The 15 Most Powerful Women in Hip-Hop Right Now
Since its birth over 40 years ago, women have been shaping the sound, looks and functionality of hip-hop. While the culture’s population is predominantly male, many females have rightfully earned spots in the limelight, and made permanent marks on the industry. We’ve composed a list of 15 women who tout commercial accomplishments, hold coveted awards, and have an impressive influence on contemporary hip-hop. From emcees to executives, these lovely ladies are inarguably killing the game right now, shifting the direction of today’s music industry and proving themselves to be the most powerful women in modern-day hip-hop.
Nicki Minaj
Even though Nicki Minaj boasts a Barbie-esque aesthetic, the 31-year-old emcee isn’t just a pretty face. Collaborating with some of the biggest names in hip-hop like Drake, Usher and Eminem, receiving endorsements from recognized brands like adidas, MAC Cosmetics and Pepsi, and holding eight BET awards, Minaj is a self-made powerhouse and has quickly become a top dog in the industry. She’s the first female artist to be featured on MTV’s annual Hottest MCs in the Game, and The New York Times suggests that she’s arguably the “most influential female rapper of all time.”
Angie Martinez
Deemed “The Voice of New York,” Angie Martinez reigns as the queen of hip-hop radio. At the age of 16, Martinez was answering hot lines at the Hot 97 offices, where DJ Funkmaster Flex took her under his wing. Since then, she’s hosted the station’s Afternoon Drive weekday show alongside DJ Enuff, interviewing household names like Kanye West and 50 Cent, and establishing herself as a rap radio legend. After two decades with the Hot 97 crew, Martinez shocked the public by joining rival station Power 105.1. Although she’s left her longtime home, she still stands as one of the most revered names in hip-hop, even starting new ventures like writing a nutritional, Spanish-inspired cookbook and investing in a Tribeca restaurant, AÑEJO.
Debra L. Lee
As the chairwoman and CEO of BET Networks, Debra L. Lee has an estimated net worth of $5.5 million, and rightfully so. She’s one of the highest ranking African-American women at media megacorp Viacom, and the holder of a spot in the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. She carries degrees from both Brown and Harvard Law, and has held many titles within BET over the past 25 years. As CEO, she’s redesigned the direction and mission statement of the network, bringing in over $100 million in revenue last year alone. It’s no wonder why The Hollywood Reporter calls her one of “The 100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment.”
Beyonce
They don’t call her “Queen B” for nothing. As the empress of pop music, her influence circulates globally, which is why Forbes named her “the world’s most powerful celebrity.” It’s nearly impossible to compile a complete list of her achievements, as the one-woman industry engine routinely releases platinum-selling albums, collects a record number of Grammy awards, and astoundingly finds time to raise her daughter, Blue Ivy. She’s just finished up the North American leg of her On the Run Tour with husband Jay Z, racking up an average of $2.4 million per city.
Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is an innovator in the game. She pretty much has done it all from selling a million copies of her debut album, All Hail to the Queen, to receiving a myriad of awards for her many TV and film appearances. Latifah has held a spot on the industry chessboard for almost 30 years. She’s also served as a talk show host, movie and record producer, and celebrity spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics.
Angela Yee
As a key player in Power 105.1’s syndicated morning show The Breakfast Club alongside Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy, the young Angela Yee has been on a steady grind as a prominent radio personality. She’s previously hosted Lip Service and The Morning After with Angela Yee at Eminem’s station, Shade 45, and she’s been a featured cast member on the VH1 reality show, The Gossip Game, which spotlights women in the NY radio and blogging industry. The 31-year-old has also acted as a manager for Wu-Tang founding member GZA and Roc Nation artist Jay Electronica.
M.I.A.
