The Women's Hip-Hop Renaissance: Bars, Bags, and Boss Moves

It’s 2025, and female rappers are in their Renaissance era — and no, we’re not talking about fangirling over Beyoncé. We’re talking about embracing a cultural rebirth that lets women run rap.

We all know DJ Kool Herc is dubbed the Godfather of hip-hop, laying down a path for (predominantly male) rappers, like The Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash, and Kurtis Blow. But it’s often overlooked that women cemented their presence in the culture — and musical genre — after MC Sha-Rock went from being known as a B-Girl from the Bronx to MC of the Funky 4+1 in 1979. The uptown artist was dubbed the first femcee, aka The First Lady of hip-hop, and became the first female MC to perform on Saturday Night Live. (She did so alongside the Funky 4+1. If you don’t know who they are, then it’s time to do some homework.)

She may not have known it at the time, but this move marked the beginning of a movement that would come three decades later (but if you ask her now, she was “ the blueprint”).

Because of MC Sha-Rock, young girls and women were able to step on the scene and show the culture what they were working with. The likes of Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Yo-Yo used their lyrical prowess and unique cadence to deliver punchy wordplay and check anyone who thought they could call a woman a b-tch. 

Women came up in the game, but often had to work twice as hard to prove themselves—usually with the backing of a male co-sign. New Age pioneers like Eve, Remy Ma, and Trina created tracks that remain iconic today, yet their careers were propelled, in part, by male counterparts: Eve with DMX and Ruff Ryders, Remy Ma with Fat Joe and Terror Squad, Lil’ Kim with The Notorious B.I.G. and Junior M.A.F.I.A., Trina with Trick Daddy, Missy Elliott with Timbaland, and so on. Their talent was undeniable, and they were artists ahead of their time—delivering sex-positive lyrics and championing women's rights before it was considered cool. But getting ahead in a patriarchal-driven industry (and society) between the 1980s and early 2000s usually meant acquiring a sign off or a nod from an established male rapper. That mentality needed to change—because women were always capable of signing off for themselves.

Then came 2009, when Nicki Minaj made her mainstream debut alongside Lil Wayne, Drake, and the Young Money conglomerate. Since then, she’s earned 12 Grammy nominations, taken home numerous accolades across countless platforms, including the BET, MTV, and American Music Awards, and built a Guinness World Records catalog to match.

For years, the Jamaica, Queens-bred MC topped charts and was consistently recognized as the best female rapper around — and she was. Her influence was so strong that doors opened for femcees in ways that hadn’t been seen before — across fashion, branding, and of course, music. She talked slick with a crazy cadence and altered her pitch and tone to match the mood and energy of every song. She was one-of-one, and still is, but the industry saw a shift between 2015 and 2019 when Remy Ma made a comeback, Megan Thee Stallion introduced herself to all the hotties, and Cardi B stepped on to the set of Love & Hip-Hop. They were bold, adamant about doing things their way, and completely unapologetic about it. And their efforts have paid off, literally. 

Through brand deals, tours, features, and hit records, there are several women leading the rap pack with 45 Grammy nominations and 83 Gold and Platinum records scored over the past five years between them. And their werk has built a combined net worth of more than $160 million: Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, GloRilla, Doechii, Doja Cat, Latto, and more. 

We could talk about it all day, but instead, let’s break down the numbers and let them speak for themselves. And remember — no male co-sign required. Like Ne-Yo said, they’ve got their own.

Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion is the ultimate baddie: she has brains, beauty, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Southern University. The Texas native debuted her first full-length album, Tina Snow, in 2018, and has been “cocky af” ever since. But don’t confuse her confidence with being conceited. 

Over the past five years, Meg has amassed more than 23 million monthly Spotify listeners, four top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles, three Grammys, nine brand partnership deals — Revlon and AT&T among them — 18 Gold and Platinum singles, 4 Gold and Platinum albums, and 40 million reasons to go all gas, no breaks. And she’s done it all with grace. So we can’t forget she also became the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Forbes' "30 Under 30" issue in 2022.

Doja Cat

Doja Cat may be somewhat controversial, but she’s creative af. From her eclectic vocals and tonal structure to her flair for bending genres and tempos, the Tarzana, Calif. native has never had a problem playing show-and-prove. Her formula is simple: rap across sultry, intoxicating beats and blending girly pop-princess energy. In her case, #DojaCatMath has equated to an estimated $16 million over the past five years.

Doji Doj is an adroit artist, who’s used her abilities to reach fans in ways other artists haven’t. The result of her work over the past five years includes 19 Grammy nominations, one Grammy win, seven top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles, a mix of gold and platinum singles and albums, and more than 53 million monthly Spotify listeners. She’s also raked in seven partnership deals with brands including Skechers and Marc Jacobs. 

Doechii

Doechii dropped her first set of trap & B vibes in 2019, and she was “everything you needed” whether you knew it or not. She came vibrant, she came different, she came correct—the way a true artist should. Her talent is effortless and undeniable, which is why Top Dawg Entertainment was determined to make her their first female rap signee. And in 2022, they did. 

