Random Question of the Day
Who is the best female rapper of all-time?
Lately I’ve been seeing a Macy’s ad where Queen Latifah is the best combination of classy, attractive and a mainstream clean image in a room that includes R&B diva Mariah Carey and pop diva Jessica Simpson.
If you were around between ‘88 and ‘98, you know why that seems so surreal. I grew up on the hip-hop version of the Queen — “U.N.I.T.Y.,” “Ladies First,” even when she did “Living Single” and was more appealing to the ‘hood than the housewives. The jazz-singing, romantic-comedy, Broadway-show, CoverGirl-endorsing version of Queen Latifah is like a whole other person. And watching that Macy’s ad, it hit me: Someone like my 11-year-old cousin, or my 78-year-old grandma probably has no idea Queen used to be a rapper; and not only that, but arguably the greatest female MC of all-time.
Bold statement? Maybe, but while running through the candidates, it’s a small pool of competition. Beyond every rap crew having their “First Lady” come and go with the wind, there are only a handful of females who held it down consistently and were really good over a significant period of time.
September 25th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
ctkennedy says:
lil kim hands down she has two classics and a borderline one how many dudes in rap can say that period
ps everybody gets written for dudes included
September 25th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
nowwhatyo says:
MC Lyte is the best female rapper from the past, but Jean Grae is the best female rapper today. Infact, the Jeanius is better than most male rappers today.
September 25th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Taj says:
Foxy Brown… All day, everyday!!
September 25th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
nowwhatyo says:
it’s really sad that Ms. L Boogie Lauren Hill went nutso…
September 25th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Steve A says:
Stevie Nix…She be spittin fire!
September 25th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
flegman says:
La Mala Rodriguez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8ey0MWbFJI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UJS2SZz5F8
September 25th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Name (required) says:
having a penis makes u a better rapper
September 25th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
the cynic says:
i second jean grae
September 25th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
bullet380 says:
The Lady of Rage. She used to go super hard, was holding it down with Snoop and Death Row, and was knocking dudes out on the Steve Harvey Show.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
The Real Tyrone's Mom says:
have you ever heard about the two albums of the uk singer estelle??if so there’s no such question here about whos the G.F.R.O.A.T..
True Moms Never Lie
The Real Tyron’s Mom
September 25th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
I. Hustle says:
Lauryn Hill, pre Miseducation album. Lauryn could be argued as ONE of the greatest of all time, male or female!
September 25th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Lauren Hill was sick with it. Too bad she went …
September 25th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Ben says:
all time:
HEATHER B!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DLCltHVZro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfnfhQXJj4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dry5ksYg220
right now:
Jean Grae
September 25th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Pais says:
Lauryn is first by so far it’s not even funny, Ra Digga the distant 2nd.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Ben says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7q5qUvSqbU
September 25th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
N says:
MC Lyte…how can y’all say Lil Kim…let’s include women who actually wrote their own lyrics
September 25th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Three Stacks says:
Lauryn Hill, hands down. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is one of the top 10 albums of all-time, in my opinion.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I. Hustle says:
oh yeah, Left Eye was nice. Peace to Rah Digga.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
aL says:
Missy Elliot
September 25th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Big Island says:
Boss.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_MN_hUI9gU&feature=fvw
Lyte or Lauren Hill, hands down. Monie Love was better than Latifah, but I still like her. I feel like throwing on some cross colours.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
LakeShow84 says:
MC Lyte for props to the old school..
Now if you say RAPPER?? i honestly dont know..
Now if you MC.. im going with Missy Elliot..
And the first person to ask what is the difference between a MC and a rapper is moron.. look up what it actually means..
September 25th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
stanley says:
Latifah the G.O.A.T? Are you kidding me? Antoinette and Sweet Tee had her beat in the late 80’s. Gonna have to agree with the other post, Mc Lyte all time. The other starting four on the all star team: Foxy, Monie Love (peep her buddy cameo. filthy), Charlie Baltimore, and the new school rookie, Invincible –youtube her flow on “sledgehammer” and you’ll be convinced fully. Latifah, the sixth man.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Taj says:
Da Brat was ill too… And sexy once she cleaned up!
September 25th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
tja says:
lauren hill by faaar.
shawna was also dope, but not consistently
September 25th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
marcus the great says:
lauryn hill
jean grae
rah digga
lil kim
in that order
September 25th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
marcus the great says:
sorry, forgot mc lyte
September 25th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
jeremy says:
lauryn or kim
September 25th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Ben Jammin says:
Lauryn Hill……’more powerful than two cleopatras’
September 25th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
sh!tfaced says:
can’t pick between lauryn and mc lyte
September 25th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
sans says:
Lauren all time, but Jean Grae for current…she gets slept on way too much.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
sans says:
But in a world without diseases–I’d love to take Kim out.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
foolio_iglesias says:
Of all time?Mc Lyte.Lauren did 1 solo album!I can tell a lot of these posters are way under 30 years old….
