Female Hip Hop Singers

Amongst the most influential female rap artists of all time and one of the bestselling artists, Nicki Minaj came to limelight after her collaborations with Dirty Money Record and Young Money Entertainment. With subsequent release of her four albums, Minaj firmly established herself as a chart-topping artist. The Queen of Rap has also dabbled in acting and ventured into business.

Aaliyah was an American singer, actress and model, who became famous when her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number sold three million copies in the US. Her subsequent albums also sold in millions and won her numerous accolades. She also acted in some films. She tragically died in an airplane crash in the Bahamas, at the age of 22.

Queen Latifah is an American musician and actress whose song U.N.I.T.Y. played a major role in raising awareness about women's rights worldwide. Dubbed Queen of Jazz-Rap, Latifah has influenced several soul, R&B, and hip-hop artists like Remy Ma, Lil' Kim, Ivy Queen, Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, and Eve among other artists. As an actress, Latifah has won several prestigious awards.

Famous rapper and singer, Lauryn Hill, is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time and a pioneer in the Neo soul genre. The artist whose album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill won five Grammy Awards, is an inspiration for numerous singers and rappers. Earlier, she gained recognition as member of Fugees, an award-winning hip hop group.

For anyone who has a penchant for music, Rihanna needs no introduction. Born as Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Rihanna is one of the most influential names in the music and fashion industry. Her effortless singing, catchy tunes and inimitable dance moves have won her eight Grammy Awards, eight American Music Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards and two BRIT Awards.

Jennifer Lopez established herself as the highest-paid Latin actress in Hollywood after starring in films such as Out of Sight, The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan and Shall We Dance’. She is also an accomplished dancer and commercially very successful singer. She helped propel the Latin pop movement in American music. She is also a fashion designer and a businesswoman.

Rap legend Cardi B rose from being an exotic dancer and internet celebrity to being featured on Forbes and Time 100. Her triple-platinum-certified debut album, Invasion of Privacy, topped the Billboard 200. She was the only female solo artist to win the Grammy for the Best Rap Album.

Known for her five-octave vocal range and melismatic singing style, singer-songwriter Mariah Carey is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She holds the record for the most number-one singles by a solo artist and a female songwriter. She was ranked second on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music in 2012. 

Argentine actor-singer Lali Espósito initially soared to fame as a child actor with the telenovela Rincón de Luz and then played a lead role in the teen series Casi Angeles. She is best known for her gold-certified album Brava. She supports abortion rights and is also associated with children’s charities.

American singer and songwriter Jhené Aiko's musical style is associated with PBR&B, a new wave of music viewed as an alternative to contemporary R&B. Her personal life, which includes an early pregnancy at the age of 20, the death of her brother Miyagi, a major car accident, and troubled relationships, has not affected her impressive music career.

Mary J. Blige is a popular singer-songwriter and actress. Having sold 80 million records worldwide, she is one of the best-selling female artists of all time. Referred to as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary is credited with influencing the fusion of R&B and hip hop. She often gets featured in lists like The 100 Greatest Women in Music.

Singer, songwriter, and actress Rebecca Marie Gomez first gained prominence when she started posting her covers of popular songs online. Some of these uploads went viral and gained her mainstream attention. She has since released many songs and albums and has worked in collaboration with musical stars like Cody Simpson and Cher Lloyd. 

An American rapper, singer, and songwriter, Megan Thee Stallion began rapping while she was still in her teens and used digital media platforms to promote her work. Her talent was appreciated by both fans and record labels and she eventually became the first female rapper to be signed by the American record label 300 Entertainment.

Young M.A is an American rapper who achieved popularity after the release of her single Ooouuu, which was certified quadruple-platinum. Also a well-known philanthropist, Young M.A launched the KWEENZ Foundation in 2018; the foundation aims at helping those trying to cope with the loss of loved ones. The same year, she was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Azealia Banks is an American rapper, actress, singer, and songwriter. After releasing music through the social networking service Myspace, Banks signed to XL Recordings. After a brief association with Polydor Records and Interscope, Banks founded her own label, Chaos & Glory Recordings. Over the years, her outspoken views on sensitive subjects like race have attracted criticism, controversy, and media scrutiny.

Tulisa Contostavlos is an English singer, television personality, songwriter, and actress. She achieved popularity after appearing in the popular reality television music competition series The X Factor, where she served as one of the judges. Her life and career inspired the 2014 documentary, Tulisa: The Price of Fame, which premiered on BBC Three.

Rico Nasty is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Renowned for her punk aesthetic and unique delivery, Nasty achieved popularity in 2018 when she released singles, such as Poppin and Smack a Bitch. Over the years, Rico Nasty has been serving as an inspiration for contemporary artists like ppcocaine and Flo Milli.

Fleur East is an English rapper, singer, and songwriter. She is best known for her participation in the popular reality television music competition The X Factor where she finished second in 2014. She then went on to release her debut studio album Love, Sax and Flashbacks which peaked at number 12 on the Scottish Albums Chart.

Misharron Jermeisha Allen, popularly known as Asian Doll, is an American rapper. After having endured a poverty-stricken early life, Doll managed to put her rapping skills to good use to earn money and fame. Her journey from being a naive rapper to becoming the first female artist to be signed to the popular 1017 Eskimo Records has been quite inspirational.

Samantha Ronson is an English singer, songwriter, and DJ. Best known for her work as a DJ, Ronson spins at high-profile gigs across the world. She has also played private events for popular personalities like Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, and Ellen DeGeneres among others. Samantha Ronson is also known for getting entangled in several controversies including lawsuits. 

Santigold is an American singer-songwriter renowned for her mezzo-soprano voice. She achieved popularity after the release of her critically acclaimed album Santogold in 2008. The same year, she was named the Best Breakthrough Artist at the NME Awards USA. In 2009, she won the Vanguard Award at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. Santigold's work has influenced artists like Bob Evans.        

Grace Latoya Hamilton, better known by her stage name Spice, is a dancehall singer, songwriter, and recording artist. She is one of the world's most popular female dancehall artists and is dubbed the Queen of Dancehall. Also known for her philanthropic efforts, Spice established the Grace Hamilton Women Empowerment Foundation in 2018, in an attempt to uplift young women.