Queen Latifah biopic in the works by Flavor Unit, Westbrook, Jesse Collins

EXCLUSIVE: Flavor Unit Entertainment, Westbrook Studios and Jesse Collins Entertainment are teaming up to produce a series of hip-hop biopics about famous artists, the first of which will cover the rise of Queen Latifah.

Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere will produce for Flavor Unit Entertainment. Will Smith and Miguel Melendez will serve as producers for Westbrook Studios. Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon will produce for Jesse Collins Entertainment, the company that produced the musical biopics. The story of the new edition And The Bobby Brown StoryCharlie Mack will also serve as producer on the project.

The list is independently funded by HarbourView Equity Partners, which provides a portfolio of over 70 music catalogs containing thousands of titles from numerous genres, eras and artists for potential development opportunities.

“We all entered this industry together and hip hop has shaped each and every one of us. Hip hop's influence goes beyond music and has left a lasting impression on culture and society at large,” said Oscar nominee Queen Latifah and host of Flavor Unit Entertainment. “It's a dream to be able to work with friends and colleagues who not only share a common understanding, but are able to tell these stories that have been the backdrop of our lives.”

“When you bring talented people and teams together, you can create something truly special,” said Smith. “I'm thrilled to be working with Flavor Unit, Jesse Collins Entertainment and HarbourView to highlight the incredible stories of some of our favorite artists and icons. There's no better story than that of Queen Latifah, an undisputed legend who has entertained and inspired us for so many years.”

“We are thrilled to stand alongside our friends at HarbourView, Flavor Unit and Westbrook,” said Collins. “Queen Latifah's story is a success story that needs to be shared with the world. Working with such amazing people to inform and inspire through storytelling is just the beginning of the impact this partnership will have.”

“As a girl from Queens, hip-hop shaped me in a profound way. Music and storytelling were my passport to destinations known and unknown,” said Sherrese Clarke Soares, Founder and CEO of HarbourView. “It's an honor to partner with Flavor Unit, Jesse Collins Entertainment and Westbrook to tell these stories and document Queen Latifah's journey and her undeniable impact on the world.”

“On behalf of Westbrook, we are thrilled to have brought together such incredible partners in Jesse Collins Entertainment and Flavor Unit Entertainment to produce some truly exciting hip-hop biopics,” said Denise Bailey-Castro, CFO of Westbrook Inc. “This unique partnership, supported by HarbourView, allows us to combine our resources and world-class production capabilities to tell the culture-defining stories of these hip-hop legends in a world-class way.”

More details about the Queen Latifah film and other projects will be announced soon.