staffFrom the radio to social media platforms, it’s hard to miss some of today’s hottest female rappers and their hit tracks. While Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa paved the way for Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott, who in turn passed the mic to Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, the following young ladies are heating up the charts, making their presence in the music industry known and do not look to be backing down anytime soon.
Telling their own stories through gritty and empowering lyrics meshed with powerful beats, these ladies are looking to dominate the charts and etch their name into the history of hip-hop.
Lady London
Hailing from The Bronx, New York, Lady London (born Zaire Stewart) dropped her debut studio album S.O.U.L (Signs Of Universal Love) in early November 2023. Prior to dropping her first official album, Lady London gained her fanbase off of her social media platforms, posting her newest rhymes on “Lady London Mondays”. Turning her attention from a master’s degree in global medicine into a career as a full-time rapper, Lady London has received props from some of the biggest names in the industry such as Ciara, Big Daddy Kane, Sean Combs, Nas, and Timberland.
Must Hear Track – Yea Yea, Lisa’s Story, Da Girls
Lakeyah
The 22-year-old from Milwaukee, Wisconsin has yet to release an official studio album, but she does have a number of mixtapes and EPs to her credit. The Keymix II, Time’s Up, and In Due Time helped Lakeyah land a spot on XXL magazine’s 2021 Freshman Class spotlight. Mixing the best of sounds from her midwest hometown and that of her adopted hometown of Atlanta, Lakeyah is looking to be one of the driving forces behind showcasing female rappers in a male- dominated industry.
Must Hear Tracks – Big FlexHER, Female Goat, Mind Yo Business
ScarLip
If Eve was a “pitbull in a skirt”, then ScarLip is a rottweiler. Delivering hard-hitting anthems, a’la the late DMX, ScarLip often pays tribute to her hometown of New York. Easily identifiable not only by the scar on her lip (from a childhood fight with her brother) but also her rough aggressive tone and lyrics, ScarLip is looking to change the game, “Everything is too pretty right now, so I am bring back an ugly truth,” when asked about today’s female rappers. “I bring authenticity, unapologetic rawness, and aggression. I’m bringing pain back to rap. I’m always gonna bring the ugly side.”
Must Hear Tracks – This Is New York, Take Em’ Out, No Statements
Monaleo
Signed to Stomp Down Records, the 22-year-old El Paso, Texas native released her first single in 2021 and has not looked back since. Turning a bad breakup into an anthem, Monaleo has clearly taken a different approach to music from her time singing in the church choir as a kid. As for her style and inspiration, Monaleo noted that her focus was to create anthems that inspired Black women who are being taken advantage of in life. “My message is to be the voice that you need for yourself, advocate for your wants, advocate for your needs.
Must Hear Tracks – Body Bag, We Not Humping, Girls Outside
Kaliii
When you listen to Kaliya Ross, aka Kaliii (or occasionally Kali) as she prefers to be known to her fans, it is easy to see how artists such as Aaliyah, Nicki Minaj, and Cardi B have influenced her style. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Kaliii blends rap, R&B, and pop into her own unique flow, creating what she calls, “music for the girls.” From remixes with Latto and Moneybagg Yo to creating her own version of Ludacris’s popular 2001 hit, which reached #33 on the Billboard Top 100, Kaliii will be a force to reckon with in 2024.
Must Hear Tracks – Area Codes, Barbie Dreams, MMM MMM
Lola Brooke
Her first single, Don’t Play With It, dropped in 2021, but it wouldn’t be until later the next year that people took notice of the Brooklyn-born rapper. Standing just 4’10”, Brooke, who tags 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, and Jay Z as her inspiration, spits a far bigger and more menacing game than her size may lead you to believe. Teaming with Billy B, Latto, and Yung Mami, Brooke’s hit single went viral on TikTok, and her debut album, Dennis Daughter features Bryson Tiller, Coi Leray, and French Montana.
Must Hear Tracks – Don’t Play With It, Just Relax, So Disrespectful
Maiya The Don
From a beauty product influencer to one of the hottest new female rappers, Maiya Early, better known by her stage name, Maiya The Don has transitioned from promoting makeup to touring with Flo Mili and collaborating with Lola Brooke. Maiya knows that despite her following, she has plenty to prove when it comes to the music industry. “There was a whole conversation about me being a TikTok artist and not having talent but got lucky and went viral. I’m talented, it’s not a gimmick. I’m trying to prove to people that I’m worth being part of the conversation of women in rap.
Must Hear Tracks – Telfy, Conceited (remix), Dusties
In a culture dominated by social media, today’s top female rappers have the ability to reach out to their fans and build their brand through platforms such as X, Instagram, and Tiktok, similar to companies, or, for example, online casinos. Whereas there was once a time in which they had to rely on word of mouth, the cultural shift and ever-changing landscape of social media has allowed everyone to engage with fans and grow quicker than ever before.