This year’s graduating class at North Carolina A&T University received quite a treat during the ceremony. Award-winning artist and actress Queen Latifah delivered the commencement address.
As the graduates leave school and begin their careers, Queen Latifah inspired them with a bit of unconventional advice.
See why the rapper said the new grads have to be “delusional” to chase their dreams, and why they should be delusional anyway.
Queen Latifah Encourages Graduates to “Be Delusional”
BET Award winner Queen Latifah released her debut album, “All Hail the Queen,” at just 19 years old. She faced tremendous difficulties in her younger years, including the tragic death of her brother. But she handled it all with grace and resilience.
During her commencement address, she let graduates know how challenging it would be to chase their dreams. But if the dream mattered enough, the hurdles were well worth it.
“You have to be delusional. You have to have delusional amounts of belief and faith to dream beyond your wildest dreams,” the musician addressed the graduates.
“I think at 16, when I had the nerve to name myself Queen Latifah, it started right there,” the 56-year-old continued. “I was presenting myself the way I saw myself—with all the power, the poise, the purpose, and the presence of a young Black queen.”
“There’s sometimes just no way to make it to where you want to be unless you have the courage to stand alone,” Queen Latifah encouraged the crowd. “That’s why they call it your lane, because it was made just for you.”
She went on to remember how her father would encourage her to stand her ground. He told her, “A no is as strong as a yes.” But like many young women, Queen Latifah struggled to stand her ground and mean saying the word, “no.” She would even stand in front of the mirror and practice.
But in the end, it all paid off. By learning when to say “yes” and when to put her foot down and say “no,” Queen Latifah has forged an extraordinary life and career. Now, she wants to encourage the next generation to do the same thing.
“Be delusional enough to call yourself something that the world hasn’t called you yet,” Queen Latifah shared, giving the audience one last piece of advice to consider. “Get your own crown and rock that damn thing.”
The Legendary Musician Joins ‘The Voice’
On May 12, NBC officially confirmed that the iconic musician Queen Latifah would join the cast of “The Voice” for season 30.
Although she’s primarily known for her rap music, the Grammy winner has a deep love and appreciation for many different genres. In 2020, Queen Latifah cited “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels as one of her favorite songs.
“Really that was kind of a rap record, if you think about it!” the 56-year-old excitedly told Kelly Clarkson during an interview. “That was like a country rap record. I was like, ‘Wait a minute. You know, this is dope.'”
Fans are still waiting for an official premiere date, but “The Voice” season 30 is expected to kick off this September.
