Queen Latifah speaks to Impact Worldwide (Impactww.com)
Queen Latifah speaks to Impact Worldwide (Impactww.com)
Latifah: All Hail The Queen
In a time when every rapper and R&B singer under the sun is making the transition from music to film, Queen Latifah is one of the O.G.’s in the game. Having earned the respect of the hip hop community in a time when female rappers were a novelty and talent took precedence over appearance, she has continued to be a woman of many firsts. The first female rapper to ever have an album certified gold [Black Reign]; be nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe [Chicago]; release a successful jazz album [The Dana Owens Album]; and appear in a cosmetics campaign [Cover Girl] – all while continuing to elevate her acting career and maintain her music management company, Flavor Unit. We caught up with the Queen recently to talk about her film, The Last Holiday and find out what else the Newark native has in store for the future.
Impact Worldwide: What was it like working alongside and playing the love interest of LL Cool J in The Last Holiday?
Latifah: There’s no love interest like LL Cool J! No, but it’s interesting because we used to work together with Flavor Unit management – we managed him for a period of time. Working with him was really fun because we both come from a music background and have made this transition into film. There’s a respect that we have for each other having made that crossover – being one of the few rappers to rap, have their own sitcom, go into films, become successful in films and then wind up working together. It was the same kind of feeling with Ice Cube and the same feeling with Will [Smith], who has been like a brother all these years. But I thought as far as the role, it would be particularly good for him because you don’t usually see him play this kind of character, and I thought it would show more of his range and make him more empathetic to people. It’s a beautiful character that he plays in this film - still that strong guy, but not the cockiness, brazen, the brashness, the attitude or physicality that you see with many of his roles. It’s not based on his body or what he can do physically – it’s really an emotional, sensitive guy who just has a crush on a girl. It’s a classic love story with these two… and there’s an innocence about it that, to me, is beautiful.
Impact Worldwide: What attracted you to this film?
Latifah: That was a part of it: to play a character that was shy, meek and humble. Always bending over backwards for every one else. Afraid of a lot of things. Scared to take a chance… fear of being rejected. It’s a woman who lives in fear. And that’s not something that I embrace myself, personally. I’m fearful of certain things, but I don’t embrace fear. I challenge fear generally or try to rebel against it, or fight it and overcome it. And she’s sort of forced to overcome it…
Impact Worldwide: You seem to choose roles where you portray working class people. Is there something that attracts you to these types of roles?
Latifah: I relate to people. I think I’m a heart to heart kind of person. I definitely relate to the workingman – that’s what my family is. That’s what I come from. I’m “new money,” so to speak. So I relate to regular struggles, and I can still remember my mom holding down two to three jobs while taking care of two kids and taking care of all the bills while still trying to go to school. You know, so I tend to land on that side.
Impact Worldwide: You’re a unique actress in the way that you established a woman’s right to a male role – like with Taxi and The Last Holiday. Can you talk about that?
Latifah: A woman’s right to a man’s role… I like that! You know what? I reserve the right to be creative and able to reconceptualize a lot of these movies that need to be switched for someone like me. They need to be opened up and changed or they need a little flavor to them. Or just a new twist to them that wasn’t there before. And a lot of the studios are open to it. Talent drives a lot of the scripts that you see. If the studio wants to work with me, if the writers think they can figure out a way to make it happen and they’re into the idea, then it’s really not that difficult. But I never limit myself to roles that are supposedly typical female roles, let alone the African American female. Neither does my agent or my partner/manager. So when they’re out there looking for stuff, they’re looking for good pieces of work and good ideas, not just a role for a black female.
Impact Worldwide: A lot of kids look up to you. What advice can you give them?
Latifah: I would tell some of them that I went through my follower stage too. Because at some point you want to be accepted and feel like a part of something. A lot of these kids are facing that with gangs or groups or with clubs. And it could be a positive sort of acceptance or it could be negative. At the end of the day though, you have to be your own leader. You have to make your own choices and decisions. And all those decisions come with consequences, and if you’re ready to live with them, then that’s your choice. Nothing is free. Anything is possible. So now you have anything that you wanna do that you could ever dream of – is now possible. And kids are gonna face those challenges, and at some point any true leader in this world that you can identify, has had to stand alone at some point, and make a stand. Because everyone else wanted to do one thing, and someone had to have the guts to say, “No. That’s not right, and I’m not doing it.” And there are consequences that come with that too. But I find that’s always the better choice.
