In June, Billboard unveiled the inaugural Hottest Female Rappers List, sparking a wave of discussions online. Nicki Minaj claimed the top spot, followed by Sexxy Red and Megan Thee Stallion at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. And even in a year dominated by rap beef, the rapid production of high-quality records by women rappers has been impossible to overlook.
Rappers like Flo Milli — who made a mark on the list in June (ranked at No. 10) following the success of her top 20 record, “Never Lose Me” — scored major collaborations with industry heavyweights like Megan Thee Stallion and Childish Gambino. Meanwhile, Doechii’s rise to rap prominence was marked by her third mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, and four Grammy nominations.
Not to be overshadowed, emerging artists like JT, who leveraged her experience from City Girls to establish herself as a solo artist with City Cinderella, and rising stars like Samara Cyn, Anycia and Karrahboo are proving that they are more than just everyday rookies. Their potential to make a significant impact on the mainstream rap scene in the coming year is undeniable.
And, of course, the heralded Big 3 of Nicki, Megan and Cardi remained formidable, crossing barriers we’ve never seen before, including Minaj’s record-breaking tour.
Like in June, the list below takes into account record quality, chart success, cultural buzz, notable business endeavors and partnerships and touring success. Read on to see who cracked Billboard’s year-end hottest female rappers list.
