Queen Latifah Becomes The First Female Rapper Added To The National Registry Of Music Along w/ Madonna, Mariah Carey & Daddy Yankee

April 13, 2023 by Kay Johnson in Music with 0 Comments

Queen Latifah, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Daddy Yankee

Queen Latifah Becomes The First Female Rapper Added To The National Registry Of Music Along w/ Madonna, Mariah Carey & Daddy Yankee

Another hip-hop star is going down in the history books!

According to reports, Queen Latifah’s All Hail The Queen set a history-making record recently, becoming the first album from a female rapper added to the National Registry of Music.

The prestigious institution, housed by the Library of Congress, reportedly holds one of the nation’s most respected collections of music. The institution’s Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden made the exciting announcement yesterday (April 12th). Hayden reportedly stated of this year’s 25 new additions:

“The National Recording Registry preserves our history through recorded sound and reflects our nation’s diverse culture,”

Along with Queen Latifah’s 1998 hit, Madonna’s Like a Virgin, Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You, and Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina will be added as well.

If you’re unfamiliar, the Library of Congress collects “audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.” An exclusive number of the additions, which make up only 600 of the LOC’s nearly 4 million item catalog, are added to the National Registry of Music.

Reportedly, the LOC’s National Audio-Visual Conservation Center ensures the recordings are “preserved and available for future generations.” Other notable hip-hop alum previously added to the list include Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Nas.

Art typically added to the registry reportedly includes “a mix of popular songs, radio broadcasts, significant speeches and more; intended to define the sound of the country’s history and culture.” Queen Latifah’s debut album is recognized by the institution for its groundbreaking impact on hip-hop culture. One reporter wrote about the project:

“An album that grapples with race, gender, and social issues that were both contemporary and yet remain universal, the Library of Congress credits All Hail The Queen with demonstrating unequivocally that rap could be female, Afrocentric, and incorporate a fusion of musical genres”Latifah’s debut album, All Hail The Queen capitalized on Latifah’s dexterity as both a contralto and an MC, setting her squarely on course to becoming the decorated multi-hyphenate she is today.”