If you’re a fan of rap music and female rappers, this is an opportunity for you to look back on the entire history of female rappers up to this point. Before the current hot rivalry between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, how many other names have paved the way for the rap genre to achieve the success it enjoys today?

The 80s: The Generation of Quiet Trailblazers

Let’s go back to the 1980s – the decade to meet the first female rappers, the generation of quiet trailblazers, also known as the old-school female rapper generation.

Queen Latifah, while known today as an actress, was one of the most renowned female rappers of the 1980s.

It may surprise many that the first name mentioned is… an actress familiar to many – Queen Latifah. Yes, Queen Latifah is not only an experienced actress, but also a rapper, singer, songwriter, talk show host, and talented music producer. If we’re talking about the era of old-school hip-hop, we can’t overlook this name, as Queen Latifah was one of the golden female rappers of the 80s generation who had a tremendous influence on subsequent generations. She is a jack-of-all-trades. With a flow that can captivate your soul, Queen Latifah debuted in 1988 and her acting career took off simultaneously. It’s no coincidence that Queen Latifah is one of the rare female rappers to have earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

Nowadays, Queen Latifah is more focused on her acting career. Last year, we must have become familiar with Queen in the hit film Girls Trip. Maintaining a strong presence in the entertainment industry for over 30 years is the clearest evidence of Queen Latifah’s influence and power. In addition to Queen Latifah, the 80s generation also includes other notable names such as Salt-N-Pepa, Roxanne Shante (the first female rapper to record an album in history), and others.

The 90s – The Generation of Seasoned Veterans

The 90s generation followed with names that were… more than just talented. They were the women who took on the responsibility of spreading female rap globally. The first one that cannot be overlooked in this period is the introduction of Missy Elliott – the first feminist revolution in the rap scene.

You must have heard the powerful name Missy Elliott.

Despite weighing over 100kg at times and being overweight, Missy Elliott certainly faced ridicule about her body shape. How could she be a rapper with that kind of weight? Yet Missy Elliott overcame it all, proving that if you have passion, nothing can stop you. She danced continuously without rest, had enough breath and energy to rap without a single falter. To speak of this star’s achievements, with just her debut album “Supa Dupa Fly”, Missy paved the way for other female rappers to rise up and gradually gain a stronger foothold in the music industry. Missy’s music covers a very wide range of themes – she did not want to be confined to the ordinary, and it even encompasses feminism and the rights of people of color. These factors made Missy become one of the top names in the 1990s.

In the early days, the still-young Missy Elliott already commanded the respect of male rappers and veterans through her accomplishments. With her unwavering dedication and excellent musical mindset, by the 2000s, Missy Elliott became the most sought-after producer/songwriter in Hollywood. She has produced for other big music stars during this time, such as Jennifer Hudson and Melanie B.

However, due to the excessive media hype around her name during 1998-1999, Lauryn Hill became disillusioned and decided to retire from the music industry, having only released one studio album (not counting a live album). This decision by Lauryn was a major shock to many hip-hop fans. Though her career was short, to this day Lauryn Hill continues to command great respect from the younger generation. Lauryn Hill’s influence has spread so far that even top male rappers like Kanye West, Nas, John Legend, as well as female artists like Adele and Beyonce, have shown reverence for her.

2000s – Innovations and Breakthroughs with Lil’ Kim

While Lauryn Hill laid the groundwork for 2000s rap, the one who truly shone brightly that decade was Lil’ Kim. If you were a long-time music fan from the late 80s/early 90s, the name Lil’ Kim surely graced your MTV screen quite frequently back in the day, right?

In the world of pop music, Madonna was the first woman to bring sensitive topics into her songs. Similarly, in the rap world, Lil’ Kim has been just as bold. She incorporated many “suggestive” sounds into her debut album “Hard Core”. During the peak of her career, Lil’ Kim released numerous hit songs, many of which featured collaborations with other artists. One of the biggest collaborations of the 2000s was “Lady Marmalade”, featuring Lil’ Kim along with Christina Aguilera, P!nk, and Mya.

“Lady Marmalade” was a career-defining hit for Lil’ Kim, helping her win major awards like the Grammys and VMAs, and giving her the opportunity to perform on major stages. This greatly expanded Lil’ Kim’s global fame, even reaching music fans in Vietnam. In the 2000s, Lil’ Kim was the undisputed queen of female rap, with her reputation becoming so legendary that even the K-pop industry sought to collaborate with her.

In the 2010s, Nicki Minaj rose to become the new queen of rap music. Nicki Minaj is likely the most well-known name among the rappers mentioned so far. Nicki emerged as a phenomenon, with pop stars like Christina Aguilera and Madonna helping to launch her career. Nicki Minaj is known for her huge hits that get people dancing, such as “Anaconda”, “Super Bass”, and “Starship”.

In the world of pop music, Madonna was the first woman to bring sensitive topics into her songs. Similarly, in the rap world, Lil’ Kim has been just as bold. She incorporated many “suggestive” sounds into her debut album “Hard Core”. During the peak of her career, Lil’ Kim released numerous hit songs, many of which featured collaborations with other artists. One of the biggest collaborations of the 2000s was “Lady Marmalade”, featuring Lil’ Kim along with Christina Aguilera, P!nk, and Mya.

“Lady Marmalade” was a career-defining hit for Lil’ Kim, helping her win major awards like the Grammys and VMAs, and giving her the opportunity to perform on major stages. This greatly expanded Lil’ Kim’s global fame, even reaching music fans in Vietnam. In the 2000s, Lil’ Kim was the undisputed queen of female rap, with her reputation becoming so legendary that even the K-pop industry sought to collaborate with her.

In the 2010s, Nicki Minaj rose to become the new queen of rap music. Nicki Minaj is likely the most well-known name among the rappers mentioned so far. Nicki emerged as a phenomenon, with pop stars like Christina Aguilera and Madonna helping to launch her career. Nicki Minaj is known for her huge hits that get people dancing, such as “Anaconda”, “Super Bass”, and “Starship”.

20s – Is Cardi B the one who will shine in the next decade?

Towards the end of this decade, we are seeing the steady decline of Nicki Minaj. As Nicki weakens, it is coincidental that the most powerful resurgence is that of Cardi B. Many reputable music critics have even stated: “Cardi B’s rise is a testament to the waning of Pop music”. Perhaps, in the 20s ahead, Cardi B will expand and shine like the cycle of her predecessors?

Who knows, Cardi B may become the queen of rap in the 20s?

Emerging as a phenomenon without needing anyone’s guidance, Cardi B and her mega-hit “Bodak Yellow” stormed the music scene in 2017. With her first solo No. 1, Cardi B became the next female rapper in history to repeat this feat after her predecessor Lauryn Hill. Not only that, she also had 3 No. 1s in the same year – something that has never happened in the career of any female rapper before. With so many achievements, Cardi B is now the biggest rival to Nicki Minaj.