Dana Elaine Owens was born in Newark, New Jersey, on March 18, 1970, and lived generally in East Orange, New Jersey. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and introduced her debut album All Hail the Queen on November 28, 1989, that includes the hit solitary "Ladies First". Nature of a Sista' (1991) was her 2nd and closing album with Tommy Boy Records.