MC Sha-Rock and the Funky 4 + 1 were the first rap group to ever appear on national television.
Funky 4 + 1.Getty/Anthony Barboza
Da Brat was the first ever solo female rapper to have a platinum-certified album.
Da Brat, real name Shawntae Harris.Getty/Al Pereira
Lauryn Hill's only studio album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," was the first by a female rapper to top the Billboard 200.
Lauryn Hill performing at Brixton Academy, London in 1999.Getty/Chris Lopez
Salt-N-Pepa are widely known as the first ladies of rap.
Deidra Roper (DJ Spinderella), Cheryl James (Salt), and Sandra Denton (Pepa).Getty/Paul Bergen
Missy Elliott is currently the only female rapper to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Missy Elliott has sold over 7 million albums in the US alone.Getty/Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives
MC Lyte was the first female solo rapper to release her own, full-length album, 1988's "Lyte As A Rock."
Rapper MC Lyte performs at the in Chicago, Illinois in 1989.Getty/Raymond Boyd
TLC had four No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, "Creep", "Waterfalls", "No Scrubs," and "Unpretty."
Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, better known as TLC.Getty/Michel Linssen
Eve had three top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 between 1999 and 2002, which sold a combined 3.5 million copies.
Queen Latifah was the first female rapper to win the Grammy award for best solo rap performance with her song "U.N.I.T.Y."
Queen Latifah in 1991.Getty/Al Pereira
J.J. Fad were the first act to release an album on Eazy-E's Ruthless Records.
MC JB, Stacy Phillips, and Baby D of J.J. Fad in 1989.Getty/Raymond Boyd
Kelis, one of hip-hop's most eclectic stars, has sold over 6 million records worldwide.
Rah Digga, a longtime member of Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad, is one of hip-hop's most revered lyricists.
Nikki D was the first female rapper signed to Def Jam.
Nikki D, real name Nichelle Strong.Getty/Raymond Boyd
Cardi B is the only female rapper in history to have five No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cardi B in 2021.Getty/Christophe Archambault
Lil' Kim, known as the "Queen of Rap," reshaped the landscape of rap thanks to her raunchy, unapologetic style.
Lil' Kim in 2002.Getty/Gregory Bojorquez
Born in South Africa and raised in New York City, Jean Grae is an underground rap legend.
Jean Grae in 2004.Getty/David Corio
Monie Love was the first British-born rapper to break the US market.
Monie Love was born in London, England.Getty/Michel Linssen
Nicki Minaj has sold 8 million albums in the United States alone.
Nicki Minaj in 2011.Getty/Kevin Mazur
Remy Ma is a multiple-time winner of the BET award for best female hip-hop artist.
Remy Ma rose to fame as a member of Fat Joe's group, Terror Squad.Getty/Kristy Leibowitz
Megan Thee Stallion was the first female rapper to win the Grammy for best rap performance.
Megan Thee Stallion.Getty/Rodin Eckenroth
