In a stunning collaboration that bridged hip-hop stardom with jazz elegance, Queen Latifah enlisted the “Reverend of Soul,” Al Green, for a landmark duet that instantly became the soulful heart of her 2004 album. The track is a cover of Green’s 1972 classic, “Simply Beautiful.”
Latifah, a cultural icon and hip-hop pioneer, made a significant career shift with the release of The Dana Owens Album . The recording introduced the world to her serious vocal talent through a collection of soul and jazz standards. However, as she prepared the arrangement for the shimmering Al Green masterpiece, she realized the purely “jazz” structure stripped of the necessary soul depth and gravitas.
The solution was brilliant: she invited the legend himself, Al Green, to join her. The resulting track, “Simply Beautiful” (feat. Al Green) , features a mesmerizing harmony, seamlessly blending Latifah’s smooth, understated delivery with Green’s signature, effortless vocal grace. The duet is often celebrated as the centerpiece of the record and a powerful homage to 70s soul music.
The bold departure into the genre, anchored by this essential collaboration, proved to be both a critical and commercial success. The album, named after her birth name, Dana Elaine Owens, demonstrates her immense artistic range. It was certified Gold by the RIAA for commercial success. Furthermore, it earned a prestigious Grammy nomination in 2005 for Best Jazz Vocal Album, officially cementing her status as a serious vocalist within the genre.
This triumphant venture did not stop there, as the success of The Dana Owens Album paved the way for her equally acclaimed 2007 jazz follow-up, Trav’lin’ Light . The stunning partnership on “Simply Beautiful” remains a powerful testament to the impact of cross-generational and cross-genre artistic respect.