Queen Latifah revealed how Erika Alexander landed the role of Maxine Shaw on Living Single.
Appearing on the ‘ReLiving Single‘ podcast with Alexander and Kim Coles, the former castmates recalled how the show was launched in 1993.
Alexander joked that she got the role by accident.
“I did an audition. You just found me off the street, like an urchin,” Alexander said.
Latifah responded, describing Alexander as a “professional maverick, kingdom, queendom urchin,” before “clarifying just how intentional the casting choice was.”
“To get you was like, ‘what?!’” Latifah said, noting that Alexander brought a special energy to the show.
Alexander responded, “I appreciate that.”
Latifah continued: “You don’t give yourself the proper credit. First of all…your influence is strong, girl.”
Alexander added, “Your influence is strong. We still go around acting like we own everything.”
Latifah’s reply was simple: “And you should.”
Laitifah also said that the classic theme song for the show was completely different.
“Obviously, I come from music, and this is my show, in my mind,” Latifah said. “I’m like, ‘I gotta do this theme song.’ These theme songs are, like, what resonate in your minds.”
Latifah continues: “I did a whole theme song for the original name of the show, My Girls, which was totally different, completely different, but very soulful, just vibe-y, and I like to sing and rap and mix it all together.”
Latifah recalled that producer Def Jef helped her reshape the song’s concept.
“So he did the beat on the machine for me,” Latifah said. “Then I wrote the rhyme and chopped up ‘Check, check, check out.”
“It was a mixture of his hip-hop beat with these beautiful notes and a little bit of jazz at the end that was perfect,” added Latifah.
New episodes of ReLiving Single air every Wednesday.