The Best Female Rappers Of 2020, Ranked

Kareem Gantt
Updated November 7, 2023 28.1K views
Ranked By
14.4K votes
1.9K voters
2 reranks
Voting Rules
Only current female rappers releasing new music in 2020

Here are the best female rappers of 2020. This list of good female rappers in 2020 features the hottest female rappers right now, like Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, and new female rappers, like cupcakKe and Tommy Genesis. Even some female rappers from the '90s and 2000s, like Lil' Kim and Missy Elliot, will put out some of the top female rap songs of 2020.

Who are the top female rappers today? Which of the best female rappers now do you think will put out the biggest female rap hit of 2020? 

Vote up the best 2020 female rappers below, and be sure to add any female hip hop artists you think we may have missed. For last year's list, check out Best Female Rappers 2019.

  • Nicki Minaj
    1

    Nicki Minaj

    1,169 votes
    Nicki Minaj, born as Onika Tanya Maraj in Saint James district of Port of Spain and raised in the Queens borough of New York City, is an acclaimed rapper, singer, songwriter and actress. She has carved a niche for herself with her edgy lyrics, unique voice modulation abilities and flamboyant persona. Nicki's career took off after being discovered by rapper Lil Wayne who was impressed by her talent. Her debut album Pink Friday released under Young Money Entertainment went on to be a huge commercial success. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart and later achieved multi-platinum status. The lead single from the album "Super Bass" became a global hit and established Nicki as one of the leading female rappers globally. Her subsequent albums like Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, The Pinkprint, and Queen continued to cement her position in the music industry with many songs topping various charts worldwide. Apart from music, Nicki Minaj also tried her hand at acting with appearances in successful films such as Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) and The Other Woman (2014), showcasing her versatility beyond the music domain. Furthermore, she is recognized for using her platform to address social issues including education where she has offered scholarships to some fans via Twitter competitions or direct donations over time.
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  • Doja Cat
    2

    Doja Cat

    821 votes
    Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini (born October 21, 1995), known professionally as Doja Cat, is an American singer, rapper and songwriter. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she began making and releasing music on SoundCloud as a teenager. Doja Cat signed a joint record deal with RCA Records and Kemosabe Records at the age of 17 and subsequently released her debut extended play, Purrr!, in 2014. Doja Cat is known for creating music videos and songs that achieve popularity on social media apps like TikTok and YouTube. This online success is credited with helping promote her from "one-time curiosity" (with "Mooo!"), to "bona fide star". Since the start of 2020, she has received nominations for four American Music Awards, one Billboard Music Award, and four MTV Video Music Awards, winning one of the latter for Push Best New Artist.
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  • Megan Thee Stallion
    3
    Megan Jovon Ruth Pete (born February 15, 1995), known professionally as Megan Thee Stallion (pronounced "Megan the Stallion"), is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Originally from Houston, Texas, she first garnered attention in 2013 when videos of her freestyling in cyphers became popular on social media platforms such as Instagram. In 2016, Megan Thee Stallion began writing, performing and releasing raps exclusively onto SoundCloud. She has commercially released three EPs since 2017—Make It Hot, Tina Snow, and Suga—with the latter two charting on the US Billboard 200. She signed to 300 Entertainment in 2018, where she released her first full-length mixtape, Fever, in 2019 to critical acclaim.
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  • Saweetie
    4

    Saweetie

    525 votes
    Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper (born July 2, 1993), known professionally as Saweetie is an American rapper. Saweetie released her debut extended play, High Maintenance, in 2018. Her second EP, Icy, was released in March 2019 and spawned the top 40 single "My Type". Her debut album, Pretty Bitch Music, is scheduled to be released in 2022 and was preceded by the singles "Tap In" and "Best Friend" (featuring Doja Cat), both of which reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2021, she received two nominations for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards including one for Best New Artist.
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  • Missy Elliott
    5

    Missy Elliott

    497 votes
    Missy Elliott, born as Melissa Arnette Elliott on July 1, 1971, in Portsmouth, Virginia, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She initially gained fame in the mid-1990s when she formed the all-female R&B group, Sista, with friends La'Shawn Shellman, Chonita Coleman, and Radiah Scott. However, it was her solo career that would catapult her to stardom. In 1997, Missy released her debut album, Supa Dupa Fly, which went platinum and made her a household name. Elliott's innovative blending of various music genres, including R&B, hip-hop, and soul, paired with her unique style of rapping, singing, and songwriting, has solidified her place in music history. Throughout her career, she has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Aaliyah, Ciara, and Beyoncé, creating hits that have topped charts worldwide. Her discography includes seven studio albums and numerous chart-topping singles like "Get Ur Freak On," "Work It," and "Lose Control." Missy has won numerous awards for her work, including five Grammy Awards, and she was the first female hip-hop artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019. Beyond her music, Missy Elliott is known for her philanthropy and activism. She has used her platform to raise awareness about various social issues, including poverty, education, and health. Missy's journey from being a child performer to becoming one of the most influential female artists in hip-hop serves as an inspiration to many.
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  • Cardi B
    6

