In this blog post, we mention some of the popular 90s female rappers that were prominently featured in hip hop songs during the golden era. The once male-dominated rap industry started becoming more diverse. Here, you’ll see female rappers who have not only proven that they are just as talented but can also attract more fans, make bigger hit songs, and have better performances.
1. Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill is one of the creative forces behind some of the most innovative hip-hop of the ’90s, both with the Fugees and as a solo act. She met Prakazrel “Pras” Michel and his cousin, Wyclef Jean, and the three formed a band focusing on Hip Hop, soul and R&B. First called Tranzlator Crew (later becoming the Fugees), the group began performing in area clubs, with Hill singing lead vocals. Later on, she launched her solo career with the Grammy-winning album ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.’
- Real name: Lauryn Noelle Hill
- Born: May 26, 1975 (Newark, New Jersey)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 9 million
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Read more:
- Lauryn Hill Reveals the Shocking Reason She Never Made Another Album
- Rolling Stone Interview: Ms. Lauryn Hill Speaks in Depth About Fame, Racism, and ‘Miseducation’
- Times Magazine: How Lauryn Hill Educated the Music Industry 20 Years Ago
2. Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige has often been referred to as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. Growing up, Blige’s childhood was divided between Savannah, Georgia, and a housing project in Yonkers, New York. Her early musical influences included singing in a Pentecostal church and listening to her mother’s collection of soul records. Later on at 17, when she was singing at a karaoke booth, Blige came to the attention of Uptown Records, and the company put her under contract immediately. She sang backup until the 1992 release of her debut solo album, What’s the 411?, an album that re-defined modern soul. Blige has had several No. 1 Billboard hits and has won nine Grammy Awards.
- Real name: Mary Jane Blige
- Born: January 11, 1971 (Bronx, New York)
- Spotify monthly listeners: 8.4 million
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Read more:
- The Tragic Story Of Mary J. Blige’s Childhood
- Mary J. Blige’s ‘My Life’ Documentary: 8 Things We Learned
- Exploring the Origins of My Life, Mary J. Blige’s Most Personal Album
3. Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott made a mark on the male-dominated hip-hop world with her talents for writing, rapping, singing, and music production. Involved in her local church and choir, Elliott in 1991 started Fayze, an all-female R&B group whose producer was neighborhood friend Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley. In 1996, Elliott worked with SWV, 702, Total, Destiny’s Child, and Aaliyah. Later that year she became a featured vocalist rapping on Sean “Puffy” Combs Bad Boy Records’ remixes. Her big breakthrough came when “The Rain”, a single from her debut album, Supa Dupa Fly (1997), became certified platinum.
- Real name: Melissa Arnette Elliott
- Born: July 1, 1971 (Portsmouth, Virginia)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 7.8 million
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Read more:
- How Missy Elliott Became an Icon
- Missy Elliott Speaks On Finding Inspiration For Her Triumphant Return
- Misdemeanours against Missy: On the legacy of Missy Elliott
4. Eve
Eve is a rapper and actress, best known for hits like ‘What Ya Want,’ ‘Gangsta Lovin,’ and her Grammy-winning “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” collab with Gwen Stefani. At the age of 13, and formed a short-lived rap duo, Edge, and her friend, Jennifer Pardue. At the age of 18, she worked as a stripper until rapper Mase convinced her to stop stripping. Later on in 1998, Eve appeared on the Bulworth soundtrack as Eve of Destruction while signed to Dr. Dre’s record label Aftermath Entertainment. In 1999, she released her debut album, Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, which reached number one on the Billboard 200.
- Real name: Eve Jihan Jeffers
- Born: November 10, 1978 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 4.7 million
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Read more:
- How Eve and Dr. Dre Parted Ways Because the Two ‘Just Couldn’t Get Along’
- Eve critiques current state of hip hop: “There’s a lot of clones“
5. Lil’ Kim
Lil’ Kim found success as a female rapper starting in the mid ’90s, with her explicit lyrics and sexy persona under the guidance of hip-hop icon Biggie Smalls. She donned a provocative façade and released her debut album Hard Core in 1996 that earned her much appreciation. Critics loved her raw, unapologetic style of rapping, which was much more gritty and vulgar than female MCs that came before her like MC Lyte and Queen Latifah.
