If the last two weeks have shown us anything, it’s that 2018 is the year of the female rapper.
Cardi B, the ex-stripper/Viner/breakout star of Love & Hip Hop NY, just scored her fifth Top 10 song on Billboard’s Hot 100, and her album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s 200 chart. Nicki Minaj made her comeback apparent with two aggressively, ridiculously cool songs after being MIA for almost 4 months. But it doesn’t stop there! Here are the names that will definitely be blowing up this year!
Saweetie
Known for her short Instagram raps, Saweetie caught attention after freestyling to the beat of Khia’s classic anthem, “My Neck, My Back (Lick It)”. The freestyle evolved into “Icy Girl”, a short song about being badass and boujee. She released the song in 2017 on SoundCloud, following up with a music video that spawned over 10 million views. This March, she released her major label debut EP, High Maintenance. If you need a reminder of how much of a baddie you are, “Icy Girl” is the song you need to hear.
Megan Thee Stallion
Claiming herself as the “hood Tyra Banks”, the 22-year-old Houston rapper is also a full-time college student. She went viral after several clips of her cypher were uploaded to social media. Known for her provocative verses, Megan Thee Stallion released her freaky, sex-positive EP, Make It Hot, in September 2017. A little tip for my ladies; listen to Megan Thee Stallion as you’re getting ready for a night out. Trust me on this one!
Lady Leshurr
UK has a growing rap industry, and Lady Leshurr is definitely bringing a whole new sound to it. Her freestyles, known as Queen’s Speech, garnered attention for Lady Leshurr’s crazy fast flow. Plus, her songs are just so fun to listen to! One of her freestyles is about haters talking about her when they haven’t even brushed their teeth. Tell me that’s not the most interesting reason for making a song.
And for all the latest Black Panther fans out there, Lady Leshurr just released a song inspired by the movie. It’s Missy Elliot approved!
Azealia Banks
Listen, we all have heard about her serious Twitter fingers. Yes, she does fight everybody on Twitter, and yeah, she did sacrifice all those chickens, but Azealia Banks is no joke when it comes to female rappers. Her 2012 debut mixtape, Fantasea, introduced her as rap’s biggest underground female rapper. Her rapping speed is unlike any other rapper- female or male. Banks’ songs are a mix of dance music and extremely provocative lyrics, something that not just any rapper can successfully pull off. The Harlem rapper is set to release Fantasea II: The Second Wave this June.