In 2023, it feels redundant to even say the words “female rapper” to mark out women as separate to their male contemporaries. The likes of MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté, Salt-N-Pepa, and Queen Latifah have been killing it since the ’80s, but waves of talented women (from Kim and Foxy to Nicki and Cardi) have come since, proving time and time again that they can go just as hard – if not harder – than the guys.
Thanks to social media and online streaming partially democratizing the industry, there’s more choice than ever before when it comes to hard-hitting women in the rap game: from Megan Thee Stallion, Saweetie, City Girls, and Kash Doll to Young M.A, Lady Leshurr, Dai Burger, Ms. Banks, and Nadia Rose, the list of stars on the rise grows seemingly every day. The definitions of rap and hip-hop are changing constantly, too, as artists blend genres from around the world into new, sonically innovative hybrids.
These combined factors make it harder than ever to box artists in, which is precisely the point: genre means less than talent, but there’s still a whole bunch of new or underrated artists, namely female rappers, that you really should be adding to your playlists. So, under the loose banner of “hip-hop,” we’ve rounded up some for you.
Here are 16Â female rappers killing it right now
LITTLE SIMZ
Well, calling Little Simz an up and comer might be a little bit of an understatement considering the young but prosperous career of one of the best UK rappers in the business. In fact, during her musical career she has performed alongside such notable artists as Lauryn Hill and the Gorillaz, Kendrick Lamar described her as “one of the best rappers of the moment.” Proof of that is her winning the 2022 Mercury Prize for her fourth album “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert,” surpassing among others Harry Styles, Wet Leg, Sam Fender, and Yard Act who had been nominated. All the songs are different from each other, no fillers, but streams of consciousness full of rhymes,…
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