Top 20 Greatest Female Rappers

It’s always good news when this “Savage” stallion drops some bars. Once she released the hit song “Hot Girl Summer” in 2019, it was off to the races. The Houston native’s star continued to grow in 2020 thanks to collabs with Cardi B and Beyoncé, and she received the Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year. Beyond her viral success, Megan is known for her creative visuals, paying tribute to the greats before her, and the duality of her lyrics. One minute she’s rapping about sex positivity, and the next, personal survival struggles on “Shots Fired.” No matter the subject matter, you can bet on this stallion bringing the heat.

Her discography is somewhat small, but we’re down with just about every last verse of it. The Lady of Rage hit the rap scene in 1988, and was discovered by Dr. Dre and his label, Death Row Records, in the early ‘90s. Soon enough, she had features on two landmark hip-hop albums of the decade: Dre’s “The Chronic,” where she appeared on five tracks, and Snoop Doggy Dogg’s “Doggystyle.” The Lady of Rage released her own single, “Afro Puffs” in 1994, also assisted by Snoop, where she paid homage to her signature hairstyle. While the Lady only had one solo album in Death Row’s heyday, 1997’s “Necessary Roughness,” she was more than capable of holding her own alongside the era’s biggest male talent.

From Earth to Planet Her, this rapper isn’t just worldwide — she’s intergalactic. After 2018’s viral “MOOO!,” few could have predicted Doja Cat’s longevity and versatility. In the years since, she’s shown us several sides of her persona: fun and flirtation on pop hits like “Say So,” absurdism in droves on “Tia Tamera,” and many more. But on her fourth album, “Scarlet,” she sought out to prove herself as a rapper first and foremost. With some occult visuals, erratic social media promo, and commentary on fame, it felt like the beginning of a deeper evolution. In and outside of rap, Doja Cat has proven herself as one of the defining artists of the 2020s, and whatever’s next is sure to impress.

No matter what stage of her career you’re looking at, there’s just something about Remy. Bronx rapper Remy Ma first got discovered by the late Big Pun and found her way to Terror Squad, his group with Fat Joe. After their 2004 song “Lean Back” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, she released her solo album. While the Scott Storch-produced lead single “Conceited” was an irresistible slice of pop-rap, her career was sadly paused in 2008 due to legal issues. Remy made her grand return in the mid 2010s, scoring a long-awaited comeback with Fat Joe on “All the Way Up” -- not to mention dropping “Shether,” the most blistering Nicki Minaj diss track of all time…seriously, it’s brutal.

Many have argued over who is the true queen of rap, but there’s only one Mother of the Mic. Sharon Green, better known as MC Sha-Rock, got her start in the late ‘70s shortly after the advent of hip-hop. Widely cited as the first female rapper, Sha-Rock rose to prominence as part of the Funky 4 + 1. She was only 18 when they booked a “Saturday Night Live” musical guest spot, thanks to Blondie’s Debbie Harry. Sha-Rock wasn’t just the Funky 4 +1’s token female member, developing her own style of rap called the echo chamber effect. Sha-Rock’s trailblazing went on to inspire MC Lyte and countless others — and some male artists like Run-DMC.

There have been plenty of rap beefs between the ladies on this list, but how many turned into all-out wars? In the mid 1980s, teenage Juice Crew member Lolita Shanté Gooden was enlisted to hop on a diss track against the group UTFO after they had no-showed an event. The final product was “Roxanne’s Revenge,” an answer record to their song “Roxanne, Roxanne.” Gooden released the track under the name Roxanne Shante, which she performs under to this day. It soon incited the Roxanne Wars, boosting Shante’s profile at 14 years old and igniting a series of subsequent answer records from other artists, including another rapper known as The Real Roxanne. Still, it was Shante’s initial diss that changed the fabric of hip-hop history forever.

In the world of female rap, “Da Baddest” is also one of da best. Soon after meeting Trick Daddy in the late ‘90s, Trina released her debut album in 2000. The dirty south title track pretty much took everything Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown established in the previous decade and turned it up to eleven, while paving the way for similarly raunchy artists like the City Girls. Meanwhile, the follow-up single “Pull Over” hilariously referenced other rap radio hits at the time such as Juvenile’s “Back That Thang Up” and Sisqo’s “Thong Song.” With a long list of collaborations including Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, and more recently Latto and Saweetie, Trina’s peers and successors recognize the Diamond Princess’s greatness.

