by Anthony Iacuzzo
The 90s was a time when Rap music really blew up, and female rappers made a huge mark on the culture. They weren’t just showing they could keep up with the men, they brought their own style, energy, and perspective that helped shape the sound of the decade. These are five women who stood out and left their mark on 90s rap.
5. Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott
By the mid-late 1990’s, Missy Elliott was rewriting the rules of Rap. With her groundbreaking 1997 debut Supa Dupa Fly (1997), she combined futuristic production graciously provided by producer Timbaland with her often playful yet razor-sharp lyrics. Missy didn’t just stand out for her rapping, but mainly for her creativity. Flashy futuristic Music Videos became something Missy was very well known for, and for her ability to blend R&B, Rap and other futuristic imagery. She pushed the creative boundaries of what it means to be a rapper, and set the stage for the 2000’s and beyond.
4. The Lady of Rage
Best known for her powerful voice and being in the GTA V soundtrack, The Lady of Rage was a key member of the Death Row Records roster during the golden era of West Coast rap. Appearing on classic records like Dr. Dre’s The Chronic (1992) and Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle (1993), Rage proved she could stand out alongside the biggest names in rap. Her 1994 single “Afro Puffs” also featured in GTA V, became a West Coast anthem. Rage was living proof that a female rapper could thrive in the hardcore West Coast scene without compromising her sound.
3. Gangsta Boo
As the “First Lady’ of the ever legendary group Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo brought grit, horror and unapologetic toughness to the 90’s Rap scene. Boo’s style blended raw gangsta rap energy with a distinct sound only Memphis could provide at the time, horror. Memphis Rap heavily relied on dark bass-heavy beats, horror movie samples, Satanic subject matters and provocative lyrics. After her work with Three 6 Mafia, Boo went on to release her debut album Enquiring Minds in 1998. She unfortunately passed away in January 2023. Gangsta Boo will forever be remembered for paving the way for not just Female Rappers from the South, but all Female Rappers that followed.
2. Lil’ Kim
Lil’ Kim changed the game in the mid-90’s. Her fearless sexuality, flamboyant fashion, and sharp delivery. Introduced through Rap group Junior Mafia, and mentored by none other than The Notorious B.I.G., Kim’s 1996 debut album Hardcore broke barriers by making female rap “feminine”, she put female desires and dominance at the center of rap music, something very new for the time. Lil’ Kim would go on to be a mainstream celebrity outside of Rap, because of her ties to Hollywood and Fashion, even being featured in television shows and movies.
1. Foxy Brown
In the mid-90s, The original Bonnie to Jay-Z’s Clyde, Foxy Brown emerged as one of hip hop’s boldest young stars. With her deep voice, slick delivery, and streetwise style, she embodied raw confidence. At the age of only 17, her debut album Ill Na Na (1996) the first solo Female Rap album to chart in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200, helped bring a new wave of glamorous but hard-edged female rap, while collaborations with Nas, Jay-Z, and rap mega-group, produced by Dr. Dre and The Trackmasters, The Firm (AZ, Nas, Cormega & Foxy Brown) solidified her as a core part of New York’s hip hop scene. Her sophomore album Chyna Doll would debut at the number one spot on the Billboard 200, blocking Britney Spears from the number one spot! This accolade only happened one other time by Nicki Minaj 20+ years later. Foxy’s mix of fashion, sex appeal, and lyrical toughness made her one of the defining female MCs of the decade. Foxy Brown would go on to break records and set major standards for the Female Rappers that followed.
Each of these artists brought something different to the table, but all of them showed just how powerful women could be in hip hop. From their lyrics to their style, they set trends that still influence the music world today. Rap music in the 90s wouldn’t have been the same without them.