Scoop of the Day
Billboard has crowned Nicki Minaj as the greatest female rapper of all time, surpassing legendary artists such as Lil Kim, Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, and many others who were featured in their rankings.
In determining this prestigious title, Billboard considered several factors, including each artist’s body of work and achievements—such as charted singles and albums, along with gold and platinum certifications.
Cultural Influence To Society
They also assessed cultural impact and influence, evaluating how each artist’s contributions have shaped the evolution of the genre. Longevity, or the number of years an artist has been active, was taken into account as well, alongside their lyrical abilities, specifically their storytelling skills, and vocal talent, or flow.
The publication highlighted that Nicki Minaj made history in 2018 by becoming the first female rapper to achieve over 100 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, her “Pink Friday 2 World Tour” set a record as the highest-grossing tour ever for a female rapper. Billboard’s staff remarked:
“Fifteen years after she stunned the world with her powerful verse on Kanye West’s ‘Monster’ and released her groundbreaking debut album, Pink Friday, the First Lady of Young Money continues to outpace her competitors.”
They noted how Minaj swiftly claimed her place at the top, redefining the stylistic landscape for female rappers and establishing herself as a key figure in the realm of pop music.
Iconic Barbie from over the years✨
Whether she’s embodying her legendary rap personas such as Harajuku Barbie, Roman Zolanski, or Chun-Li, or simply delivering verses as her true self, Onika, Nicki Minaj is an integral figure in the history of rap. Her influence is undeniable, as she has opened doors for many artists in the industry who have followed in her footsteps.
In recognition of her groundbreaking contributions, Billboard has compiled a list of the top 25 female rappers of all time. Throughout her remarkable career, Nicki Minaj has released numerous iconic albums. Her debut studio album, Pink Friday, made waves by reaching the top of the US Billboard 200 in 2010, achieving the highest sales week for a female rap album in the 21st century up to that point.
She made a triumphant return to the top of the charts just two years later with the release of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. In 2014, she followed that up with her third studio album, The Pinkprint, and continued to impress fans with Queen in 2018. Most recently, she released Pink Friday 2 in 2023.
In Billboard’s ranking of the greatest female rappers, the top five included iconic names such as: Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Lil Kim, and Queen Latifah.
The list also featured several emerging talents, with Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat ranking at 15th and 16th, respectively. Additionally, Doechii made her mark at 24th, following the successful launch of her critically acclaimed album, Alligator Bites Never Heal.
