Hip-hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2023, which seemed impossible when the genre was criticized as a fad early on. In 2017, Forbes reported that hip-hop surpassed rock as the most popular genre in America for the first time and continues to dominate pop culture.
But where would hip-hop be without women? Looking at the successes of rising female MCs today, some artists stand out, including Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Tierra Whack, Latto, Rapsody, Doechii, and Little Simz, to name a few. Although these artists have their styles, one thing they have in common is how they stand on the shoulders of women who came before them.
Let’s look at some of the trailblazing women in hip-hop who helped shape the genre.
