Black Reign is the third studio album by American rapper Queen Latifah, released in 1993.[7]Black Reign was her most successful album up to that point, peaking at number 60 on the Billboard 200.[8] The album also peaked at number fifteen on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album sold in excess of 500,000 copies, achieving gold status.[9]
Trouser Press wrote that Latifah "rhymes over bottom-booming jeep beats and sings to sweet soul, dancehall and, in the case of 'Winki’s Theme,' a song for her late brother, a live jazz quartet."[10]The New York Times wrote: "As one of hip-hop's true vocal virtuosos, Queen Latifah tosses off articulate, quick-changing syncopations when she raps, slipping in and out of a Jamaican accent and singing melodic choruses in a sweet, strong voice."[11]
The album was a major influence for young adult novelist Jason Reynolds,[12] who was inspired to start writing poetry when he discovered Black Reign at nine years old.[13]
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