These twelve rap Queens have closely influenced hip-hop tradition, and the rap recreation wouldn’t be the identical with out them.
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12 Biggest Feminine Rappers
Feminine rappers have been pushing boundaries and establishing the established order for over 5 many years. Rappers Sha-Rock, Roxanne Shanté, MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, and Queen Latifah are instrumental voices in paving the inspiration for feminine MCs to take heart on a predominantly male stage.
Over time, the hip-hop motion has produced a number of rappers who embody feminine empowerment. Because of this, extra ladies rappers are taking the stage right now than in another technology.
These twelve rap Queens have closely influenced hip-hop tradition, and the rap recreation wouldn’t be the identical with out them.
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1. Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer who captivates her audiences with dope rhyme schemes, insane dance sequences, and essentially the most visually gorgeous movies of all time.
Elliott exploded onto the scene and terminated the stereotype of how feminine rappers ought to look and sound. Because of this, she is a five-time Grammy award-winning hip-hop Queen and primary on our checklist.
A few of her greatest hits embody “Gossip People,” “Work It,” and “I Cannot Stand the Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).”
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Missy Elliott
As well as, Missy Misdemeanor Elliott produced a powerhouse rendition of Patti Labelle’s “Woman Marmalade” for the musical Moulin Rouge. The Grammy award-winning track options Pink, Mya, Christina Aguilera, and rap legend Lil’ Kim.
She voices the refrain in Lil’ Kim’s “Not Tonight (Women Night time)” and drops an iconic verse. Missy Elliott is the G.O.A.T., the very best feminine rapper of all time.
She continues to supply hits that set the bar for feminine MCs. Even when not acknowledged, her musical influences are simple within the sounds of feminine rappers right now.
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2. Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj is the most popular Trinidadian-born rapper ever to choose up a mic. Her utilization of alter-egos and vocal inflections outline her iconic sound and energetic move.
Minaj has dominated the charts and airways with hit after hit. Notably, she is the primary feminine artist to ever have 100 entries on Billboard’s Sizzling 100.
Moreover, she is essentially the most profitable feminine rapper of all time. Nicki Minaj is a world famous person and one of many best-selling music artists, with over 100 million albums bought worldwide.
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Nicki Minaj
She additionally boasts essentially the most Instagram followers of any rapper, male or feminine, with 196 million followers. As well as, she’s among the finest feminine rappers to characterize New York Metropolis (Queens).
A few of her hottest hits embody “Superbass,” “Starships,” and “Anaconda.” Nonetheless, monitoring Nicki Minaj again to her mixtapes hits, “Itty Bitty Piggy,” is a must-listen and continues to be in heavy rotation 13 years later.
A few of Nikki’s most notable options embody Jay Sean’s “2012 (It Ain’t the Finish),” Katy Perry’s “Swish Swish,” and Doja Cat’s “Say So” (Remix).
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3. Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill is so legendary that she is on a number of nice ladies rappers lists, even with just one album that features plenty of singing. She is a heavy affect on the music trade.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a groundbreaking file and among the finest albums of all time, spanning all genres.
It’s within the quantity 10 spot on the Rolling Stones 500 Finest Albums of All Time checklist! That’s a formidable feat. Lauryn has a stand-alone voice that calls for consideration.
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Lauryn Hill
Along with her phenomenal rhyme schemes and lyrical genius, she has a sultry singing voice.
Earlier than releasing her solo masterpiece, Lauryn Hill debuted within the hip-hop group, The Fugees. To today, her verse of their hit track, “Prepared or Not,” is without doubt one of the dopest verses in rap historical past. She did a whole lot of rapping on The Fugee’s CDs.
Lauryn Hill made historical past on the forty first Annual Grammys, the place she was nominated ten instances (essentially the most of any lady) and took residence 5 awards, together with Finest Album of the Yr. She was the primary hip-hop artist to win that award.
She is without doubt one of the most influential artists of her technology. Hill’s hottest hits embody “Cannot Take My Eyes Off of You,” “Ex-Issue,” and “Doo-Wop (That Factor).”
Nonetheless, her duet “If I Dominated the World (Think about That)” with Nas is without doubt one of the best rap songs of all time.
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4. Rapsody
Rapsody, also called Rapdiddy, is without doubt one of the best feminine rappers alive and deserves rather more consideration. Her model is exclusive, and her music is in contrast to the trending themes in feminine rappers’ lyrics.
Rapsody is from Snow Hill, North Carolina, and has been rapping for over a decade. She put out 4 albums with hip-hop group Kooley Excessive whereas dropping her mixtapes and has since gone solo and launched three studio albums.
Rapsody’s first function was from the legendary Huge Daddy Kane, “Younger, Black with a Reward,” a standout observe on her 2010 debut mixtape, Return of the B-Woman. The challenge additionally options hits from artists Rah Digga, King Mez, and Mac Miller.
