Chances are you’ve heard, or at least heard of, “WAP,” the collaboration between Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B that broke first-week streaming records following its release this summer. Whether you like the song or not, its charting position showed that there’s a new class of female rappers ready to take over the game and the charts; and they’re here to stay.
10 years ago, Nicki Minaj’s music entered the mainstream with her debut album “Pink Friday” and features on popular songs like “Monster.” For years, she was the most popular female rapper, and the only one that was even putting up any competition.
While there were critics who said that she’d never compare to the female rappers who dominated the 90s such as Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliot, Queen Latifah, Da Brat, Left Eye and Lauryn Hill, she was still the only one consistently in the conversation for some time. There were other female rappers of course, but they never quite achieved the status and success of Minaj.
At least not until 2018 when Cardi B dropped “Bodak Yellow” and her debut album, “Invasion of Privacy.”
Cardi B even won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, making her the only woman to win as a solo artist and the first female rap artist to be nominated in 15 years after Missy Elliot’s 2004 nomination.
Immediately, Cardi and Nicki were put in opposition of each other, and they had no problem playing into it, infamously having a physical confrontation in which Cardi threw a shoe at Minaj following a show at 2018 New York Fashion Week. Pitting rappers against each other in the media and having them drop diss tracks or throw shade at each other is nothing new in the industry, but with “WAP,” we not only see collaboration, but the beginning of a new era.
Cardi and Megan aren’t the only female rappers making names for themselves. Newer artists like Doja Cat, Lizzo, Saweetie, Flo Milli, the City Girls, Mulatto, Rico Nasty and more are part of the new generation of female rappers who are receiving praise, acclaim and even charting success. For the first time since the 90s, we’re seeing multiple female rappers on the charts and working together.
Minaj even got her first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit ever, after 108 entries, on a remix of Doja Cat’s song, “Say So.” Less than a month ago, Chloe x Halle’s “Do It (Remix)” featured Doja Cat, the City Girls and Mulatto.
Beyond all the talent, the best thing about these new rappers is that they’re young and showing no signs of slowing down. In July, Flo Milli, 20, released her debut mixtape, “Ho Why Is You Here?” consisting of 12 tracks of absolute bangers and one of my favorite releases as of late. In fact, the oldest of the newer rappers I mentioned is Lizzo at just 32, with Flo Milli being the youngest.
While listening to songs like “WAP,” I’m reminded of classics like Lil’ Kim’s remix of “Not Tonight” featuring Angie Martinez, Da Brat, Missy Elliot and Left Eye. It may have taken almost 15 years to get these collaborations again and to see female rappers get the opportunity and respect they deserved, but they hit the scene hard and they’re here to stay.
In a genre that’s proven time and time again to be misogynistic, with Tory Lanez even dropping an entire album last week in which he denies Megan Thee Stallion’s claims that he shot her, seeing such talented, young women releasing music and succeeding is thrilling.
I for one am excited to see what these ladies drop next and what doors are being opened for the next greatest female rappers.