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Good to be the Queen: Latifah Honored at VH1 ‘Save the Music' Foundation Gala

Queen Latifah was center stage in New York Monday night as one of the honorees of the VH1 'Save the Music' 20th anniversary gala

It's been a good week to be the Queen. Just days after being presented with the Jimmy Iovine Icon Award at the Revolt Music Conference in Miami, Queen Latifah was center stage in New York Monday night as one of the honorees of the VH1 "Save the Music" 20th anniversary gala.

Latifah was honored for her contributions to the world of music and continued efforts to ensure students in every school across the country have access to music as part of their school day. Grammy-winning musician Wyclef Jean performed at the event. Wyclef praised Latifah for her long standing commitment for mentoring up and coming groups, including Wyclef's own Fugees back in the day.

"Latifah is family. She's magical. She's been responsible for so many people's careers including the Fugees. People don't know that," he said. "Latifah put the Fugees on tour before the Fugees were the Fugees. She sees greatness. I love her for that."

Before the event Latifah also chimed in on the #MeToo movement that has spread across social media as women share their stories of sexual harassment and abuse. 

"I think it's very important that women speak out as much as possible and the men. Men have been through this too you know. It's a culture that needs to change and it needs to start at the top like with our president," she said. "It's an attitude adjustment that needs to happen."

Other honorees included DJ Khaled and record producer, DJ, and music executive Steve Aoki who received the Music Innovator Award. 

Since its founding in 1997, the Save the Music Foundation has donated $53M worth of new musical instruments to over 2,000 public schools in 251 school districts in the U.S.

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