    Cardi B

    871 votes
    Belcalis Almanzar (born October 11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and media personality. Born and raised in The Bronx, New York, she first attracted attention for discussing her career as a stripper on social media; coupled with her "no filter attitude", she became an Internet celebrity through Instagram. From 2015 to 2017, she appeared as a regular cast member on the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York. In February 2017, she signed her first major label record deal with Atlantic Records. Her debut single for Atlantic, titled "Bodak Yellow", reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. She has worked with artists such as Migos, Bruno Mars, 21 Savage, and Juicy J.
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  • Trina
    7

    Trina

    301 votes
    Katrina Laverne Taylor (born December 3, 1974), better known by her stage name Trina, is an American rapper. She first gained notoriety in 1998 with her appearance on Trick Daddy's second studio album www.thug.com on the single "Nann Nigga". As she grew in popularity she signed a record deal with Slip-n-Slide Records. She has released six studio albums. XXL Magazine calls her "the most consistent female rapper of all time". The Source celebrated Trina's career for the 2012 Women's History Month. In 2013, Complex ranked "Pull Over" number 27 in their Top 50 Best Rap Songs by Women. In 2014, Trina was included in Billboard's list of the "31 Female Rappers Who Changed Hip-Hop".
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  • City Girls
    8

    City Girls

    490 votes
    City Girls is an American hip hop duo from Miami, Florida, composed of members Yung Miami (born Caresha Romeka Brownlee on February 11, 1994 in Miami), and JT (born Jatavia Shakara Johnson on December 3, 1992 in Liberty City, Florida). In May 2018, they released their debut studio album Period. In November, they released their second album titled Girl Code, which features music artists Cardi B, Lil Baby, and Jacquees. City Girls contributed with guest vocals to Drake's song "In My Feelings", with Yung Miami appearing in the music video. In August 2018, they released Point Blank Period, a documentary.
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  • Rico Nasty
    9

    Rico Nasty

    381 votes
    Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly (born May 7, 1997), known professionally as Rico Nasty, is an American rapper and record producer. Originating her career from Maryland, Kelly and was exposed to rap music at a very young age. Kelly released two mixtapes in 2016:The Rico Story and Sugar Trap. Both tapes gained her notable attention from the media and the general public. In June 2018, Kelly signed to Atlantic Records after releasing her fourth mixtape, Nasty.
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  • Lizzo
    10

    Lizzo

    487 votes
    Melissa Jefferson (born April 27, 1988), better known by her stage name Lizzo, is an American alternative hip hop artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a founding member of indie hip hop groups The Chalice, Grrrl Prty, The Clerb, Ellypseas, and Absynthe. Her debut album, Lizzobangers, was released in 2013. Two years later, Lizzobangers was followed by Big Grrrl Small World in 2015, which, only one year later, was followed with the 2016 major-label EP Coconut Oil.
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  • Kash Doll
    11

    Kash Doll

    402 votes
    Arkeisha Knight (born March 14, 1992), better known by the stage name Kash Doll, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan.
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  • Young M.A
    12

    Young M.A

    423 votes
    Katorah Marrero, better known by her stage name Young M.A, is an American rapper and entrepreneur. She first gained notoriety with the release of the now triple-platinum 2016 hit single "Ooouuu", breaking the Billboard Top 10, boasting 150,000 radio spins and 289 million YouTube views on the music video. After the success of her debut single, Young M.A was nominated for BET and MTV Artist of the Year and Female Hip-Hop Artist of the Year awards; graced the covers of The Fader and High Snobiety magazines; has been featured in Vogue and The New York Times; recently sold out her North American tour with rapper 21 Savage; and even opened for Beyonce at MetLife Stadium.
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  • Tierra Whack
    13

