Main image courtesy of Okayplayer.
Although rap has been a traditionally male-dominated genre, so many women are shattering these norms and making their presence known in the rap world. Some examples of these icons include Doja Cat, who broke records with songs like “Say So” and “Kiss Me More” and Megan Thee Stallion with songs like “Savage” and “Body,” which took social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok by storm.
As more and more women enter the rap game, it’s important that they’re afforded the same support and opportunities as their male counterparts. Despite the discrimination and challenges that many women in the industry face, they continue to break barriers and records. Here are some underground female rappers that deserve a spot on your next playlist!
Kentavia Miller, known as KenTheMan, is an up-and-coming rapper from Houston, Texas. Her lyrics cover topics ranging from sex and relationships to money and power. Her aggressive style and catchy rhythms are perfectly captured in songs such as “He Be Like” and “For Me.” She has over 870k monthly listeners on Spotify and 293k followers on Instagram, so be on the lookout for what moves she’ll be making next!
DonMonique made her entrance into the rap world as a teenager with “Pilates,” which caught the attention of media outlets like Cosmopolitan and even celebrities like Kylie Jenner. She’s toured the world, played roles in movies, and starred in commercials already. We can’t wait to see what this Brooklyn-based rapper will do next!
While other artists might avoid sensitive topics, CHIKA embraces them and works through them in her songs. From personal issues to issues that face society as a whole, CHIKA addresses them all through her music. “SONGS ABOUT YOU” is one of her more popular songs on Spotify, where she has more than 632,000 monthly listeners!
Ivy Sole raps about powerful messages, addressing topics like queerness, mental health, and Black liberation in their music. They sing and rap about personal and societal joys and issues. Some of her more popular songs on Spotify include “Dream Girl” and “elevator girl” by Shura featuring Ivy Sole. They have over 25k followers on Insta and almost 300,000 monthly listeners, so be sure to check her out!
Jean Deaux released her first full body of work in late 2018: the album KRASH, with some of her most popular songs originating in her debut album, such as “Work 4 Me” which features Kari Faux. She’s known for experimenting with different genres and styles in her music, and her variety is impressive and interesting!
With around 2k monthly listeners on Spotify, Treety is an underrated female artist that makes uplifting music with self-assured, confident lyrics. Her songs are about empowering herself physically, sexually, and spiritually.
Melii is a Harlem-based artist who sings and raps in both Spanish and English. Her viral cover of Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” is what led to her introduction to the mainstream music industry, and she now boasts over 800k monthly listeners on Spotify, her top hits including “Cartier” and “You Ain’t Worth It” with 6LACK.
Lakeyah rose into the spotlight in 2019 with a remix of a City Girls track for the “First Day Out” challenge. Some of her most popular songs include “Female Goat” and “Young and Ratchet.” With about 936k followers on Instagram and around 852k monthly listeners, Lakeyah should be on your radar!
Flo Milli’s debut mixtape “Ho, why is you here?” features some of her most popular songs such as “In The Party” and “May I.” Flo Milli also often includes samples of older songs in her music, giving it a unique touch.
Armani Caesar’s most popular songs like “Drill a RaMA” and “Simply Done,” both featuring Benny The Butcher, are from her 2020 album “THE LIZ.” She also manages her boutique clothing business, Armani’s Closet, and helps mentor young women with her ebooks online.
Although it may seem like there aren’t that many female rappers out there, there are so many underrated and underground female rappers that deserve a spot on your next playlist. These women are helping to reshape the industry, and their music is amazing and definitely worth checking out!