Impact210: You’ve accomplished so much. What other goals have you set for yourself that you’d like to achieve?
Latifah: There’s a lot I want to do. A lot of stuff for kids. There’s so many charitable things that my partner and I are working on besides our scholarship foundations and these adventure camps and these acting camps and a bunch of fundraisers that we’re trying to pull off and real estate ventures. We’d still love to create a studio within a high school where it’s an actual working and recording studio and kids get to learn. We just want to give back to the kids mostly. And to be a parent at some point is always on my mind – though I’ll have to have it sooner than later, before my mother kills me. More movies, more T.V., more production…
For more information about Impact Worldwide visit
www.impactww.com or
www.impact210themagazine.com
Impact Worldwide (Impact ww) interviews DJ Toomp: Grammy nominated DJ
Words by: Constantine Panagiotatos
DJ Toomp has been putting heads to bed with solid production since the age of 19. He’s worked with talent such as Lil’ Jon, Young Jeezy, Ludacris and the Goodie Mob, and it’s only the beginning for this ATL native. Along with business partner and long time friend, Bernard Parks Jr., Toomp – and his company ENDzone Entertainment -- is in the midst of a Dirty Douth takeover of the hip hop industry.
Recently, Impact Worldwide caught up with Toomp at the Atlantic Records offices in midtown Manhattan. Atlanta’s own deep fried track master blessed us with some insight into his trials and tribulations in the game along with some exclusive wisdom on ENDzone’s business goals.
Impact Worldwide (Impact ww): What’s been your craziest experience dealing with big record companies and trying to promote your music on a massive scale?
Toomp: Well, things is politics, man. When I was coming up in the game like fifteen years ago, I was going around with a beat machine and hooking people up. I was young so I was just giving away fire to anyone who was interested and not really concerned with the contracts or business side. I’d get twelve Gs cash in my pocket at 19 years old and I was hood rich. People are crazy man and it’s all power in this game. These big record companies, it’s a lot of talking and sometimes not even about how talented you are.
Impact Worldwide (Impact ww): It surprises me there’s a lot of talking because getting nominated for a Grammy should speak for itself.
Toomp: I know that’s why I’m at ease with my work and the people around me now. I know that me and my partner Bernard [Parks, Jr.] are going to make our impact because in a lot of regards we already have. I mean I put out solid tracks with T.I., Ludacris, and so many others it’s not even a factor. I can still put out Gold or Platinum whether or not I have to sell it out my trunk like I have the past 10 years. I mean you see how it is, we have to get on a plane and fly up to New York from Atlanta to speak with big time labels. It’s still a hustle for us even after I’ve established myself.
Impact Worldwide (Impact ww): You don’t like coming up to New York?
Toomp: It’s not that man, but one day I want to be able to drive down Peach Tree Avenue and be able to take an elevator up to meet with a powerful label right at home in Atlanta. That’s what were trying to do now is establish something stable in the South because there’s so much talent here but not enough power in the area industry-wise.
Impact Worldwide (Impact ww): Is that one of your goals: to establish a solid major label in the South?
Toomp: I want something down in Atlanta that’s big and is going to keep the talent we have here on labels that we have here.
Impact Worldwide (Impact ww): There is a lot of talent out of the South right now. How do you decide who to work with?
Toomp: Well, it’s like I hear peoples’ sounds and I say that’s theirs. So if I want to work with someone, I say let me make a beat that compliments their sound. In other words, I’m not going to be one dimensional and make the same sounding beats for everyone. Every artist has their angle and their voice so when I produce for them it’s going to mirror their uniqueness. So many producers just stay one tracked and end up making beats for someone who can’t fit the bill or vice versa.
Impact Worldwide (Impact ww): Do you want to form your own label?
Toomp: I mean we already have this new venture ENDzone Entertainment that I’m working with Bernard Parks on. And we’re up here talking to the big dudes to see what’s what. But regardless ENDzone is gonna do that for us. I’m gonna protect my artists from down here so they don’t get done wrong from labels and they know their rights. ENDzone is something that’s going to build from the ground up and keep our talent right here in the South, not scattered all over. I mean you see how it is, all this talent from down South ends up on a label in New York so our industry doesn’t thrive as much.
Impact Worldwide (Impact ww): Has anyone from New York approached you about working on a collaboration?
