Main image courtesy of Okayplayer.
Since its emergence as a genre in the late 70s in New York City, rap has come a long way. It was traditionally dominated by men, and seeing women in the industry was rare. However, the hard work, dedication and talent of so many early female rappers shaped the rap game as we know it today.
Some of the earliest female rap icons include Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa, and Roxanne Shanté, to name just a few. Nowadays, there are more and more women who are entering the scene and making incredible music, breaking records, and shattering expectations. Here are 8 of the fastest female rappers out there.
Some of the fastest rapping we've ever seen.
Nikki Minaj is one of the world’s biggest female hip-hop and pop stars who has been widely successful in both genres. Her music is catchy, her flows are fresh and diverse, and she’s adored by her enthusiastic fans known as Barbz, who are especially active on Twitter. Some of her most popular songs include “Super Bass” which was released in 2010 but remains a hit even today, and “Starships,” as well as newer songs like “Bussin” and “Do We Have A Problem?” which both feature Lil Baby.
Megan Thee Stallion, also known as Tina Snow, is a Houston-based rapper who made her debut in 2017 with the EP “Make It Hot.” She surged in popularity with songs like “WAP,” “Body,” and “Girls in the Hood,” many of which became famous on platforms like TikTok. She is unapologetically bold and assertive in her songs, and her lyrics are often sexually charged and empowering. She maintains a strong social media presence, especially on Instagram, where her content includes workout routines as well as updates on her music.
Doja Cat is a remarkably authentic star with a large social media presence; her Instagram following alone consists of over 21 million people. Some of her most popular songs include “Woman,” “Say So,” and “Kiss Me More,” which features SZA, and many of her songs went viral on TikTok as well. Her recent single, “Freaky Deaky,” features Tyga and shows off her confidence and sexuality, as most of her music does, empowering many other women to do the same.
Flo Milli is from Mobile, Alabama, and first started making and releasing music in 2015. Following her breakout success, she’s continued to create more catchy, confidence-boosting music. Some of her top hits include “Mean” and “May I,” and she recently released “PBC,” which is a single. She entered the scene at only 18 and is 22 now, continuing to impress with her lyrics and delivery.
Roxanne Shanté hails from the Queensbridge Projects of Queens in New York City. One of her most popular songs is “Roxanne’s Revenge,” which came out in 1995. After a period of inactivity, Roxanne has reemerged with her newest song, “Reels,” a single with Bob Sinclar. She retired at 25 to focus on getting a higher education, receiving a Ph.D. in psychology, running her own practice, and mentoring young female rappers.
Cardi B was born and raised in New York City and made her debut in 2017 with “Bodak Yellow,” a widely popular, hit single. Her debut album, “Invasion of Privacy” was released in 2018 and went on to be a critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated album. Some of her more popular songs include “WAP” which features Megan Thee Stallion, and “Up.” Her candid lyrics and aggressive flow makes her music catchy, confidence-boosting, and attractive.
Saweetie’s rap is uniquely personal and creative, and draws from her roots; her mother is Filipina-Chinese and her father is African-American. Some of her top hits include “Tap In,” “My Type,” and “Best Friend” which features Doja Cat. Her music constantly breaks barriers and stereotypes, and she is widely successful on platforms like Spotify.
CupcakKe is a bold, authentic rapper from Chicago whose music addresses themes ranging from sex to racial inequities. She began writing religious-themed poetry at 14, uploading them to YouTube, and then transitioned to writing more sexual material in 2015 with viral hits like “vagin*” and “Deepthroat.” Some of her other more popular songs include “Cpr” and “Squidward Nose.”
There are so many more female rappers out there with fresh, fast flows, but those are just some that you should definitely check out and add to your next playlist!