    Tierra Whack

    233 votes
    Tierra Whack (born August 11, 1995) is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a teenager, she performed as Dizzle Dizz and reverted back to her birth name in 2017. She is best known for her debut album, Whack World, which received widespread critical acclaim and a Best Music Video nomination for the 2019 Grammy Awards.
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  • cupcakKe
    14

    cupcakKe

    319 votes
    Elizabeth Eden Harris (born May 31, 1997), known professionally as Cupcakke (often stylized as cupcakKe), is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. Harris began her career as a rapper by releasing material online in late 2012. In 2015, two of her songs went viral on video sharing websites such as YouTube and WorldStarHipHop. Following the release of her mixtapes, Harris debuted her album Audacious in 2016. Her second studio album Queen Elizab*tch was released in 2017. In 2018, it was followed by her third studio album Ephorize. Later in the year of 2018, Cupcakke released Eden on November 9, 2018. Harris is often noted for her hyper-sexualized, brazen, and often comical persona and music. Since her debut, Harris has developed a strong online fanbase, whom she nicknamed "slurpers". Harris has also used her songs as a platform to advocate for LGBT rights and encourage female empowerment.
  • Asian Doll
    15

    Asian Doll

    224 votes
    Asian Doll (born December 7, 1997) is a rapper notable for her 2016 mixtape "Drippin In Glo." She later released another album called Project Princess Vol. 1 in September 2016.
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  • Becky G
    16

    Becky G

    233 votes
    Rebbeca Marie Gomez (born March 2, 1997), better known by her stage name Becky G, is an American singer and actress. Gomez first gained recognition in 2011 when she began posting videos of herself covering popular songs online. One of her videos caught the attention of producer Dr. Luke, who subsequently offered her a joint record deal with Kemosabe Records and RCA Records. While working on her debut effort, Gomez collaborated with artists will.i.am, Cody Simpson and Cher Lloyd. Her official debut single, "Becky from the Block" (2013), received a positive reception upon its release. She released her debut extended play, Play It Again (2013), later that same year. Her second single, "Can't Get Enough" (2014), featured guest vocals from Pitbull and went on to top the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart in the United States.
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  • Snow Tha Product
    17
    Claudia Alexandra Feliciano, better known by her stage name Snow Tha Product, is an American rapper of Mexican descent and singer, signed to Atlantic Records. Snow is mostly known for her singles "Holy Shit" and "Drunk Love" and her mixtape Good Nights & Bad Mornings. She released her first independent album Unorthodox in 2011 to positive reviews. Her debut studio album "40z in First Class" is set for a 2015 release.
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  • Remy Ma
    18

    Remy Ma

    264 votes
    Reminisce Mackie (née Smith; May 30, 1980), known professionally as Remy Ma, is an American rapper. She was initially discovered by Big Pun, and came to prominence for her work as a member of Fat Joe’s group, Terror Squad. On February 7, 2006, she released her debut studio album There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story, which was a modest success, peaking at number 33 on the Billboard 200 chart. She is one of only five female rappers to ever top the Billboard Hot 100 chart (as a member of Terror Squad on "Lean Back"), and one of only three multiple winners of the BET Award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, which she won in 2005 and 2017.Ma's most successful songs include "Ante Up (Remix)", "Lean Back", "Conceited", and "All the Way Up". Ma is the recipient of two Vibe awards, two Source awards, and has been nominated for three Grammy awards. Since 2015, she has starred on VH1's reality series Love & Hip Hop: New York, alongside her husband Papoose.
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  • Lil' Kim
    19

    Lil' Kim

    321 votes
    Born as Kimberly Denise Jones on July 11, 1974, in Brooklyn, New York, "Lil' Kim" is an iconic name in the world of hip-hop. Her rise to fame began with her association with The Notorious B.I.G. and his group Junior M.A.F.I.A., through which she made her mark as a female rapper in the largely male-dominated industry. Her debut album, Hard Core, released in 1996, was hailed as a game-changer for its explicit content and bold presentation of female sexuality. Lil' Kim's career has been laden with numerous accolades and controversies alike. She won a Grammy Award for her collaboration with Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya, and Missy Elliott on the hit song "Lady Marmalade" featured in the movie Moulin Rouge. Lil' Kim's influence extends beyond music. Known for her flamboyant and provocative fashion sense, she pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable for women in the public eye. Her style has been emulated by many artists, testifying to her impact on pop culture. Through her career highs and lows, Lil' Kim remains a symbol of empowerment and resilience, continually inspiring generations of artists to push boundaries and redefine norms.
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  • Feloni
    20

    Feloni

    265 votes
    Trish Best, known by her stage name Feloni, is an African-American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Her coming out as lesbian was featured on MTV's LOGO documentary show Coming Out Stories.
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  • Sa-Roc
    21

