The 10 Hottest Female Rappers of 2025: Staff Picks

After watching women MCs spar for pole position in hip-hop over the last few years, in June 2024, Billboard put together its first-ever Hottest Female Rappers List. The 10-slot list not only served as a hotly contested battle royale, but also sparked healthy discourse about how women have not only infiltrated the rap space, but dominated it. 

Nicki Minaj initially landed the top spot, but later that year, GloRilla’s second-half resurgence proved undeniable, as she barrelled through the competition with her barrage of hits. Anchored by her weekend-starter, “TGIF,” and bristling comeback record “Yeah Glo,” the Memphis firecracker usurped the throne from Minaj and was crowned Billboard’s first-ever Hottest Female Rapper of the Year.

This year, new faces entered the chat: Bunna B, YK Niece, and Pluto stormed the hip-hop landscape with fury, leaving lasting memories with their bold, audacious anthems. Whether it was Pluto and YK’s explosive link-up on “WHIM WHAMIEE,” or Bunna raising the heat with her fiery earworm, “Bunna Summa,” these newbies planted their flag with authority. Some familiar faces also had splashy moments: From Doechii’s meteoric rise to a Grammy darling to Cardi B’s theatrical return with Am I The Drama?, the once-male-dominated arena is now up for grabs, as the women MCs are lighting up the scoreboard on all fronts.

Like in 2024, Billboard’s editorial staff followed a clear criteria when ranking this year’s Hottest Female Rappers. The list below considers record quality, chart success, cultural buzz, notable business endeavors, partnerships and touring success. Read on to see who cracked Billboard’s year-end hottest female rappers list.