There would certainly be no Hip-Hop without Women. From the earliest icons of the 80s, to the billboard chart toppers of today, their legacy on the culture will forever remain intact. While breaking down barriers of a patriarchic system, they have left a blueprint for many to follow for generations to come.
However, if we had to cut down the long list of legends to just five, who would be the most influential? Check out our list within the gallery and let us know your thoughts!
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Nicki Minaj
First female rapper to amass a net-worth of $100 million (Wealthiest female rapper of all time)
Emphasized the idea that women can compete with men by going toe to toe with some of biggest rappers in the game including Eminem, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and Drake – cue in iconic Monster verse
Billboard topping hits and millions of album sales across countless mixtape tracks, A-list features, sold-out tours, and four platinum selling studio albums
Broadened the horizon for fashion and costume wear within hip-hop. Additionally, Nicki owns a venture in collaboration with Fendi
Has done endorsement deals with Pepsi, Beats by Dre, MAC Cosmetic, and Adidas – empowering women to be at the forefront of sponsorship revenue
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Lil’ Kim
Created her own blueprint and helped pave the way for many women to navigate the genre’s rampant misogyny by embracing her sexuality and femininity
Embraced her vulnerability by expressing her experiences with abusive relationships. She was a voice for many women
Flipped the narrative that women cannot succeed without the help of a man. She often collaborated with her female peers; most notably, her highly regarded posy cut Not Tonight with Left Eye, Da Brat, Missy Elliot, and Angie Martinez
Elevated fashion and streetwear to new heights within hip hop and pop culture
Became a powerhouse in the music industry and was the first female rap superstar. Truly one of a kind
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Queen Latifah
Expanded her career beyond hip-hop by becoming involved in acting. She has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Golden Globe, and a SAD Award. Not to mention, she has been nominated for an Emmy and an Oscar – becoming the first female rapper to do so
Won a Grammy for her hit single U.N.I.T.Y. which sold nearly 2 million records worldwide. It is highly considered as one of the greatest rap songs of all time
Became a label president and entrepreneur – managing artists such as Outkast, LL Cool J, and Naughty By Nature
Became a CoverGirl Spokesmodel having hosted her own syndicated daytime television show
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Missy Elliot
Encouraged body positivity within th entertainment industry
Women’s rights activist
Advocate for gender equality and sexual expression
First Female rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Made history and changed the landscape of music with her collaboration with Timbaland. Their style of sound was experimental and unlike anything else at the time
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Lauryn Hill
She broke barriers for black female artists: Her debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill sold more than 420,000 copies in its first week, surpassing Madonna’s long standing record. It had also sold more than 17 million copies worldwide
Her debut album was the first hip-hop album to win a Grammy for Album of the Year
She helped push the trend of conscious lyricism within hip-hop
Her sound helped transcend hip-hop and R&B – influencing upcoming artists to combine multiple genres
