It’s been 8 years since Queen Latifah released her most recent solo album Persona, but her fans are still quick to acknowledge her enduring legacy, particularly when it comes to the empowerment of women within the Hip-Hop community. Now an Academy-Award nominated actress, the Queen won the Best Rap Solo Performance Grammy in 1994 for her anthemic “U.N.I.T.Y.,” and more than 20 years later, she still stands tall as one of the most influential female artists to ever grace the mic. While her career trajectory has launched her into super-stardom, her grassroots Hip-Hop blood still pumps powerfully, and in a recent video feature for the Huffington Post, she responded directly to fans who asked her some poignant and provocative questions.

On Huff Post Live, Latifah was invited to discuss her mother’s heart failure in a segment on well-being and women’s health. Part of the segment, however, sourced a question from a fan who given the opportunity to ask the queen herself her thoughts on what role female MCs play in Hip-Hop today and how that relates to feminism. Latifah’s response begins with a backstory into her early career. “For me, at the time, I felt there was a lot that needed to be said. There were a lot of male rappers who had opinions about women,” she explains. “There are ways to make records that appeal to the masses but still have a message that leaves something with you…I want to encourage those up and coming rappers to, number one, write hot records. But write hot records talkin’ about the thing that you feel.” She goes on to expound upon the role her mother played in the formation of her musical sound and more. Check it out.

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