The top 5 female rappers with the strongest influence includes MC Lyte, Cardi B, Lil’ Kim, Sylvia Robinson and Tierra Whack.
The Recording Academy honored 2022 Women’s history month highlighting female rappers. The women have continuously contributed to rap’s sound, fashion, commercial success not just compared to their male counterparts, but across the genre — increasing its global impact.
Before we mention anyone, we are starting with “The Mother of Hip Hop” Sylvia Robinson. As noted by the Academy, Robinson started out as a chart-topping R&B singer, releasing “Love Is Strange” in 1956 with her duo, Mickey & Sylvia. After a solo singing and songwriting career, Robinson founded Sugar Hill Records in the 1970s. With the label, she assembled Harlem rap trio the Sugarhill Gang and produced their 1979 hit, “Rapper’s Delight,” which went on to be the first rap single to break the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40.
MC Lyte broke into rap at the age of 16. Her first single was “I Cram To Understand U (Sam)” in 1987. The following year, she released her debut album, Lyte As A Rock, becoming the first female rapper to release a solo album.
According to the Academy, Lyte’s first three albums spawned hits like “Cha Cha Cha,” “Paper Thin,” “10% Dis” and “Poor Georgie.” In 1993, the acclaimed anthem “Ruffneck” became Lyte’s third No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart and was certified gold, making her the first female rapper to achieve the feat. “Ruffneck” was also nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 36th GRAMMY Awards in 1994, designating Lyte as the first-ever GRAMMY-nominated woman rapper.
MC Lyte’s conscientious records and classic hits drew critical acclaim and commercial success, making her an influence on female rap for generations to come. A true pioneer, she was honored with the I Am Hip Hop Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards.
Cardi B dominated through modern day socialism. Her 2018 debut album, Invasion of Privacy. The record was the best-selling female rap album of the 2010s and won Best Rap Album at the 61st GRAMMY Awards in 2019, making Cardi the first solo female rapper to win the award. Her breakout hit, 2017’s “Bodak Yellow,” also became the first diamond-certified single by a woman rapper. She’s since tacked on two other diamond records: Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You” and “I Like It” featuring Bad Bunny and J. Balvin.
Tierra Whack first gained fame for her freestyling and battle rap skills in her native Philadelphia, but her 15-minute debut album, Whack World, skyrocketed her to viral acclaim.
She earned her first GRAMMY nomination for Best Music Video with her 2017 “Mumbo Jumbo” visual.
The Academy described Lil’ Kim introduced a feminine perspective to a sex-positive narrative that had previously been controlled by men.
However, the top 5 female rappers aren’t the only names that were mentioned. The highlights include Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Queen Latifah, Salt N Pepa and more.