Despite her larger-than-life personality, it’s easy to forget that Cardi B got her start on “Love & Hip Hop” -- the Bronx rapper’s reality origins have been relegated to a footnote in her career. Cardi’s 2018 debut album, “Invasion of Privacy,” was a watershed moment for the genre. Its singles, “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It,” both topped the Billboard Hot 100, and she became the first solo female artist to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. While Cardi has stalled on a sophomore album, her later singles have performed similarly. Her raunchy 2020 collab with Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP,” broke the internet and caused a bit of a moral panic. There may be stronger rappers, but few have garnered this much “Money” and “Press.”

Just like her action hero namesake of the ‘70s, this rapper is a whole lotta woman. Foxy Brown was signed to Def Jam Records at 17 years old, and quickly found herself working alongside legends. Her debut album, “Ill Na Na” included the hit single “I’ll Be” featuring Jay-Z, and she briefly joined Nas’s supergroup, The Firm. That said, Foxy’s most notable relationship with another emcee was a feud. Her rivalry with Lil’ Kim, with whom she was often compared, was one of the biggest rap beefs of the ‘90s. Foxy’s high-fashion aesthetic, braggadocious attitude, and lethal delivery made her one of the most influential female rappers for the next generation -- Nicki Minaj in particular credited her with inspiring her whole career.

When it comes to TLC’s body of work, Left Eye was the group’s heart, soul and resident rapper. She came out swinging on their debut album, which was named after her line in their debut single, “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg.” Lopes’ lyrics on the track were provocative without crossing into vulgar territory, and she continued pushing boundaries in their later output. Left Eye’s verse on “Waterfalls,” TLC’s crowning achievement, is perfectly poignant and bittersweet whilst alluding to her personal struggles. Although her life and career were tragically cut short due to a 2002 car accident, Left Eye’s legacy lives on among girl group and hip-hop fans alike.

This one’s strong, should be labeled as a hazard. In the late ‘90s and early 2000s, Eve dropped three blockbuster albums back to back. Her biggest hit, the Gwen Stefani duet “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration -- their first of two nominations in the category. While Eve is known for her playful flow on songs like “Who’s That Girl?” and “Gangsta Lovin,’” she could also tone it down for serious issues. She approached domestic violence on “Love Is Blind,” which was loosely inspired by her friend’s real relationship. Although Eve hasn’t released an album since 2013, more recently focusing on acting and TV hosting, she’ll always be that girl.

She may have faced Snoop Dogg comparisons early on, but this brat quickly graduated into her own class. With her 1994 debut album, “Funkdafied,” Da Brat became the first female rapper with a platinum-certified release. Its G-funk lead single hit the top 10, and her follow-up album was also a success, featuring the hit “Ghetto Love” with TLC’s T-Boz. And while they’re not Da Brat’s own songs, her friendship with a certain songbird supreme saw her hopping on some of the biggest pop hits of the ‘90s. Multiple Mariah Carey songs had Da Brat dropping bars on the remixes. In the playground of rap, she’s got more bars than a jungle gym.

Rather than banking on sex appeal or chasing viral trends, Rapsody has carried the torch of conscious artists like Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill. In fact, she’s the closest thing to a female Kendrick Lamar, and they’ve collaborated several times. She dismantled colorism on his 2015 track “Complexion (A Zulu Love)” and Lamar later hopped on her 2017 song “Power.” Its parent album, “Laila’s Wisdom,” was lauded by music journalists, turning Rapsody into a critical darling. She followed it up with 2019’s “Eve,” an equally acclaimed concept album, with each track named after noteworthy African American women. Rapsody is unlikely to churn out a crossover pop hit anytime soon, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

In the ‘80s, after-school specials weren’t just on TV. At just 12 years old, MC Lyte penned her future debut single, “I Cram to Understand U (Sam).” Written about the personal effects of the decade’s crack epidemic, it would be the first of many Lyte tracks dealing with social and political issues in her community. She recorded the song’s 1988 parent album, “Lyte as a Rock,” while still in her teens, and the title couldn’t have been more fitting. MC Lyte brought a more serious, heavy tone to the genre, which was predominantly upbeat and frivolous at the time. By speaking out against violence and the devastating effects of the illicit substances trade, she paved the way for others to address injustice in their rhymes.