September 25th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
jay says:
id go lil kim , missy or foxy ..any of the three i could give the top slot too! i like foxy due to the fact that for some dumb reason i can not tell you..i love the sunshine song with her and Hova!! sorry!
September 25th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Real Basketball i.Q. says:
1a. MC Lyte – no singing, no makeup, str8 rhymes yo.
1b. Queen Latifah – so versatile shes all over the place
2. Lauren Hill – clear case of “potential” blown
Jean Grae over these three??? Shes like Common early on, good lyrics, but nobody knows her except hardcore fans in her own backyard. 10 good yrs will tell the story if she belongs among the elite.
And to mention Lil Kim and Foxy in this conversation is rediculous when we all know the rhymes they spit were written by dudes.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Real Basketball i.Q. says:
Didnt mean to forget Missy Elliott but shes R&B’ish ya know… Its hard for me to include her.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
CCB says:
Just for the record Queen Latifah and MC Lyte do hold the crown for old school with Yo-Yo holding down the 3rd spot. Just for the record if you all remember the Craig Mack Flava in ya ear video with Busta, in black and white; Brandy did a version for I wanna be down and she featured the three women listed above. They are definitely the queens. For the Mid 90’s Lauryn Hill killed and today Jean Grae is the lady Talib (No disrepect).
September 25th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Brown says:
Rah Digga is the best lyrically, but with only one album, she can’t get G.O.A.T. status. L-Boogie is probably the most widely known and respected before she disappeared from music, even though she did bite Wu-Tang a bit.
@ LakeShow84
Phonte said it best:
what’s the difference between a rapper and an MC you ask/
well, that’s a mighty good question captain/
when the money’s all gone from this hip hop shit/
the MCs gon’ be the only niggas rappin’
For those that probably don’t know, it’s from the song “Rappers Are Still In Danja” off the Kardinal Offishall mixtape “Do The Right Thing.”
September 26th, 2009 at 12:01 am
mosduff says:
don’t sleep on Jazzy Belle from Kentucky. Chick is nice.
September 26th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Timmy D says:
Gangsta Boo!
September 26th, 2009 at 5:44 am
lord pancake sauce says:
top 5
jean grae
l. hill
rah digga
bahamadia
lil kim
September 26th, 2009 at 6:05 am
Me says:
post 14 got it right. Lauryn hill, then rah digga.
MC lyte honorable mention.
And now writing lyrics can’t be counted against anyone, since no one really knows who wrote what.
September 26th, 2009 at 6:19 am
cdubb says:
Lauryn Hill, hands down. The Miseducation of L.H. is definitely the best female rap album of all time.
Foxy and Kim can´t f*ck wit her. Never could and never will.
Honorable mention: Lady of Rage, Eve
September 26th, 2009 at 6:20 am
loc says:
Michie Mee for the old school
Eternia for the new school
Gotta get some Canadian shoutouts!!!
September 26th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Flip says:
It’s gotta be a toss between Left Eye and Jean Grae. Just out of respect I’ll go with Left Eye here.
September 26th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Bobby Money says:
Bahamadia no question…
September 26th, 2009 at 8:59 am
robmo35 says:
Puff Daddy. End of story
September 26th, 2009 at 10:26 am
T.J. says:
MC Lyte and Lauryn Hill would be my picks
September 26th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Tig obamo says:
i think lauryn hill and mc lyte but kim had some dope flows too and remy ma lol tobad she in jail but nicki minaj is gon blow up soon
September 26th, 2009 at 11:48 am
G says:
Id probably go with Jean Grae. But damn how my girl Remmy Ma get no love on this post? By far the best female gangster rapper.
September 26th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Marcello says:
Marcus the great got it right
L boogie
Jean Grae
rah digga
lil kim
and lyte round out the five. Anyone remember boss from the D….represent
September 26th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
doc says:
That Lauren Hill album was rap?All I heard was shit like Zion on the radio.Coulda fooled me.I dont count rapping once every 4 songs as being a rapper.Lil Kim and Foxy Brown.Eve was coming but she stopped to do other shit.
