Nicki Minaj has officially been crowned the best female rapper of all time by Billboard, a well-deserved title reflecting her legendary reign in the rap industry.
Billboard’s comprehensive ranking took into account several key factors, including charted singles, album certifications, cultural impact, longevity, storytelling ability, and vocal flow. Minaj’s achievements speak for themselves. In 2018, she became the first female rapper to surpass triple-digit Billboard Hot 100 hits, and her ‘Pink Friday 2 World Tour’ set a record as the highest-grossing tour ever for a female rapper.
Minaj’s discography is nothing short of iconic. Her debut album, Pink Friday, topped the US Billboard 200 in 2010 and set a record for the largest female rap album sales week of the 21st century. She followed this success with Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), The Pinkprint (2014), Queen (2018), and Pink Friday 2 (2023).
While Minaj reigns supreme, other influential artists like Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Lil Kim, and Queen Latifah also feature in the top five. Rising stars like Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat are making their mark, with Doechii securing a spot at number 24 after the success of her album, Alligator Bites Never Heal.
Minaj’s journey to the top goes beyond hits and tours; it’s about undeniable influence. From her unforgettable verse on Monster to her iconic rap personas like Harajuku Barbie, Roman Zolanski, Chun-Li, and simply Onika, Minaj has reshaped the rap landscape in ways no one could have predicted.
Billboard sums it up perfectly: “The Queens icon became the first female rapper to eclipse triple-digit Billboard Hot 100 hits in 2018 (with 149 entries to her name as of publishing), and her connection to the Barbz remains stronger than ever. The Pink Friday 2 World Tour became the highest-grossing tour for a female rapper in history. One thing’s for sure, the road to the crown on a list like this still runs through Gag City.”
View this post on Instagram