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Rapsody
Her second studio album, Laila’s Knowledge, was nominated for 2 Grammy awards in 2017, together with Finest Rap Album. She is just the fifth lady to be nominated for that award.
Rapsody is a humble storyteller with a dynamic move. As well as, she is a dope lyricist who makes use of wordplay and metaphors intricately.
The musical influences of MC Lyte, Lauryn Hill, and Mos Def are detectable, however she exudes her personal rhythmic model. A few of her greatest songs embody “Sassy,” “Knock on My Door,” and “Godzilla.”
Rapsody receives wonderful recognition for the stand-alone function, “Complexion (A Zulu Love),” on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly album.
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5. Lil’ Kim
Lil’ Kim is an important pressure in breaking by the obstacles of the hip-hop boy’s membership. Found by Infamous B.I.G, she rapidly established herself as a sex-positive, Black feminist and Queen Bee of New York. Her sexually express lyrics contrasted what we heard from her feminine rap predecessors.
Lil’ Kim was a nineties hard-hitter and go-getter. She was explicitly uncooked and attractive. There was a time it felt that everybody had her Laborious Core album’s poster on their bed room wall.
Her albums, The Infamous Okay.I.M. and La Bella Mafia, are licensed platinum, making her the one feminine rapper in addition to Elliott and Minaj to have not less than three platinum-certified studio albums.
A few of her hottest songs embody “No Time,” “Huge Momma Thang,” and “Not Tonight (Women Night time).” The latter featured different feminine rapping abilities, Da Brat, Angie Martinez, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, and Lisa Left Eye Lopes.
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Lil’ Kim
The Queen Bee was forward of her time and paved the best way for rappers like Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, Saweetie, and Cardi B.
Most not too long ago, Lil’ Kim carried out on the 2022 BET Awards, paying tribute to Sean “Diddy” Combs, the place he acquired the Lifetime Achievement Award.
She continues to embrace her sex-positive and outrageous trend. Kim’s cut-out blazer and sheer stocking efficiency went viral, and he or she was Google’s top-searched performer of the evening.
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6. Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is without doubt one of the first rappers to put the groundwork for right now’s hip-hop motion. Stepping on the scene in 1989 together with her debut album, All Hail the Queen, Latifah introduced consciousness to poverty, institutional racism, and homelessness.
As well as, she has at all times advocated for ladies. Of her seven studio albums, she skilled essentially the most success together with her third launch, Black Reign.
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Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is the primary hip-hop artist to obtain a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame. A few of her hottest hits embody “U.N.I.T.Y.,” “Women First,” and “Simply One other Day.”
On one other observe, Queen Latifah was a pioneer for multi-faceted rappers who’ve additionally discovered success in Hollywood with performing roles and enterprise endeavors. Latifah has skilled super success with each her rap music and performing careers.
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7. Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa is a trailblazing hip-hop trio that includes Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper). Within the largely male-dominated music trade, Salt-N-Pepa helped outline the hip-hop style.
They’re Black feminists and the primary girls of hip-hop who’ve damaged obstacles and pushed boundaries to set the stage for right now’s feminine rappers. Their debut album, Sizzling, Cool & Vicious, bought over one million copies, making them the primary feminine rappers to earn gold and platinum.
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Salt-N-Pepa
As well as, the group has acquired a number of Grammy nominations and at last took one residence for Finest Rap Efficiency by a Duo or Group for his or her track “None of Your Enterprise” in 1995.
They share the distinction with Queen Latifah for being the primary feminine rap music artist to win. A few of their greatest songs embody “Push It,” “Shoop,” and “Whatta Man,” that includes En Vogue.
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8. Cunning Brown
Cunning Brown got here onerous within the paint together with her Unwell Na Na debut album launch in 1996. She signed to Def Jam data and basically was a Jay-Z protege. Jay-Z wrote a few of her preliminary tracks, however Brown continues to be extremely revered in hip-hop circles as among the finest feminine rappers to choose up a mic.
Cunning Brown was 17 years outdated when she got here out throwing pictures. Maybe her most infamous beef is with rival Lil’ Kim. Brown and Kim’s debut albums have been launched just one week aside.
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Cunning Brown
Nonetheless, she is not any stranger to battle and has reportedly beefed with Queen Latifah, Remy Ma, Queen Pen, and Eve. Brown’s album Chyna Doll debuted at primary in 1999, making it solely the second feminine rap album to debut on the high spot. The primary belongs to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Her first two albums are licensed platinum, and her third earned her gold. A few of her greatest tracks embody “Get Me Residence,” “I will Be,” and “Huge Dangerous Mama,” that includes Dru Hill. Cunning Brown was additionally the third member of The Agency, with rap greats Nas and AZ.
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9. MC Lyte
MC Lyte is a pioneer for feminine rappers and the hip-hop style as an entire. She is the primary solo rapper to drop a full studio album, Lyte as a Rock.
