In the last few years, women have been behind the wheel in driving hip-hop forward. Though the rap game reveled in watching two male behemoths, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, collide this spring, the catalyst for this year of competitive rap began when Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion engaged in lyrical warfare at the top of 2024. Though the two clashed in a spirited battle, the tides have settled, as both later embarked on record-setting arena tours.
Aside from delivering bristling raps on the competitive front, the rap game has enjoyed a front-row seat in the past calendar year to the rise of Sexxy Red, Ice Spice and Flo Milli, who have each clocked Hot 100 top 20 hits in the past 12 months. Then, rap technicians like Grammy-nominated MCs Rapsody and Tierra Whack further solidified their status as cerebral markswomen, with captivating rhymes on their acclaimed 2024 full-length releases. Even fresher names like Anycia and Karrahboo are looking to elevate in rank and contend amongst their contemporaries.
With an array of talent percolating, Billboard has created a list of the current hottest female rappers in the game. Covering the first six months of 2024, Billboard’s criteria for selecting the following ten artists are based on quality of records, chart success, buzz within the culture, notable business endeavors and partnerships, and touring success. Then, by December, Billboard will create a final list based on the overall achievements of that calendar year, crowning the hottest female rapper of 2024.
Look below and see who cracked Billboard’s first iteration of the hottest female rappers list.