- Real name: Kimberly Denise Jones
- Born: July 11, 1974
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 4 million
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Read more:
- Lil’ Kim Opens Up About Her Enduring Reign
- Life Lessons from Lil’ Kim
- The Meaning of Lil’ Kim: The complicated legacy of one of rap’s boldest provocateurs
6. Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-n-Pepa is a hip hop trio from Queens, New York. The group, consistis of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and originally Latoya Hanson who was replaced by Deidra Roper as “DJ Spinderella”. Formed in 1985, the group was one of the first all-female hip hop groups. Salt-n-Pepa changed the look of hip hop with their willingness to talk about sex and their thoughts about men. They debuted with “The Show Stopper”, a response record to Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick’s “The Show” and it was an underground hit. With their revolution in the music world, they have also changed the dynamics of the fashion world with their unique and eye-catching outfits. Salt n Pepa jacket, being one of their statement gear, has kept making rounds amongst the fans alongside their hit songs.
- Group formation: 1985
- Origin: Queens, New York
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 3.4 million
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Read more:
- Salt-N-Pepa Outsold Wu-Tang, So Why Don’t We Talk About Them More?
- The Story Of Salt-N-Pepa’s Friendship Forged In The Lunchroom
- Salt-N-Pepa Biopic and The Duos’ Impact on Hip Hop Culture
- Hip-Hop Pioneers Salt-N-Pepa Discuss the Ongoing Barriers Facing Women in Music
7. Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu, is an R&B singer whose neo-soul vocals elicited comparisons to jazz legend Billie Holiday. Brought up in artistic environment by her actress mother, she developed a love for singing and acting at a very early age. With the help from her cousin, she recorded a demo tape that drew the attention of producer Kedar Massenburg. It was not long until she was introduced to D’Angelo for a duet and was signed to Universal Records. She’s collaborated with several hip hop artists including Common on the classic hit “Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)”
- Real name: Erica Abi Wright
- Born: February 26, 1971 (Dallas, Texas)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 2.5 million
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Read more:
- In Conversation: Erykah Badu
- Where Neo-Soul Began: 20 Years of Erykah Badu’s Baduizm
- Erykah Badu on leading the neo-soul movement
8. Remy Ma
Remi Ma is an American rapper and one of the very few female rappers who have made it big in the American hip hop scene. After getting the attention of Big Pun through writing poetry, she took part in a meeting and freestyle session. Big Pun then took Ma under his wing and became her mentor. Ma kickstarted her singing career under the name “Remy Martin” on Big Pun’s album Yeeeah Baby which was recorded from 1999 to 2000. The Grammy nominated artist who was part of the rap group Terror Squad featured on the group’s hit song “Lean Back” with Fat Joe, and from their second album True Story and M.O.P.’s “Ante Up (Remix)” with Busta Rhymes and Teflon. Later on, she was sentenced to eight years behind bars in 2007 for shooting a friend and released in 2014.
- Real name:
- Born: May 30, 1980 (New York City)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 2 million
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Read more:
- Remy Ma Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison And Released In 2014
- Why Remy Ma vs. Nicki Minaj Is One of the Most Important Beefs In Rap History
9. Foxy Brown
Foxy Brown is famous for her solo career as a musician and numberless collaborations with prominent hip hop stars in the music industry. She has been a significant part of the hip hop group known as The Firm. She began rapping in her teens and won a local talent competition in 1994. Because of that win the 16-year-old was invited to rap over LL Cool J’s “I Shot Ya.” She was quickly invited to perform on tracks with other artists such as Toni Braxton, Case, and Jay-Z. Even though she received a lot of skepticism from critics because of her raunchy lyrics and sexual appeal in music videos, Foxy still managed to stay on top. The Brooklyn-based MC whose brash style helped mold a generation of sexually-activated female rappers.
- Real name: Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand
- Born: September 6, 1978 (Brooklyn, New York)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 1 million
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Read more:
- Why Foxy Brown Will Always Be The Illest
- Ill Na Na: 4 Things You Didn’t Know About Foxy Brown
- The 10 Most Bizarre Rumors About Foxy Brown
10. Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is one of first female rap artists who caught the music industry’s attention especially hip hop superstars. She was the first female rapper to be nominated for the academy awards. She made her mark in hip-hop genre by rapping about issues of black women. Her songs covered topics including domestic violence, harassment on the streets, and relationship problems. Her debut album All Hail to the Queen sold more than 1 million copies, and the single “U.N.I.T.Y” earned Latifah her first Grammy Award.