The album acquired reward and acclaim from critics regardless of not being a industrial success. It is without doubt one of the most influential albums from eighties rap and a big a part of rap historical past.
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MC Lyte
Lyte’s fourth album, Ain’t No Different, grew to become her first to achieve gold standing. As well as, the one “Ruffneck” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Finest Rap Single, making MC Lyte the primary feminine solo rapper ever nominated for a Grammy.
A few of her most notable songs are “Cha Cha Cha,” “Paper Skinny,” and “Lyte as a Rock.”
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10. Remy Ma
Legend Huge Pun discovered Remy Ma, and Fats Joe signed her after Pun’s dying. She is well-known for contributing to the rap group’s primary hit single, “Lean Again.” Her verse dominated that observe.
Moreover, her “Take Me Residence” verse is one in every of her smoothest flows so far. Her sultry voice is in contrast to another feminine rapper, and he or she seduces the ears to remain listening.
Picture Credit score: @RealRemyMa on Fb.
Remy Ma
Remy Ma’s studio album launch, There’s One thing About Remy: Primarily based on a True Story, gave us a number of chart-toppers, together with “Immodest,” “Whuteva,” and “Really feel So Good,” with Neyo.
As well as, she did her factor on “All of the Approach Up” with Fats Joe and French Montana. So the place is Remy Ma right now? She and her husband, rapper Papoose are on VH1’s actuality collection Love & Hip Hop: New York.
Picture Credit score: @RealRemyMa on Twitter.
11. Da Brat
Da Brat started her profession in 1992; her debut album Funkdafied bought a million copies and entered the rap albums chart at primary. That record-breaking occasion made her the primary feminine solo rap artist to obtain platinum certification.
As well as, she has 4 studio albums and has acquired two Grammy Award nominations for “Funkdafied” and “Not Tonight (Women Night time).” As beforehand said, that single included rap queens together with Latifah, Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliott, Left Eye, and Angie Martinez.
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Da Brat
Each of these tracks are high ten hits on the Billboard Sizzling 100. When Da Brat options on a track, it’s an immediate hit, and he or she proves that with collaborations, together with “Sock It to Me,” with Missy Elliott, and “I Suppose They Like Me” with Dem Franchize Boyz.
Brandy’s “U Do not Know Me” remix options the flame spitter and is straight fireplace. Da Brat has a singular chopper-style move that distinguishes her from different rappers.
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12. Cardi B
Cardi B is a a lot newer rap goddess with just one album. Nonetheless, Invasion of Privateness acquired a Grammy for Finest Rap Album as a solo artist. The monumental file was the primary feminine rap album nominated for Album of the Yr in fifteen years.
Her banger, “Bodak Yellow,” is the primary diamond-certified track by the RIAA. Moreover, it’s the first to high the Sizzling 100 with a solo output in 19 years. The track “I Like It,” with Dangerous Bunny and J Balvin, marked the primary time a feminine rapper seized a number of number-one songs on the chart.
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Cardi B
Cardi freaking B is already making historical past and is on her approach to shifting rapidly up the checklist. Along with her vigorous move and hard-hitting lyrics, she has an infectious persona.
Individuals can’t assist however vibe off her vitality when her presence is within the room, even by way of the pc display. She is an web sensation and famous person with an unlimited Instagram following of 136 million. Okkurrr! A few of her high hits embody “WAP,” “Up,” and “Women Like You” with Maroon 5.
Nonetheless, Bruno Mar’s Finesse (Remix) that includes Cardi B continues to be a membership hit. As well as, they collaborated once more in 2019 with the hit observe “Please Me.”
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Honorable Mentions
There are such a lot of unbelievable ladies rappers that solely barely didn’t make this checklist. So listed here are the honorable mentions.
- Eve
- Trina
- Rah Digga
- Mia X
- Left Eye
- Lizzo
Notably, Lizzo is already breaking data with “Fact Hurts,” a sleeper hit that topped the Billboard Sizzling 100 two years after its preliminary launch, making it the longest-leading solo track by a feminine rapper. She has three Grammys and several other different accolades.
As well as, she is an icon for physique positivity and has a brand new present that promotes it on Amazon Prime. Ebony Purks states,
“Past the choreography, rehearsals, and dance challenges, the contestants on Watch Out for the Huge Grrrls are challenged with confronting inside and exterior insecurities, hate, and oppression in order that they’ve the boldness essential to be the form of dancers Lizzo wants.”
With this trending surge of latest rappers coming to the stage, we count on to see some new unbelievable ladies rappers discover their approach onto a greatest feminine rappers checklist.
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Finest New College Rappers on the Rise
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Metropolis Women
- Younger M.A
- Kash Doll
- Rico Nasty
- Latto
- Tokyo Jetz
- Saweetie
- Sa-Roc
- Rubi Rose
- Erica Banks
- Doja Cat
- Coi Leray
- Little Simz
- Tierra Whack
- Cupcakke
- Tay Cash
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