By Seli Baisie
Nicki Minaj has been named the greatest female rapper of all time by Billboard.
The 42-year-old rapper, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in New York, topped the list released by Billboard’s editorial team. The list celebrates the most influential women in hip-hop history.
Minaj came ahead of music legends like Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Lil’ Kim, and Queen Latifah, who were ranked second to fifth.
Other well-known female rappers who made it into the top 10 include MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, Roxanne Shanté, Eve, and Foxy Brown.
Minaj’s current chart rivals, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, ranked outside the top 10. Cardi B was placed at number 11, while Megan Thee Stallion was ranked 15th.
Despite her success and global popularity, Nicki Minaj has never won a Grammy Award. She has been nominated 12 times over the years but is yet to receive the golden trophy. Meanwhile, both Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have won Grammy Awards in rap categories.
Who is Nicki Minaj?
Born Onika Tanya Maraj, Nicki Minaj moved to the US with her family as a child and grew up in Queens, New York. She started gaining attention in the late 2000s with a series of mixtapes, which led to a record deal with Young Money Entertainment.
Her first album, Pink Friday, was released in 2010 and quickly rose to the top of the Billboard 200 chart. She followed up with several successful albums, including Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded in 2012 and The Pinkprint in 2014.
Minaj is known for her bold fashion choices, energetic flow, and ability to mix rap with pop. Over the years, she has influenced a new generation of female rappers and earned the nickname “Queen of Rap” from her fans.
Here is the full list as published by Billboard:
- Nicki Minaj
- Missy Elliott
- Lauryn Hill
- Lil’ Kim
- Queen Latifah
- MC Lyte
- Salt-N-Pepa
- Roxanne Shanté
- Eve
- Foxy Brown
- Cardi B
- Da Brat
- Trina
- Left Eye
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Doja Cat
- Rapsody
- Remy Ma
- Latto
- Monie Love
- GloRilla
- Jean Grae
- Yo-Yo
- Bahamadia
- Tierra Whack
Billboard said the rankings were compiled by its staff based on body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist’s work fostered the genre’s evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess).
