Billboard’s Ranking of the 25 ‘Best Female Rappers’ List Forgot the First Ones to Do It—And That’s a Problem

Not to Mention the Poor Timing!

(April 12, 2025).  Earlier this week, Billboard released its compilation of the “25 Best Female Rappers of All Time.”  It was the work of eight of the magazine’s journalists using the following criteria: body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist’s work fostered the genre’s evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess).

In other words, it wasn’t strictly based on chart performance, which Nicki Minaj clearly dominates based on the sheer number of Hot 100 (and Hot Rap Songs) entries she’s had over the past 17 years.  The introduction of those other factors meant that there was a heavy dose of opinion about who’s had more cultural impact, whose flows were better, and what constituted “longevity” (e.g., was 20^th Century icon Queen Latifah considered a longevity champ even though she hasn’t released a major rap hit in three decades?).  Whatever the criteria, the list’s publishing certainly sparked debate from top to bottom, including who should’ve been No. 1 and who warranted inclusion at all.

But while the internet debated who deserved being No. 1, the list’s most glaring issue wasn’t who made it — it was who didn’t. Especially given Billboard’s timing.

To spare you the drama, Billboard’s editors ranked Nicki Minaj No. 1 on their list (see the Top 25 below or, for more details, click here for Billboard’s article).  And while I don’t necessarily agree that Minaj is the “best” female rapper of all time, I can see the publication’s argument, which cites the Rap Barbie’s 149 Hot 100 entries (more than any other female – rap or otherwise – besides Taylor Swift), her huge super-fan base (the Barbz), her record-breaking Pink Friday 2 World Tour (the highest-grossing for a female rapper ever), and her stylistic influence on other MCs of this century.  The fact that she singlehandedly held down the rap game for women for more than half a decade couldn’t have hurt, either.

One could debate – as social media has been all week – whether any of the other top contenders (Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Lil Kim – who ranked Nos. 2, 3, and 4, respectively) should have been No. 1.  Missy is the first – and so far, only – female rapper to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but she doesn’t have nearly the number of hits as Minaj.  Lauryn Hill is the only female MC to win a Grammy for Album of the Year for the highly acclaimed Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album, but she hasn’t released another album in the 27 years since.  And Lil Kim created the mold for sex-positive braggadocio in a ’90s world dominated by male gangsta rap, but she spent much of her early career in the shadow of The Notorious B.I.G., whom many alleged ghost-wrote her first hits.

Few could argue that anyone outside of those top four belongs in that elite group (Queen Latifah placed at a generous No. 5 based purely on “impact and influence,” followed – perhaps appropriately – by big names such as MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, Roxanne Shante, Eve, and Foxy Brown in the top ten).

But it’s an act that Billboard’s editors left off the list entirely that makes it seem tone deaf, especially just one month after that act – The Sequence – lost its most iconic member, Angie Stone, in a tragic car accident.

Here’s the complete list (Billboard’s justifications can be found here):

1. Nicki Minaj
2. Lauryn Hill
3. Missy Elliott
4. Lil Kim
5. Queen Latifah
6. MC Lyte
7. Salt-N-Pepa
8. Roxanne Shante
9. Eve
10. Foxy Brown
11. Cardi B
12. Da Brat
13. Trina
14. Left Eye
15. Megan Thee Stallion
16. Doja Cat
17. Rapsody
18. Remy Ma
19. Latto
20. Mony Love
21. GloRilla
22. Lady of Rage
23. Gangsta Boo
24. Doechii
25. Tierra Whack

Why The Sequence matters:

• First female rap act to chart in Billboard
• Only the third rap act ever (and the first from the south) to chart in Billboard
• Collaborated with Sugarhill Gang on rap’s first (and, to this writer’s knowledge, only) group-group duet
• Member Cheryl “The Pearl” Cook co-wrote Sugarhill Gang’s iconic hit “8th Wonder”
• Angie B. became neo-soul legend Angie Stone.

