifah to death," added Yo Yo, who is working on an EP, My Journey To Fearless: The Black Butterfly. "I was celebrating so much more than just her birthday but what she has done for hip hop. She is still the same and has never changed."
Happy Birthday Latifah.
