Queens of Rap Playlist

Curated By: Girl Tyler

Nowadays we’re accustomed to seeing Black female rappers dominate the music industry. With countless #1 records, partnerships with major brands, and millions of followers on social media, these women rightfully earned their place in modern music history. Back in the day, this wasn’t the case.

In the 1980s, 1990s and even early 2000s, women with dreams of making it big in rap endured countless barriers because of their gender and the color of their skin. Although the industry is historically male-dominatied, women will forever be the heartbeat of hip hop.

Before the City Girls were in training pants and Saweetie learned to drive, old school female MCs broke through barriers to top the charts and revolutionize popular culture with authentic style that only a Black girl can pull off. The Queens of Rap playlist is an ode to the baddest chicks in the game rocking their own chain. Their tone and technique may sound a little familiar. That’s because they inspired all of your favorite artists!

• U.N.I.T.Y. by Queen Latifah
• Party Ain’t A Party by Queen Pen
• Ruffneck by MC Lyte
• None of Your Business by Salt-N-Pepa
• You Can’t Play with My Yo-Yo by Yo-Yo ft. Ice Cube
• Get Me Home by Foxy Brown ft. Blackstreet
• Not Tonight by Lil Kim ft. Da Brat, Left Eye, Missy Elliot, and Angie Martinez
• Funkdafiedby Da Brat
• Love is Blind by Eve
• Roxanne’s Revenge by Roxanne Shante
• Conceited by Remy Ma
• Pull Over by Trina
• Afro Puffs by The Lady of Rage
• Gettin’ Some by Shawnna
• Smile 4 Me by Amil
• What They Call Me by Rah Digga
• Whatcha Wanna Doby Mia X
• 5 O’Clock by Nonchalant
• 4, 5, 6 by Solé ft. Kandi and JT Money
• Down 4 U by Charli Baltimore, Vita, Ashanti, and Ja Rule
• The K-Wangby Khia
• Ladies First by Queen Latifah and Monie Love

Listen to the playlist here.