With access to more resources to maximize her flair, the Tampa-born lyricist imprinted on hip-hop fans with a string of singles—but sampling Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” for her 2025 smash, “Anxiety,” was pure genius. The single has brought in over $1.1 million in sales, and in just a few years Doechii has earned three Grammy nominations, one Grammy win, four brand deals—Savage X Fenty, Nike, Cash App, and Samsung—and 5 Gold and Platinum singles. Now, her 28 million monthly Spotify listeners are waiting to hear what’s next.

Latto

Latto is hip-hop’s favorite Big Mama — and she knows it. Born in the Buckeye State but raised a Georgia peach, fans can hear her roots in every track. Née Alyssa Michelle Stephens, the former Miss Mulatto became Big Latto the moment she slid onto the Billboard charts with “Big Energy” in 2021, and it’s been nothing but up in the years since.

She headlined two tours, garnered three Grammy nominations, released seven Gold and Platinum-selling singles and two Gold and Platinum-selling albums, landed six brand deals — including Just Eat, HALLS, and Camille Rose — amassing a $5 million net worth. By all accounts, she lives up to the name of her debut album, Queen of Da Souf.

GloRilla

GloRilla is as glorious as they come, and she has the accolades to prove it. She represents Memphis to fullest, and in just two years her raps, rigor, and roots have put her in high demand as the fresh face of hip-hop. 

In 2022, Big Glo signed with Yo Gotti’s CMG label, and a year later, the Bluff City MC dropped her second major label mixtape, Ehhthang Ehhthang, earning three Grammy nominations for her self-motivating anthem “Yeah Glo!” She released her debut album, GLORIOUS, in 2024, and even rapped her way onto the presidential campaign trail, supporting former Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the White House. Since then, she’s found her flow, stacking nine Gold and Platinum singles and three albums — including one for her 2023 EP, Anyways, Life’s Great. She also snagged a deal with Adidas (word to Missy) and became the first face of all four of Rihanna’s Fenty brands: Fenty Beauty, Savage x Fenty, Fenty Skin, and Fenty Hair. What can we say? Get ’em, Glo.

Ice Spice

Ice Spice’s delivery on the mic matches the color of her red hair: vibrant, unremorseful, and always making a statement. She helped introduce a new word into the Urban Dictionary when she shared her 2022 single, “Munch (Feelin’ U),” and became a viral sensation. Her rise was rapid, leading to collaborations with artists like Nicki Minaj on their rendition of Aqua’s ’90s hit “Barbie Girl,” and sampling industry heavyweights like Ginuwine and Mario Winans to craft hits such as “Gangsta Boo,” featuring Lil Tjay. Gen Z goes after what they want—and she got it.

Within three years, Spice has snagged 11 partnership deals with brands—including Dunkin’ Donuts, Kate Spade, and SKIMS—and four Grammy nominations. She headlined the Y2K! World Tour, delivered six Gold and Platinum records over the past five years, and built a $5 million net worth along the way.

Cardi B

Cardi B thought she had two options, stripping or losing, but she got up 10 when she dropped her first mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1 in 2016. She immediately leaned into the project’s success and gave fans another sonic sample with her follow-up project, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 2. Then she turned heads, including Oprah’s, when she came through with her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy in 2018. It was such a tantalizing project that she took home the Grammy award for Best Rap Album in 2019. And she’s toured off that album, one-off singles, and features ever since. 

Cardi’s all about her bag — and in this case, that bag holds a lot of zeros. But those zeros weren’t just handed to her. The Bronx-bred rapper has earned 10 Grammy nominations, including 3 within the past 5 years, winning one. Within that same timeframe, she also racked up 8 Gold and Platinum singles, 5 top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits, and averages 30 million monthly Spotify listeners. Her reach goes deep — be careful with her.

Coi Leray

Many assumed Coi Leray’s rise was tied to her father, Benzino, but she’s made it clear she’s carving her own lane. Born in Boston, the rapper uses her music to channel raw emotions and tackle real-life challenges that have shaped her story. She has collaborated with established female artists, including Nicki Minaj, Young M.A, and H.E.R., to promote her talent and show the industry what she’s made of.

Her 2022 debut album, Trendsetter, produced four Gold and Platinum singles, including “Twinnem,” “Blick, Blick,” “Big Purr,” and “No More Parties,” a track she used to address her father, rapper Benzino. A year later, she later earned her fifth plaque for “Players,” strengthened by a DJ Saige remix that sampled Busta Rhymes’s classic track “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See.” She headlined The Magic Hour Tour alongside Jhené Aiko, Tink, and Kiana Ledé, landed a top 10 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, earned 2 Grammy nominations, and booked 2 brand deals: Foot Locker x Adidas and Monster Energy (Zero-Sugar). This is the definition of booked, busy, and blessed.

Net worth figures are from CelebrityNetWorth.com.

Billboard chart information is from Billboard.com.

Grammy nominations and wins are from Grammy.com.

All numbers reflect achievements over the past five years.