- Real name: Dana Elaine Owens
- Born: March 18, 1970 (Newark, New Jersey)
- Spotify monthly listeners: 980,000
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Read more:
- Don’t Let Queen Latifah’s Acting Career Overshadow Her Rap Legacy
- Queen Latifah on Women Uniting: ‘When We Stand Together There Is Nothing More Potent’
11. Trina
Trina became famous as a rapper and has been nominated for over seven BET Awards in hip-hop. Trina originally underwent a profession as a real estate agent before she was spotted by Trick Daddy, a local Dirty South rapper. Interested in her raw talent, the gifted artist then included her in the making of his single, “Nann Nigga” which surprisingly became a regional hit, even managed to enter the top 3 of Billboard Hot Rap Singles in 1999.
- Real name: Katrina Laverne Taylor
- Born: December 3, 1978 (Miami, Florida)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 670,000
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Read more:
- After More Than 20 Years in the Game, Trina Still Insists She’s the Baddest
- Trina reveals Lil Wayne is one of the most honest men she’s ever known
- Still Da Baddest: Trina On Longevity, Trick Daddy, And Love For Latto
12. Da Brat
Dab Brat is one of the many females who broke into the hip-hop scene in the mid-1990s. Brat gained such a huge popularity in the music industry after releasing her studio album Funkdafied. She sold one million copies making her the first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album. Da Brat is a two-time Grammy Award nominee and a three-time Billboard Award winner.
- Real name: Shawntae Harris
- Born: April 14, 1974 (Chicago, Illinois)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 670,000
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Read more:
- Da Brat Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Atlanta Nightclub Fight
- Da Brat Broke The Mold And Made History
- Da Brat’s Coming Out Story Is 25 Years in the Making
13. MC Lyte
MC Lyte is an iconic rapper and DJ. Her ground breaking music career spans 30 years. The Hip Hop legend was the first female rapper ever to be nominated for a Grammy Award, the first rap artist to perform at Carnegie Hall, and the first female artist to earn a gold single. She’s also one of the first female rappers to point out the sexism and misogyny that often runs rampant in hip-hop, often taking the subject head on lyrically in her songs and helping open the door for such future artists as Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott.
- Real name: Lana Michele Moorer
- Born: October 11, 1970 (New York City)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 426,000
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Read more:
- Classic Albums: ‘Act Like You Know’ By Mc Lyte
- MC Lyte Talks About Being A Trailblazer For Women
- MC Lyte shares her thoughts on female rappers
14. Bahamadia
Bahamadia has lived and breathed music for years. In fact, many influential musical scholars credit her as being one of the original MC’s to gain Philly international acceptance in the Hip Hop community in a major way. The female Philly rapper whose unique monotone delivery and crafty rhymes wooed critics in the 1990s. Her formidable rhyme skills, unceasingly honed since the earliest days of rap, and her progressive musical outlook, make her more than just an incredible MC.
- Real name: Antonia D. Reed
- Born: April 22, 1966 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Spotify monthly listeners: 0ver 410,000
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15. Charli Baltimore
Naming herself after Geena Davis’ character in the film The Long Kiss Goodnight, Baltimore faced many obstacles and troubles in her life and career. She met the Notorious B.I.G. at a concert in the summer of 1995. He supported her in her rap ambitions, but after his death Charli went into a tailspin. Her first two albums, both much anticipated, fell through the cracks due to shifts in the fast-moving hip-hop music industry. After a five-year hiatus, Charli Baltimore was signed to Murder Inc. Records. In 2002 she earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rap Solo Performance, for her single “Diary”.
- Real name: Tiffany Lane
- Born: August 16, 1974 (Baltimore, Maryland)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 115,000
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Read more:
- Charli Baltimore Cites Jealousy As Reason For Tossing Notorious B.I.G.’s Jewelry Into Pool
- Charli Baltimore On Being Treated For Rare Bone Infection Following Leg Surgery
16. Gangsta Boo
Gangsta Boo has been referred to as a pioneer of female rap music. Boo’s first solo album, Enquiring Minds, was released in 1998 and reached number fifteen on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 46 on the Billboard 200. She was the second female member (after K-9) of the Memphis-based hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, where she initially rose to prominence.
