20 great hip-hop albums from female rappers

Many female rappers list MC Lyte as one of their inspirations to get into the game, and rightfully so, as she was the first female MC to release a full-length album. She also became the first female solo rapper to be nominated for a Grammy and has constantly reinvented herself throughout her career. She released her debut album, "Lyte as a Rock," three decades ago and hasn’t slowed down since.

There aren’t too many artists who can still sell out venues with one solo album to their name, unless you’re Lauryn Hill. Although she is well-known as a former member of the rap trio The Fugees, Hill is widely celebrated for her solo debut, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," as it blends genres such as hip-hop, doo-wop, R&B and reggae.

Da Brat first met super-producer Jermaine Dupri back in the early ‘90s. Once Dupri signed her to his label, So So Def, she dropped her debut album, "Funkdafied," and became an innovator to the Atlanta rap scene. The album’s title single reached No. 1 on the rap charts, and the album sold over a million copies, making Da Brat the first female solo rapper to reach platinum status.

Actress, rapper, singer, producer — Queen Latifah has done it all! Long before female artists were using their platforms about civil and women’s rights, Latifah was a major playmaker. She released her third album, “Black Reign,” in 1993, which spawned her biggest single, “U.N.I.T.Y,” that touched on topics like harassment and domestic violence against women.

Long before Eve was a co-host on the CBS daytime talk show “The Talk” or acting in the “Barbershop” film series, she was heating up the airwaves alongside labelmates DMX and The Ruff Ryders. She released her sophomore album, “Scorpion,” back in 2001 which spawned hits like “Who’s That Girl” and the Gwen Stefani-assisted single, “Let Me Blow Your Mind.”

In the mid-'90s, Foxy Brown was quickly signed after being featured on tracks by artists such as LL Cool J, Case and Jay Z. Her debut album, “Ill Na Na,” reached triple-platinum status thanks to hits such as “Get Me Home” and “I’ll Be.”

Queen Pen first came onto the scene as the protégé of producer and BLACKstreet member Teddy Riley. While Riley was the executive producer on Pen’s debut album, “My Melody,” she also collaborated with Jay Z, Ron Isley and Phil Collins.

Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s own Lil’ Kim worked with a number of heavy hitters on her debut album including The Notorious B.I.G., Diddy, Stevie J and Jermaine Dupri. Not only did her singles like “Crush on You” and “Not Tonight (Remix)” peak on the charts, but her videos showed how much she was a trendsetter and fashionista who still inspires the female rappers of today.

If Missy Elliott isn’t cooking up hits for other rappers and singers in the game, she is working on a platter of her own. Teaming up with producer Timbaland was always a major key to her success, and it sparkled on her debut album with hits such as “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” and “Sock It 2 Me.”

Salt, Pepa and DJ Spinderella were all about putting on for their fellow women and showing how much they can keep up with the men in the industry. Their fourth album, "Very Necessary," landed the trio its first Grammy Award thanks to the single “None of Your Business.”

She may be known for her lively collaborations with rapper Fat Joe or her stints on VH1’s "Love and Hip-Hop: New York," but Remy Ma has been on the music scene for nearly 15 years. While her debut single, “Wuteva,” gave her listeners a peak into her hardcore Bronx roots, the Ne-Yo-assisted single, “So Good,” showed off her more subtle side.

Once rappers noticed how hip-hop was on the rise in the ‘90s, many of the men decided to sign female rappers. West Coast rapper Ice Cube did just that for Yo-Yo. Her first two singles featured Cube to help put her name on the rap map.

Rah Digga was mostly known for her fire vs. working alongside Busta Rhymes and his Flipmode Squad crew. Her debut album featured production from Busta, Pete Rock, Rockwilder and DJ Premier.

Jean Grae got her name to fame in New York's underground hip-hop scene in the '90s. On her third studio album, "Jeanius," she exclusively worked with super-producer 9th Wonder, and the album earned high praises from publications like XXL, Pitchfork and SPIN. 

All of Missy’s albums could be deemed as great pieces of work. From her eye-catching music videos to the insane song production, Missy will go down in history as one of the greats. Her fourth album, “Under Construction,” featured hits like “Gossip Folks” and “Work It.”

M.I.A. came out swinging with her sophomore album, “Kala.” Thanks to her singles like “Boyz” and “Paper Planes,” the album became a favorite among year-end publication lists. She worked with producers such as Switch, Timbaland and Diplo.

Trina first came onto the scene back in 1998 when she caught the attention of fellow Florida rapper Trick Daddy. She’s always been widely known for vulgar and sexual lyrics, and she didn’t disappoint on her third studio album to make listeners fall in love with her smooth Kelly Rowland collaboration, “Here We Go.”

Whether it's the multiple personalities, wigs, costumes or catchy songs, Nicki Minaj has been one of the most successful rappers in the game for nearly 10 years. The Lil Wayne protégé released her debut album, “Pink Friday,” in 2010 with guest performances from Eminem, Rihanna, Drake and Kanye West. The album reached the top spot on the Billboard 200 and Rap Albums charts.

North Carolina-bred rapper Rapsody has always pointed to artists like Lauryn Hill, Mos Def and MC Lyte as huge influences, and her flow is easily reminiscent of them. Although her second album, “Laila’s Wisdom,” was released in 2017, it received rave reviews among critics, helping to garner two Grammy nominations. The album features hot collaborations with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak and Black Thought.

There’s no doubt Cardi B is a hot commodity right now. Although her debut album, “Invasion of Privacy,” was released earlier in 2018, the Bronx rapper peaked at the top of Billboard 200 chart and is continuing to break records with her singles thanks to her hits like “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It."