Let’s take a minute or two and give much respect due. Salt-N-Pepa broke barriers in the 1980s as one of the first female rap groups. They proved their prowess on the energetic hit “Push It,” which is still referenced in pop culture to this day. In an era when hip-hop objectified women and feminists critiqued it for doing so, Salt-N-Pepa offered a unique perspective on subjects like safe sex, gender roles, and slut-shaming. The ‘90s were another huge decade for them, with their fourth album “Very Necessary'' going five-times platinum and earning them their first Grammy. Along with their DJ, Spinderella, this duo were true trailblazers.

Hip-hop’s detractors have criticized the genre for its misogyny, but one artist sought to make a change from inside. Rather than trying to fit in with the guys, Queen Latifah’s 1993 song “U.N.I.T.Y.” called out usage of sexist slurs, and it became her biggest hit. Its parent album “Black Reign,” her third overall, would be the first by a female rapper to be certified gold. Latifah’s work and sheer existence in the hip-hop space had already sparked discourse about feminism, sexuality, and body image, and would continue to long afterwards. Beyond her rapping abilities, Queen Latifah has demonstrated herself as a quadruple threat; hosting, singing, acting, and sometimes a number of these talents at the same time. Do Mama Morton and Motormouth Maybelle ring a bell?

You’ve heard about a lot of great MCs, but they ain’t got nothing on her. An accomplished rapper and producer, Missy Elliott is beloved for her avant-garde sounds, fashions, videos, and collabs with Timbaland. Their bhangra-inspired “Get Ur Freak On” and the catchy, hilarious “Work It” won Grammys and much critical acclaim. Missy took a lengthy hiatus in the mid 2000s, but has since returned and received her flowers. She performed at Katy Perry’s 2015 Super Bowl halftime show, worked with Ariana Grande and Lizzo, and in 2023 became the first female rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Misdemeanor might be in her name, but she can do no wrong.

She might have competition for the “Queen of Rap” title, but she’s unchallenged as the Queen Bee. Lil’ Kim joined The Notorious B.I.G.’s group, Junior M.A.F.I.A. in 1994, and released her solo debut “Hard Core” in 1996. Instead of trying to be one of the boys, Kim accentuated and reveled in her femininity. She was also happy to share the spotlight: her “Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)” was a who’s-who of fellow female rappers, and she had a huge pop moment on 2001’s “Lady Marmalade” remake. With every zany outfit and shocking double entendre, Lil’ Kim laid the groundwork for her disciples a decade-plus later -- if Nicki Minaj is the Gaga of rap, Kim is the Madonna.

Ready or not, here she comes. Singer and rapper Lauryn Hill first broke out as part of hip-hop group The Fugees before releasing her debut solo album in 1998. But don’t be fooled by its title: “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” is a masterclass for anyone who’s ever picked up a pen or microphone. Combining hip-hop and neo-soul, it became one of the most successful and acclaimed albums of all time, rap or not, garnering Hill five wins in one night at the 1999 Grammy Awards. The catchy, socially conscious lead single, “Doo-Wop (That Thing)” also broke several records upon debuting at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. While Hill has only released one studio album to date, one is all you need when it’s this good.

Could it be anyone else? Personal life controversies aside, Nicki Minaj has more than earned her title as the Queen of Rap. The female hip-hop scene had regressed almost to a ghost town when she arrived and turned it all around with the success of her 2010 debut, “Pink Friday.” Minaj showed there was still an audience for women in rap, and inspired a whole new class of femcees a decade down the line — and by then, she was still on top herself. She expanded on the strengths of previous trailblazers, from Foxy Brown’s attitude to Lil’ Kim’s fashions and alter egos, combining all of those influences into the ultimate artist. No matter where Nicki’s legacy ends up, it’s impossible to erase the Queen’s contributions.



Who’s in your female rap Mount Rushmore, and who from the new generation do you see becoming one of the greats? Let us know in the comments!