Latifah's new album, "Trav'lin' Light," is scheduled for a Sept. 25 release on jazz label Verve Records in conjunction with Flavor Unit Entertainment. The set is the Grammy-winning performer's second foray into the realm of jazz, soul and blues following 2004's Grammy-nominated "The Dana Owens Album" (Latifah's real name).

The new record--produced by Grammy winner Tommy LiPuma and Geffen Records Chairman Ron Fair--explores the songbooks of Peggy Lee, Etta James, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Shirley Horn, Roberta Flack and more. One of the tracks, "I Know Where I've Been," is from the film soundtrack "Hairspray," in which Latifah co-starred this summer with John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer.

The rapper/singer/actress garnered rave reviews for her performance as DJ Motormouth Maybelle in "Hairspray" and also picked up her first Emmy nomination this year for her portrayal of a real-life AIDS activist in the HBO movie "Life Support," which she co-produced with Jamie Foxx.

Queen Latifah, who is known as one of the first bona-fide female rap stars, last year became the first hip-hop artist to be crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, according to her record label.