Entertainment 20 photos that spotlight rap and hip-hop's most iconic women Barnaby Lane 2023-08-27T13:00:00Z Share icon An curved arrow pointing right. Share Facebook Icon The letter F. Facebook Email icon An envelope. It indicates the ability to send an email. Email Twitter icon A stylized bird with an open mouth, tweeting. Twitter LinkedIn icon LinkedIn Link icon An image of a chain link. It symobilizes a website link url. Copy Link Save Article Icon A bookmark Save Read in app Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Queen Latifah in 1990. Janette Beckman/Museum Of The City Of New York Women played an integral role in the birth and growth of hip-hop. Today, the ladies are at the forefront of the industry. Here are 20 photos of the genre's most iconic female stars. Advertisement MC Sha-Rock and the Funky 4 + 1 were the first rap group to ever appear on national television. Funky 4 + 1. Getty/Anthony Barboza Da Brat was the first ever solo female rapper to have a platinum-certified album. Da Brat, real name Shawntae Harris. Getty/Al Pereira Advertisement Lauryn Hill's only studio album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," was the first by a female rapper to top the Billboard 200. Lauryn Hill performing at Brixton Academy, London in 1999. Getty/Chris Lopez Salt-N-Pepa are widely known as the first ladies of rap. Deidra Roper (DJ Spinderella), Cheryl James (Salt), and Sandra Denton (Pepa). Getty/Paul Bergen Advertisement Missy Elliott is currently the only female rapper to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Missy Elliott has sold over 7 million albums in the US alone. Getty/Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives MC Lyte was the first female solo rapper to release her own, full-length album, 1988's "Lyte As A Rock." Rapper MC Lyte performs at the in Chicago, Illinois in 1989. Getty/Raymond Boyd Advertisement TLC had four No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, "Creep", "Waterfalls", "No Scrubs," and "Unpretty." Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, better known as TLC. Getty/Michel Linssen Eve had three top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 between 1999 and 2002, which sold a combined 3.5 million copies. Eve. Getty/Harry Langdon Advertisement Queen Latifah was the first female rapper to win the Grammy award for best solo rap performance with her song "U.N.I.T.Y." Queen Latifah in 1991. Getty/Al Pereira J.J. Fad were the first act to release an album on Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. MC JB, Stacy Phillips, and Baby D of J.J. Fad in 1989. Getty/Raymond Boyd Advertisement Kelis, one of hip-hop's most eclectic stars, has sold over 6 million records worldwide. Kelis. Getty/Patrick Ford Rah Digga, a longtime member of Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad, is one of hip-hop's most revered lyricists. Rah Digga. Getty/J. Vespa Advertisement Nikki D was the first female rapper signed to Def Jam. Nikki D, real name Nichelle Strong. Getty/Raymond Boyd Cardi B is the only female rapper in history to have five No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Cardi B in 2021. Getty/Christophe Archambault Advertisement Lil' Kim, known as the "Queen of Rap," reshaped the landscape of rap thanks to her raunchy, unapologetic style. Lil' Kim in 2002. Getty/Gregory Bojorquez Born in South Africa and raised in New York City, Jean Grae is an underground rap legend. Jean Grae in 2004. Getty/David Corio Advertisement Monie Love was the first British-born rapper to break the US market. Monie Love was born in London, England. Getty/Michel Linssen Nicki Minaj has sold 8 million albums in the United States alone. Nicki Minaj in 2011. Getty/Kevin Mazur Advertisement Remy Ma is a multiple-time winner of the BET award for best female hip-hop artist. Remy Ma rose to fame as a member of Fat Joe's group, Terror Squad. Getty/Kristy Leibowitz Megan Thee Stallion was the first female rapper to win the Grammy for best rap performance. Megan Thee Stallion. Getty/Rodin Eckenroth Read next Photos Advertisement Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.