Nicki Minaj
Rapper and singer‑songwriter, Nicki Minaj, has been officially crowned the Greatest Female Rapper in Hip‑Hop history by Billboard.
The music media brand unveiled its ranking on Monday, April 7, 2025, placing Minaj at the top of a list that also features Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Lil’ Kim and Queen Latifah.
Billboard’s editorial team evaluated artists on chart performance, cultural impact, lyrical skill, longevity and flow. Minaj’s record‑breaking milestones include becoming the first female rapper to surpass 100 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018 and headlining the Pink Friday 2 World Tour, which became the highest‑grossing tour ever by a female rapper.
“From mixtape bars to mainstream dominance, Nicki has consistently delivered,” Billboard wrote, praising her blend of razor‑sharp lyricism, genre‑bending versatility and unmatched charisma.
Since her 2007 mixtape debut and 2010 studio breakthrough with Pink Friday, Minaj has amassed dozens of chart‑topping hits and built a devoted global fanbase known as the Barbz. Her pioneering success has not only reshaped female rap but also paved the way for today’s artists to push creative boundaries in a traditionally male‑dominated industry.