Queen Latifah Makes History In The Library of Congress

What can't Queen Latifah do? It seems as though the mega-star has continuously broken barriers throughout her career and is not stopping. She is now becoming the first female rapper to be inducted in the National Recording Registry.

The National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress chooses a list of recordings every year to preserve. The list of 25 recordings showcases the range and diversity of American recorded sound. Currently, there are 600 works/titles on the National Recording Registry. The annual list includes a variety popular songs, radio broadcasts, speeches and more. Their preservation is intended to define the sound of the country's history and culture.

The NRR has been preserving recordings since 2000. Some of the oldest recordings in the registry include pieces from 1908 and 1909. They are the earliest recordings of mariachi music, recorded in Mexico City in a performance for the country's president shortly before the Mexican Revolution. Now they've included their first female rap piece from Queen Latifah.

Queen Latifah's Induction In the NRR

Queen Latifah's 1989 "All Hail The Queen" is the chosen recording that is added to the National Recording Registry. The album was her debut project and included her feminist anthem "Ladies First" featuring Monie Love. The debut project peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Top Hip Hop/R&B Albums chart and at no. 124 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In a statement from The Library of Congress, the organization praised Queen Latifah's work as an artist. "Her album showed rap could cross genres including reggae, hip-hop, house and jazz — while also opening opportunities for other female rappers," the statement said.

In addition to Queen Latifah's induction, a few other notable names were added to the registry as well. Mariah Carey's Christmas hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You" was added. Other notable additions include Wynton Marsalis for “Black Codes (From the Underground),” Irene Cara’s “Flashdance...What a Feeling,” Madonna’s “Like A Virgin,” the Super Mario Bros. theme by Koji Kondo, and Daddy Yankee for “Gasolina.”