Hip-hop is one of the most popular music genres in the world. Everywhere you’ll probably hear a rap song being played over the radio, someone’s phone or speaker. Now, more than ever, female rappers are enjoying success.
While we celebrate young ladies who are killing it in the game today, it’s good to remember the women who laid the foundation for them in the genre.
With March being Women’s History Month, we take a look back at the most influential Black female rappers.
Considered by many to be the first female hip-hop artist “on wax,” Sha-Rock broke into the hip-hop scene in the 1970s during the genre’s inception. She is considered by many as the first to do it.
These days, everyone knows Queen Latifah as an all-around entertainer who raps, acts, and hosts. But in the 1990s, her claim to fame was her ability on the mic as a talented MC. As a member of the Native Tongues collective along with A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, Queen Latifah released so much quality music, especially her 1993 album Black Reign, which included the hit track, “U.N.I.T.Y.”
One of the only British rappers on this list, Monie Love was a member of the Native Tongues collective along with Queen Latifah. Although she might not be the most well-known artist on the list, her ability cannot be questioned. Despite releasing only two albums in her career, she still left her mark on the genre. Who can forget her 1989 collab with Queen Latifah, “Ladies First?”
After forming the group in 1985, Cheryl James and Sandra Denton are still going strong nearly 40 years later. To this day, the duo still performs and shows out for their loyal fans.
Foxy Brown’s impact on the rap game is underrated. She’s shared tracks with some of the greatest MCs of all time. Her 1996 debut album, III Na Na, has sold over seven million copies. Her second album, Chyna Doll, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, making her the second female rapper to achieve that feat, after Lauryn Hill.
Lil’ Kim has set a precedent for a lot of female rappers who are out today. Kim knew that she was sexy and had no problem showing it off, which was a new thing for female rappers when she broke into the game. She had no problem expressing her sexual desires in a song.
Although her most celebrated album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, is mostly an R&B album, Lauryn Hill was a full-fledged MC when she broke into the music game in 1994 on the Fugees album Blunted On Reality. Lauryn was an artist who was always super genuine with her lyrics, rapping about motherhood and Black femininity. Despite being in a group full of men, Lauryn was always the standout on every song.
Missy Elliot changed the game for all rappers, not just females. She forced everyone in hip-hop to step up their game with the visuals she used in her videos and the production used on her songs – thanks to her work with legendary producer Timbaland. Unlike many of her female peers, Missy was not hypersexualized. She was just a dope-ass MC with a dope-ass rhyme style. To this day, “Rain,” is one of the best music videos of all time.
Despite never releasing a solo album because of her work with TLC, Left Eye’s impact on the genre is still felt. TLC is quite literally one of the most popular and successful R&B groups of all time, and Left Eye’s incredible personality and enthusiasm always came through on every song and lyric she rapped. Her verse on “Scrubs” is the highlight of the track for me.
For those who grew up in the South, Trina is a Southern rap legend. Since being featured on Trick Daddy’s 1998 track, “Nann Ni**a,” Trina has been nothing but consistent, releasing 12 albums since that time.
Unfortunately, she’s no longer with us, but Gangsta Boo was nothing short of a rap legend, especially to those from Memphis. As the lone woman in the iconic rap group Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo was a large reason for so many of the group’s classic records.
While she currently works as a co-host on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Da Brat was once a budding rap star. Although she’s from Chicago, she’s a local legend in Atlanta thanks to her work with famed producer Jermaine Dupri, who helped kick-start her career.
The Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, Eve, was at one point the most popular female rapper in the world. Her 1999 debut album, Let There Be Eve... Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, became the third album by a female rapper to debut at the top of the Billboard 200. While she hasn’t been as active as others on this list, the music she’s released has made her a household name, which speaks to the quality of her music and her ability as an MC.
While some like to play on her name, there’s no denying Nicki Minaj’s impact on the rap game. She’s the most successful female MC of all time and has the numbers and catalog to prove it. Yes, many of the other names on this list were huge, but there was a point in time when Nicki Minaj was considered genuinely one of the most popular rap artists in the world, standing next to artists such as Drake, Lil Wayne, and Kendrick Lamar. She set the standard for how huge female rappers could be in the late 2010s.