- Real name: Lola Chantrelle Mitchell
- Born: August 7, 1979 (Whitehaven, South Memphis)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 100,000
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Read more:
- Turning Points: Gangsta Boo
- Gangsta Boo proudly gives fellow Memphis emcee GloRilla her blessing
- Twenty years in the rap game with Three 6 Mafia’s Gangsta Boo
17. Monie Love
Monie Love is a British rapper and radio personality who is based in the United States. After beginning her career in London, England, she first came to prominence as a protégé of Queen Latifah, as well as her membership in the alternative hip hop collective Native Tongues. She released several Grammy-nominated solo works, including her 1990 album Down to Earth.
- Real name: Simone Johnson
- Born: 2 July 1970 Battersea, London, England
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 80,000
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18. Jean Grae
Jean Grae, the daughter of South African jazz musicians, was raised in New York City. She began her career under the name What? What? as a member of the groups Ground Zero and Natural Resource, before embarking as a solo artist under the name Jean Grae in the late-1990s. Under her new moniker, she released her first LP—Attack of the Attacking Things in 2002. The album featured the assistance of Da Beatminerz, Mr. Len, and Masta Ace. The album received much critical and fan acclaim as one of the best female hip-hop albums since Lauryn Hill’s 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
- Real name: Tsidi Ibrahim
- Born: November 26, 1976 (Cape Town, South Africa)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 65,000
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Read more:
- The Story of Jean Grae, One of Rap’s Greatest Lyricists, in 8 Songs
- Pop Lock These Words: The Story of Jean Grae’s Jeanius
19. Lady of Rage
Lady of Rage is a rapper best known for collaborations with several Death Row Records artists, including Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg on the seminal album Doggystyle. Her big break came when both Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg requested her to record vocals for several tracks on their albums The Chronic and Doggystyle under the name Rockin Robin. She’s the rapper behind the Dr. Dre-produced “Afro Puffs,” one of the biggest street hits of 1994. Her debut solo album, Necessary Roughness, was released in June 1997 and peaked at #32 on the Billboard 200 chart.
- Real name: Robin Yvette Allen
- Born: February 6, 1966 (Farmville, Virginia)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 60,000
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Read more:
- Shelved: The Lady of Rage’s Eargasm
- Lady Of Rage Is Still Kickin’ Up Dust
- The Lady of Rage – The Best Death Row Records MC
20. Mia X
Mia X was the first female rapper to sign to No Limit Records. From 1995 to 1998, Mia X released three albums for No Limit: Good Girl Gone Bad, Unlady Like and Mama Drama. Unlady Like was certified gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 copies. She has been called the Mother of Southern Gangsta Rap. She is known for collaborations with several No Limit Records artists, including Master P and Silkk the Shocker on the seminal albums, Ice Cream Man, Ghetto D and Charge It 2 Da Game.
- Real name: Mia Young
- Born: January 9, 1970 (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 50,000
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Read more:
- Mia X Got Bars: 10 Classic Verses From No Limit’s First Lady
- Mia X Shares the Sounds that Shaped Her
- No Limit’s First Lady Mia X Talks No Limit Records, Her 1979 Rap Vision, Mastering Cooking & How AllHipHop Helped
21. Roxanne Shante
Roxanne Shante is a pioneering ’80s female rapper who broke with a blistering response to U.T.F.O.’s “Roxanne, Roxanne” with “Roxanne, Revenge”. It was a raw, explicit anthem that held no punches in its dissing of women. The 2018 film Roxanne Roxanne is a dramatization of Shante’s life.
- Real name: Lolita Shante Gooden
- Born: March 8, 1970 (Queens, New York)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 35,000
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Read more:
- Roxanne: How a 14-year-old started the world’s first rap beef
- Roxanne’s Nonexistent Revenge
- How a Teenager From Queens Became Rap’s First Female Star
22. Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes
The most flamboyant member of the award-winning, multi-platinum contemporary R&B trio TLC, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes is a singer and rapper who died tragically in 2002 at age 30. The group found immense popularity with time and scored nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100. As a member of the band, she won four Grammy Awards in her career. She was exceptionally known for her rapping and songwriting skills.
- Real name: Lisa Nicole Lopes
- Born: May 27, 1971 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 30,000
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Read more:
- 5 Reasons Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes Remains An Unforgettable Cultural Icon
- Remembering Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes
- Energy never dies: We look at the legacy of Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes
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