Toomp: Yeah, you know Cam’ Ron called me up and said he wanted to meet up and do something. He knows I’m in town.
Impact Worldwide (Impact ww): New York has a totally different sound than down South obviously. Can you still accommodate an artist like that?
Toomp: Oh fo’ sho. I mean like I said I listen to their sound and make a track that’s going to roll with them. I’m going to bring out their voice like I already have with so many different people. The dudes I’ve worked with all have their own style and I make butter for them. It’s all good. I don’t try to mold no one.
Impact Worldwide (Impact ww): Impact 210 does a lot with fashion. What role does that play in the current hip hop situation?
Toomp: Fashion is very important in hip hop right now also. You’re selling music and a look so you know it’s heavy. I mean back in the day dudes from your way like Slick Rick, I mean he looked slick. Eric B and Rakim was rockin’ them gold ropes. They was hustlas. Down here there’s a lot of dudes in grimy t-shirts and jeans. We gotta get on that fashion tip too. ENDzone stays on that fashion though. You see how we look. We James Bondin’ this over here, fo’ sho.
For more information about Impact Worldwide visit
www.impactww.com or
www.impact210themagazine.com
Lifestyle: Hair By Karen and Laura with Impact Worldwide (impactww.com)
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): How did you two get into doing hair?
Laura Ann Petruccelli: Karen [Skolski] and I always had an artistic flare and an eye for fashion. We knew early on that we wanted to be stylists. Being cousins, we progressed alongside each other to various salons. Our first mentor was Frank Sparano. He was a great platform artist and educator. We often assisted him in shows for Clairol and Paul Mitchell. This truly sparked our interest.
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): What inspires you?
Laura: The ever-changing fashion industry is our inspiration. Growing up together, we were influenced by our grandmother. Looking at her elegant matching hats, coats, gloves, shoes, and purses. And weekly visits to the hairdresser. Our grandfather, too with his custom made sharkskin suits and hats and cigars. That's when people really dressed up; for church, to go shopping, or visit for a cup of coffee. We loved that era. It had a touch of class. Our love of fashion, although entirely different, motivates our creativity. We embrace each other’s talents and tastes and feel we make an excellent team. We each bring our individuality into a combined effort of artistry. We bounce ideas back and forth. It works. Old movies and new rock stars are inspiring. From Marilyn, Jean, and Greta to Gwen, Madonna and J.Lo. We love them all. They each have an influence on style and fashion. Often we research back to those decades and ideas grow from there.
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): Did you go to hairstyling school?
Laura: We attend educational workshops with the leading names in the Hair Industry. It is so exciting to go to Vegas and NYC together; then to take the latest techniques and incorporate them to make them our own. This is what we call "cutting-edge."
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): What have been some of your greatest achievements in your career so far?
Laura: In the past we've had the opportunity to be involved in several fashion and runway shows with new designers such as Nicholas Arjona and David Jet Black Horse at different venues in NYC. Recently, we participated in the First Annual NJ Fashion Expo. We styled hair for Femenina Resort and assisted many other designers who were involved. It is wonderful being able to collaborate with the designers. But perhaps our greatest thrill thus far was our hair showcase at the Expo. We chose a ‘60s Vegas theme, along with the live Sinatra crooning singer, Anthony La Monte and designs by Nicholas Arjona. Hair was all updo ‘60s glamour with an edge, of course. We had the experience of putting it all together. We even got a walk down the runway. Wow! Runway is a whole different aspect of our industry. The energy of taking a girl, changing her hair, makeup and clothes; adding the music, sending her out into a total transformation… It's a rush! Runway hair, while having a theme, has no rules. It’s uncontrived. We work closely with the designers so as to compliment the line, not overshadow it. When it all comes together, it’s a great feeling. We also went to South Beach, Miami for a photo cover shoot for Talent in Motion magazine doing hair and makeup. This time we worked closely with the editor, photographer and model. Changing the look and mood between shots.
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): Do you work in a hair salon, and also freelance?
Laura: Currently we both accept appointments at Daniards Hair Salon, 205 East Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood , NJ; 201-447-4980. We also freelance and are available for fashion, runway, photo and film work. Most of our work takes us into New York City. We love the energy and excitement of the city but it is so easy to get caught up. We like to "Keep it Real." And so far this M.O. has served us well. We have earned a loyal and trustworthy reputation which we have built on. Just like fashion comes full circle, what goes around comes around. It's important to be true to yourself and others, follow your passion and live your dream. Possibilities become endless, like our energy and love of this business.