    Sa-Roc

    47 votes
  • Bhad Bhabie
    22

    Bhad Bhabie

    326 votes
    Danielle Bregoli Peskowitz (born March 26, 2003), also known by her stage name Bhad Bhabie, is an American rapper and social media personality. She became known for the viral video meme and catch phrase "cash me outside" after appearing on the Dr. Phil show in September 2016.
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  • Lady Leshurr
    23

    Lady Leshurr

    154 votes
    Melesha Katrina O'Garro BEM (born December 15, 1987), known professionally as Lady Leshurr, is a British rapper, singer, songwriter and producer. She is known for her Queen's Speech series of freestyles, the fourth of which became popular in 2016. Her subsequent freestyle, Queen's Speech 5, was called "brilliant" and "2015's crowning freestyle" by Spin. In 2021, she entered the Channel 4 series The Celebrity Circle for Stand Up to Cancer, catfishing as Big Narstie, and won. She also competed in the thirteenth series of Dancing on Ice, where she reached the semi-final.
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  • Shawnna
    24

    Shawnna

    43 votes
    Rashawnna Guy (born January 3, 1978), better known by her stage name Shawnna, is an American rapper. She was the first female artist signed to Def Jam South through Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace Records. She is a former member of the female Chicago rap duo Infamous Syndicate and she is also the daughter of the blues musician Buddy Guy. She is known for her rapid-fire delivery and her sexually explicit image and lyrics. She is one of only seven female rappers (others being Queen Pen, Lauryn Hill, Lil' Kim, Remy Ma, Iggy Azalea, and Cardi B) to ever have a number-one song on the US Billboard Hot 100, with 2003's "Stand Up" with Ludacris.
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  • Azealia Banks
    25

    Azealia Banks

    225 votes
    Azealia Amanda Banks is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Banks pursued an interest in musical theatre at a young age, studying at the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts before dropping out to focus on her musical career. In late 2008, she adopted the pseudonym "Miss Bank$", and began releasing music through MySpace, eventually being signed to XL Recordings at age 17. After signing a recording contract with Interscope and Polydor Records, Banks came to prominence by topping NME's Cool List in 2011 and finishing third in the Sound of 2012. Her debut single "212", first extended play 1991, and first mixtape Fantasea received critical acclaim. Banks' debut studio album Broke with Expensive Taste experienced several delays since its initial announcement before being unexpectedly released to online music stores.
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  • Noname
    26

    Noname

    188 votes
    Fatimah Nyeema Warner (born September 18, 1991), better known by her stage name Noname, is an American rapper and poet. Warner is from the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, where she began rapping and performing slam poetry in Chicago in 2010. In 2013, she gained wider recognition and critical acclaim following her appearance on the track "Lost" from Chance the Rapper's popular mixtape Acid Rap. Noname released her debut mixtape, Telefone, on July 31, 2016, to widespread critical acclaim.
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  • Tay Money
    27

    Tay Money

    199 votes
    Taylor Watson (born 6 April 1993), known professionally as Tay Money, is an American rapper, model, songwriter, producer and hair stylist. She started her career in 2017, and gained fame after the release of her single "Trappers Delight" in June 2018. She then released her debut EP, DUH!. Her debut album, Hurricane Tay was released in March 2019. In 2020, her single, "Bussin" became a viral sensation on the app TikTok and reached #41 on the U.S. Viral 50 on February 9, 2020.
  • Angel Haze
    28

    Angel Haze

    172 votes
    Raeen Roes Wilson, better known by their stage name Angel Haze, is an American rapper and singer, born in Detroit, Michigan, who grew up in the Greater Apostolic Faith. In 2012, Haze released their EP Reservation for free online, they later signed a record deal with Universal Republic Records later moving to Republic Records. On December 31, 2013, Haze released their debut album Dirty Gold which featured the singles "Echelon" and "Battle Cry".
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  • Ms Banks
    29

    Ms Banks

    157 votes
    Thyra Oji (born April 14, 1994), known professionally as Ms Banks, is a British rapper, singer, and songwriter from Southeast London. Oji has released three mixtapes as Ms Banks.
  • Cuban Doll
    30

    Cuban Doll

    168 votes
    Aaliyah Keef (born May 12, 1998), better known as Cuban Doll, is an American rapper from Dallas, Texas. She is best known for her songs "Bankrupt" and "Let It Blow." Having amassed a following on Instagram for her music and lifestyle posts, she also functions as an influencer, and first gained popularity as an Instagram model. In 2016 she dropped her first mixtape Cuban Link. She has since released many singles, and dropped her most recent mixtape, Aaliyah Keef, in 2017.