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Mar 31, 2014 · Ladies First: 31 Female Rappers Who Changed Hip-Hop. In celebration of women's history month, we're spotlighting 31 of the greatest female rappers in 31 days.
- Missy Elliot. Albums: "Supa Dupa Fly," "Under Construction," "Miss E... So Addictive" Iconic Songs: "Work It" Achievements: Multiple Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and a pioneering music video director.
- Nicki Minaj. It’s safe to say that Nicki Minaj’s reign won’t be letting up anytime soon. The Queen of rap, who has been dominating the charts for over a decade, recently let her Barbz and haters know that she has an album on the way.
- Lauryn Hill. Sometimes an album is so powerful, so impactful—and so strongly received that it secures an artist’s place in hip-hop history—that said artist only needs to make one.
- Lil Kim. Lil' Kim, known for her bold and unapologetic style, has been a significant influence in the rap industry. Her lyrical prowess combined with her unique fashion sense has made her an icon.
- Jeanette Leech
- Missy Elliott (1971- present) The innovation of Missy Elliott is undeniable and – even more remarkably – has been sustained over 25 years and counting.
- Roxanne Shante (1970- present) Listening to Roxanne Shante is to experience a kind of blinding fury and primal scream. Her perfect words fly like daggers, and no one is safe from her whirligig wrath – other male rappers, other female rappers, idiot guys on the street, idiot girls on the street… on it goes.
- MC Lyte (1970- present) In April 2022, MC Lyte organised and helmed I Am Woman: A Celebration Of Women In Hip Hop at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
- Little Simz (1994- present) “People think I’m rude, or antisocial, or awkward, because I’m not chatty,” Little Simz has said. Sometimes she might be an introvert.
- Mc Lyte
- Queen Latifah
- Monie Love
- Salt-N-Pepa
- Bahamadia
- Foxy Brown
- Lauryn Hill
- Lil’ Kim
- Missy Elliott
- Roxanne Shante
The first solo rapper to release her own, full-length album, MC Lyte’s Lyte As A Rockdropped in 1988. Lyte’s flow, lyrical precision, and refusal to self-censor gained her industry attention quickly. She has described the scene in its early days as competitive and skill-based, but not without a gender bias. “There may have been times when promoters...
Part of the New York area’s storied Native Tongues crew, along with the likes of Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifahwas one of the earliest female rappers in hip-hop. The Native Tongues collective were known for their socially conscious, largely positive lyrical content, but Latifah made a name for herself talking a...
One of the only other female rappers in Native Tongues, Monie Love and Queen Latifah struck up a fast friendship after Latifah and Native Tongues traveled to the UK, where, at a show, they met the British rapper, who had been making noise in the underground scene there for years. Love eventually joined Native Tongues in New York, where she collabor...
When Cheryl James and Sandra Denton joined forces in 1985, much of the record industry still believed hip-hop was a fad. Calling themselves Salt-N-Pepa, the two put out “The Showstopper,” a response to Doug E Fresh’s hit “The Show.” Clad in short shorts and tight midriff-baring shirts, this duo ruled the sex-positive revolution of the 90s. With son...
One of Philadelphia’s first prominent MCs, Bahamadia, a former producer, was moved to join the rap game after being inspired by the likes of female rappers Salt-N-Pepa and Lady B. Lyrically dexterous with a smooth, unflappable flow, Bahamadia’s verses serve less bombast than her contemporaries, but are no less verbally crafty. Her debut album, 1996...
One of the most distinctive female rappers of the 90s, Foxy Brown entered the scene at a mere 15 years old, and first appeared on LL Cool J’s album Mr. Smith , rapping over the remix for “I Shot Ya.” She was signed to Def Jam in ’96, the same year she appeared with Lil’ Kim, Total, and Da Brat on the Bad Boy Remix of “No One Else.” It was also the ...
From the moment critics got their first taste of Lauryn Hill on the 1994 Fugees album, Blunted On Reality, she was hailed as a star. Fellow Fugee Wyclef Jean acknowledged it himself in a verse on 1996’s The Score: “The magazine said the girl shoulda went solo/The guys should stop rapping/Vanish like Menudo.” Hill did go solo, releasing The Miseduca...
The woman who rapped “got buffoons eatin’ my pu__y while I watch cartoons” needs no introduction. She hasn’t released a major studio album since 2005, but Kim remains in the canon as one of the most gifted MCs of either gender. Flipping sexual mores on their head, Lil’ Kim twisted the paradigm that said a 90s female rapper had to come with a mascul...
With a visual and sonic vocabulary that’s one of a kind, it’s not an exaggeration to say that the southern-born Missy Elliott changed the game. After years of collaboration with the likes of Jodeci, Ginuwine, and Aaliyah, Elliott headed into the studio with childhood friend and longtime collaborator Timbaland to work on her debut album. The result,...
Roxanne Shanté began rapping at the age of 9, displaying an almost inherent knack for rhyme schemes and flow patterns. This talent earned her acceptance into the widely popular Juice Crew, which included Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, and Kool G Rap. The crew was tough-talking and wouldn’t take slander from anyone, and over the course of the group’s e...
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- Queen Latifah. Queen Latifah was a pioneer in promoting feminism and empowerment within hip-hop. Her early work, including her 1989 debut album All Hail the Queen, featured songs like “Ladies First” that celebrated women’s strength and unity.
- Monie Love. As a British-born artist, Monie Love showcased the global reach of hip-hop and its ability to transcend geographic boundaries.
- Da Brat. Da Brat’s debut album, Funkdafied (1994), was a major commercial success under Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def imprint.
- MC Lyte. Before MC Lyte was emceeing the BET Awards, MC Lyte was a fierce femme on the mic. Lyte is often credited as the first solo female rapper to release a full-length album.
Aug 22, 2023 · Since hip-hop’s inception, as a subculture and as an art form, there have been “women in hip hop.”. B-Girls, DJs, graffiti artists, and emcees have helped shape history right alongside the men who are credited as the genre’s forefathers. The first hip-hop group to perform on national television, the Funky 4 + 1, had MC Sha Rock as their ...
Aug 29, 2023 · Throughout hip-hop’s life we’ve seen women present in each decade — from MC Sha-Rock being the first credited female emcee, to Cardi B re-defining the place of women in rap during the...
