Life is so much bigger, grander, higher, and wider than we allow ourselves to think.

I never wanted to give up my power. I wanted to be able to make my own decisions, so that's why I became involved in management, bottom line.

I enjoy just being me. I don't need to be Queen Latifah, the brand, 24 hours a day.

When I was around 18, I looked in the mirror and said, 'You're either going to love yourself or hate yourself.' And I decided to love myself. That changed a lot of things.

Award shows, like the Grammys, were tough on us early in hip-hop, not even televising our categories or splitting them up on best male or female or any of that. We had to earn them.

I think it's important to raise your kids, start 'em early. Teaching them the values and morals, so when they get out there on their own, you know they have it. They just have to remember to use it, but they have it.

For me, my criteria for making films is all about trying to do something different from the last time. So if I catch myself doing too much of one thing, I'm always trying to move away from that, because it's not going to be challenging enough to keep my attention and focus.