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): What are your future plans?
Laura: The future holds many things for us as this industry has so many outlets .We are always seeking, yet looking back, never settling. Twisting, reshaping, updating and dreaming and finding new and exciting venues for ourselves and our clients. We would like to someday be involved in Fashion Week NYC.
Check out our website:
www.hairbykarenandlaura.com.
For more information about Impact Worldwide visit
www.impactww.com or
www.impact210themagazine.com
Lifestyle: Hair By Karen and Laura with Impact Worldwide (impactww.com)
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): How did you two get into doing hair?
Laura Ann Petruccelli: Karen [Skolski] and I always had an artistic flare and an eye for fashion. We knew early on that we wanted to be stylists. Being cousins, we progressed alongside each other to various salons. Our first mentor was Frank Sparano. He was a great platform artist and educator. We often assisted him in shows for Clairol and Paul Mitchell. This truly sparked our interest.
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): What inspires you?
Laura: The ever-changing fashion industry is our inspiration. Growing up together, we were influenced by our grandmother. Looking at her elegant matching hats, coats, gloves, shoes, and purses. And weekly visits to the hairdresser. Our grandfather, too with his custom made sharkskin suits and hats and cigars. That's when people really dressed up; for church, to go shopping, or visit for a cup of coffee. We loved that era. It had a touch of class. Our love of fashion, although entirely different, motivates our creativity. We embrace each other’s talents and tastes and feel we make an excellent team. We each bring our individuality into a combined effort of artistry. We bounce ideas back and forth. It works. Old movies and new rock stars are inspiring. From Marilyn, Jean, and Greta to Gwen, Madonna and J.Lo. We love them all. They each have an influence on style and fashion. Often we research back to those decades and ideas grow from there.
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): Did you go to hairstyling school?
Laura: We attend educational workshops with the leading names in the Hair Industry. It is so exciting to go to Vegas and NYC together; then to take the latest techniques and incorporate them to make them our own. This is what we call "cutting-edge."
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): What have been some of your greatest achievements in your career so far?
Laura: In the past we've had the opportunity to be involved in several fashion and runway shows with new designers such as Nicholas Arjona and David Jet Black Horse at different venues in NYC. Recently, we participated in the First Annual NJ Fashion Expo. We styled hair for Femenina Resort and assisted many other designers who were involved. It is wonderful being able to collaborate with the designers. But perhaps our greatest thrill thus far was our hair showcase at the Expo. We chose a ‘60s Vegas theme, along with the live Sinatra crooning singer, Anthony La Monte and designs by Nicholas Arjona. Hair was all updo ‘60s glamour with an edge, of course. We had the experience of putting it all together. We even got a walk down the runway. Wow! Runway is a whole different aspect of our industry. The energy of taking a girl, changing her hair, makeup and clothes; adding the music, sending her out into a total transformation… It's a rush! Runway hair, while having a theme, has no rules. It’s uncontrived. We work closely with the designers so as to compliment the line, not overshadow it. When it all comes together, it’s a great feeling. We also went to South Beach, Miami for a photo cover shoot for Talent in Motion magazine doing hair and makeup. This time we worked closely with the editor, photographer and model. Changing the look and mood between shots.
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): Do you work in a hair salon, and also freelance?
Laura: Currently we both accept appointments at Daniards Hair Salon, 205 East Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood , NJ; 201-447-4980. We also freelance and are available for fashion, runway, photo and film work. Most of our work takes us into New York City. We love the energy and excitement of the city but it is so easy to get caught up. We like to "Keep it Real." And so far this M.O. has served us well. We have earned a loyal and trustworthy reputation which we have built on. Just like fashion comes full circle, what goes around comes around. It's important to be true to yourself and others, follow your passion and live your dream. Possibilities become endless, like our energy and love of this business.
Impact Worldwide (impactww.com): What are your future plans?
Laura: The future holds many things for us as this industry has so many outlets .We are always seeking, yet looking back, never settling. Twisting, reshaping, updating and dreaming and finding new and exciting venues for ourselves and our clients. We would like to someday be involved in Fashion Week NYC.
Check out our website:
www.hairbykarenandlaura.com.
For more information about Impact Worldwide visit
www.impactww.com or
www.impact210themagazine.com