The Sequence were THE first female rappers to chart in Billboard – in January 1980 when they broke through with their first hit, “Funk You Up.”  Not only were they the first commercially successful female rappers, but The Sequence were only the third rap act overall to chart a hit in Billboard (after the Fatback Band and Sugar Hill Gang).  When “Funk You Up” peaked at No. 15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (then known as Hot Soul Singles) in March 1980, they were the only rap act – male or female – included on the then-100-position list.  (The song also curiously reached No. 24 on Cashbox Magazine’s Top 100 pop chart, while missing the Billboard Hot 100 altogether but still making it the first rap hit by a female act to appear on any pop list, no matter how dubiously calculated.)

Featuring teenagers Angie B. (later Stone), plus Cheryl the Pearl (Cheryl Cook) and Blondy (Gwendolyn Chisolm), The Sequence hailed from the south (South Carolina) but were signed to hip-hop’s first true label, the NYC-based Sugar Hill Records.  So, one could argue that, not only were they female pioneers, but southern-rap icons as well.

Their success, while fledgling given hip-hop’s infancy at the time, pre-dated that of the next significant femcee of their era – Roxanne Shante – by four years.  Shante’s key role in the “Roxanne Wars” of the mid 1980s was enough to land her at No. 8 on the Billboard list (as well as earn her a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year).  The Sequence, with early hits like “Funk You Up” plus “Monster Jam” and “Funky Sound (Tear the Roof Off),” arguably made it possible for a Roxanne Shante and the female rappers that followed to thrive in this male-dominated industry.

In fact, The Sequence were often touted as the sister act to the pioneering male trio Sugar Hill Gang and even collaborated with their label mates on hip-hop’s first (and only) group-group duet in 1980’s “Rapper Reprise.”  Furthermore, member Cheryl “the Pearl” Cook wrote the lyrics to one of Sugar Hill Gang’s most iconic hits – 1981’s “8^th Wonder” – co-credited with the Commodores’ Ronald LaPread (it’s worth noting that none of SHG’s three male rappers had a hand in the classic song’s composition).  It’s an overlooked contribution that deserves far more recognition in a hip-hop culture quick to accuse women of having male ghost-writers.

Angie Stone’s recent passing re-shone the spotlight on her career accomplishments – both with The Sequence and afterwards – presumably when the Billboard list was being compiled.  That makes this omission even more perplexing.   Stone, and by extension The Sequence, has been in our consciousness for the past couple of months.  And, in a year when one of rap’s earliest pioneers (Shante) received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award, there was certainly a journalistic opportunity — no, obligation — for Billboard’s team to explore who came before the artists dominating today’s playlists.

Instead, more recent names, like Tierra Whack (whose nod appears to be tied more to collaborations than her own work) and the more recent critics’ darling Doechii (who won this year’s Best Rap Album Grammy) dot the bottom of the rankings, most likely at The Sequence’s expense.

While netizens have debated the list and its merits since its April 7 publishing, including who deserved the No. 1 spot, there should be little debate that the omission of The Sequence from the list altogether is its biggest flaw.

With Angie Stone’s death still fresh in the minds of fans, Billboard had a rare opportunity to honor a true hip-hop pioneer. Instead, it essentially erased her (and her group). In a genre that so often wrestles with this kind of erasure — particularly of its women pioneers — leaving out The Sequence is more than a snub. It’s a silence that slaps louder than any of today’s beats.

DJRob

DJRob (he/him) is a freelance music blogger from the East Coast who covers R&B, hip-hop, disco, pop, rock and country genres – plus lots of music news and current stuff!  You can follow him on Bluesky at @djrobblog.bsky.social, X (formerly Twitter) at @djrobblog, on Facebook or on Meta’s Threads.

DJRob (@djrobblog) on Threads

You can also register for free (select the menu bars above) to receive notifications of future articles.