Billboard has unveiled its staff-curated list of the 25 Greatest Female Rappers of All Time, celebrating iconic women who have shaped American hip hop over the past four decades.
Nicki Minaj claimed the top spot, hailed as the most commercially successful and influential female rapper ever. With over 149 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and a career spanning nearly 20 years, Minaj’s dominance in music, culture, and style earned her the crown.
Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill followed at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, though Hill’s placement sparked mixed reactions from fans who expected her Grammy-winning album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill to secure a higher ranking.
Rising stars like Latto, GloRilla, Doja Cat, and Megan Thee Stallion made the cut, recognized for their cultural impact over the past decade. Newcomer and Grammy winner Doechii stunned with a No. 24 debut, just a year after her mainstream breakout.
Cardi B narrowly missed the top 10, landing at No. 11, with her debut album Invasion of Privacy acknowledged as one of rap’s most iconic releases.
The list celebrates the legacy and ongoing evolution of female rap in the global music landscape.
Billboard’s 25 Greatest Female Rappers of all time (Staff List)
- Nicki Minaj
- Missy Elliott
- Lauryn Hill
- Lil Kim
- Queen Latifah
- MC Lyte
- Salt-N-Pepa
- Roxanne Shante
- Eve
- Foxy Brown
- Cardi B
- Da Brat
- Trina
- Left Eye
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Doja Cat
- Rapsody
- Remy Ma
- Latto
- Monie Love
- GloRilla
- Lady of Rage
- Gangsta Boo
- Doechii
- Tierra Whack
