Nicki Minaj has been chosen as the greatest female rapper of all time by Billboard Magazine. Check out this video for exclusive interviews from WorldWide Entertainment TV’s history to see what others think of the question and choice.

Billboard Magazine named Nicki Minaj the greatest female rapper of all time in their Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time list, which was released in early 2023 as part of their celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary.

Nicki came in at #10 overall, making her the highest-ranked female rapper on the list. Here’s what Billboard highlighted about her:

• Versatility & Longevity: Nicki’s ability to seamlessly blend hardcore bars, catchy pop hooks, alter egos, and animated flows helped redefine what it meant to be a female rapper.

• Chart Dominance: She has more Billboard Hot 100 entries than any other female rapper, with multiple platinum albums and #1 hits to her name.

• Cultural Influence: Nicki broke through in a male-dominated industry and opened doors for a whole new generation of women in rap. Her impact can be heard and seen in many artists today.

• Legacy: From her Pink Friday debut to her Queen era and beyond, Nicki has continuously reinvented herself while staying at the top of the game for over a decade.

Her placement sparked a lot of debate online (as these lists always do), but many fans and critics agreed that her combination of lyricism, commercial success, and cultural impact solidified her spot. Billboard in 2025 has chosen Nicki Minaj as the best female rapper of all-time.

‘Best Female Rappers of All-Time’ Ranked by Billboard Staff:
#1 #NickiMinaj
#2 #MissyElliott
#3 #LaurynHill
#4 #LilKim
#5 #QueenLatifah
#6 #MCLyte
#7 #SaltNPepa
#8 #RoxanneShante
#9 #Eve
#10 #FoxyBrown
#11 #CardiB
#12 #DaBrat
#13 #Trina
#14 #LeftEye
#15… pic.twitter.com/mjc4V8xLJc

— World Music Awards (@WORLDMUSICAWARD) April 7, 2025

Hip-hop wouldn’t be the same without women MCs. From pioneers like MC Lyte and Queen Latifah to today’s stars like Megan Thee Stallion and Latto, their impact is undeniable. ⁠

Billboard ranks the 25 best female rappers of all time—see who made the staff list:… pic.twitter.com/tbrbMFU7Xk

— billboard hip-hop/r&b (@billboardhiphop) April 7, 2025