September 26th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
money says:
lauryn hill was ill. left eye too. latifah’s good. if i had to pick though it’dh ave to be lauryn hill
September 26th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
swedishmooze says:
The Queen was bad in the day… so was MC Lyte.
September 26th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Mikey F Baby says:
Da Brat….Funkdafied was the shit
September 26th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Michael says:
Lauryn Hill by a mile
September 26th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
LA says:
The most slept on female rappers…
Yo Yo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rJe2tOS90E
Daddy’s little ho-cake… Nikki D.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlBBi5QMloY
worst female rapper of all time — Everlast’s old chick
Tarrie B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVcssmsF7h0
September 26th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
A$$Cube a.k.a. Lyte as a Rock! says:
Gotta go with MC Lyte.
Rah Digga is a personal favorite of mine though. L-Boogie was too talented to be limited to the role of ‘best female rapper’. She’s a true, complete artist –even if she was ill on The Score!
September 26th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
iLL Mago says:
Some Some Somaaaaaaaaaaaa I Murdaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Some…a some I let gooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
September 26th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
King says:
Lauryn Hill hands down
queen and MC lyte are up there
September 26th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
WhatdaHec says:
BAHAMADIA!!
What the hell, doesn’t anyone have a memory?? If not the best, at least in the top 3, come on now?!?! Peep ‘3 The Hard Way’ produced by DJ Premier for a taste…no joke…
September 26th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
KHenry says:
Bahamadia!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyGUesyG7bU
September 26th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
KHenry says:
Bahamadia…again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uFQjdU0b2U&feature=related
September 26th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
ariza is the new coop says:
All this L-boogie and love for Jean Grae, c’mon. That post about Tarrie B…Haha, brilliant. Respect for pulling that out of nowhere. like pulling out L’trimm or JJ Fad. Nice…How bout we not forget oaktown’s 3-5-7 from the old school and even a decade later with Angie Martinez spittin lyrics…but i’m telling you, this smally will blow your mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze-S5Wz0iTc
September 26th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
kathy says:
Latifah, Lyte, Foxy, Brat, Left Eye, Lauryn Hill & Eve
Most potential: Rah & Mystic (2001’s cuts 4 luck scars 4 freedom)
September 27th, 2009 at 2:05 am
karizmatic says:
I don’t care what anyone says…Lauren Hill is/was the best female rapper ever. Honorable mention to my girl Bahamadia.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:16 am
MJ says:
Post #46 FTW
September 27th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
showydisplay says:
Boss. Easy question.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Da Brat easy.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Chi-Tizzle says:
Mc Lyte (she paved the one for solo mc’ing) then…
L. Hill
Rah Digga
Bahmadia
Jean Grae
Da Brat
Lil Mama (just kidding)
September 28th, 2009 at 1:57 am
S-SiN says:
MC Lyte paved the way by she’s not the best all time. I got her in 3 behind Lauryn and Rah Digga. my 4 and 5 are Missy and Eve
September 28th, 2009 at 4:58 am
rizzlow says:
dude your an idiot. . . dumb article. . . Like we care about these female rappers. . . dime magz gettin lame . . . You just lost one custy. . .
September 28th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Kudabeen says:
No matter what people say about Lauryn…Give her a mic and she puts in work. Too smooth and versatile with more content than any other female. You can be smart, popular, and fly without selling your body or a messed up lifestyle.
Mystery of Iniquity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phzw1VcM0l8
Nuff Said (if you can comprehend…)
September 28th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Chicagorilla says:
Lauryn Hill, Mia X (not a joke, go listen to her old shit), and Da Brat.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Chicagorilla says:
“I add a mutha^fka so you ignorant nicca’s hear me” -Lauryn Hill
“Swinging harder than yo daddy’s fist, had he caught yo mother with her lips around the neighbors d!ck” – Mia X
September 28th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Kudabeen says:
That Mia X line is nasty…Much like Rah Digga and Foxy Mia has lines, hell even Remy has lines, but its about presentation too.
When do they stand out?
Anyone heard of this check Mama Sol? I forgot about Jean Grae…
September 28th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Chicagorilla says:
“Lyrical arsonist, lady alligator
Down South, hustler, former weight smuggler
I’m Mother, of the Tank, gave birth to an army
Guerilla millionaires, so don’t even ask if we’ll go there” – Mia X
The chick was always nice with hers. She really wasn’t the typical No limit rapper, I think she stopped rapping to go write poetry.
October 14th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Change Kappa says:
Yeah the new female rappers to blow are Nicki Minaj (I’d beat), La Femme Nikita (who btw is soooo sexy), Hedonis Da Amazon, Mae Day & Kid Sister!