On M.I.A.’s most recent album, she refers to herself as “the female Slick Rick.” She’s powerful, both musically and aesthetically, and has intrigued wide audiences with her confident individualism and uncommon artistry. Born to Sri Lankan parents and growing up in London, she pulls influence from her globally eclectic upbringing and spiritual background, and has proven herself not only as a creative, but also as an intellectual. To top it off, she’s received a BET Award, two MTV Video Music Awards, and is a Grammy nominee.
Lauryn Hill
Best known for her membership in OG hip-hop group The Fugees and for her highly acclaimed solo project, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the New Jersey-born hip-hop trailblazer is a heroine for women in the rap industry. She’s the first woman and the first rap artist in general to receive five Grammy Awards in a single year. Outside of her music career, she founded The Refugee Camp Youth Project, an organization that helps to send underprivileged urban youth to summer camp.
Mary J Blige
Who else do you know who has sold over 50 million albums and 15 million singles worldwide? Mary J Blige started her career as a backup singer, but since then has taken the industry by storm with her distinct vocal prowess and irrefutable talent. While Mary is an R&B songstress, she has made a name for herself in the hip-hop industry by virture of a long list of collaborations with artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Method Man, Jay Z, and Ghostface Killah. Since being Puff Daddy’s protégé, the chart-topper has crafted seven albums and won countless awards. She’s also made moves in the film industry, starring in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself and scoring a role in Rock of Ages.
Iggy Azaela
She’s so fancy, but you already know. A 24-year-old rising star, Iggy Azalea has made major strides in mainstream hip-hop recently, surfacing as a hard-to-ignore female figure in the industry. With her admittedly addictive single “Fancy,” she became the first woman rapper to hit number one on America’s Billboard Hot 100 chart since Lauryn Hill did so with “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1998. Not impressed yet? In her short career, Azalea has won 12 reputable awards, secured a spot on XXL Magazine’s 2010 Freshman Class roster, and joined The Beatles as the only two acts in history to rank at numbers one and two simultaneously with their first two Hot 100 hits.
Azealia Banks
Breaking onto the scene two years ago with her eccentric single “212,” Azealia Banks is a fierce femcee with an impressive resume for her age. She signed to XL Recordings at the age of 17, and was recruited to Interscope just three years later. She spits bold rhymes and broadcasts hardy fearlessness, yet maintains her femininity by channeling a mermaid alter ego and trumpeting her whimsical fashion sense. Emerging from a difficult childhood, Banks turned to creative outlets to unleash her emotional burdens. Instead of finishing high school, she chose to pursue her professional career, and now homegirl is one of the most influential women in contemporary hip-hop.
Sylvia Rhone
Sylvia Rhone is an executive game-changer who in the past has wheeled Atlantic, Elektra and Motown Records, overseen the careers of esteemed artists like En Vogue and Missy Elliott, and takes credit for raising the global entity of Cash Money Records. Today, she’s the chairwoman of Vested in Culture, a full-service label and joint venture with Epic Records. She’s been honored with over three-dozen awards, both in the music industry and beyond, including a “Woman of the Year” award from Ms. Magazine. Rhone plans to expand her influence into TV, film, and the sneaker world.
Karen Civil
Owner of Always Civil Enterprise, a full-service branding and marketing company with a client roll that includes Mary J Blige, Karen Civil is an industry superwoman. With indisputable business savvy and connections with leading brands like Beats by Dr. Dre and figures like Funkmaster Flex, Civil is a name to know in the rap business. She was named MTV’s Hip-Hop MVP in 2010, and her blog, KarenCivil.com, received acclaim from XXL Magazine.
Vanessa Satten
As Editor-in-Chief of the now "digital-only" XXL Magazine and the overarching crafter of the publication’s classic Freshman Class list, which catalyzes the careers of contemporary hip-hop artists, Vanessa Satten is a commander in the world of rap journalism. She’s known for her self-assured opinions and comprehensive understanding of the rap industry, which has gained her widespread respect and far-reaching influence in the business.
Remy Ma
Grammy-nominated artist and former member of Terror Squad, Big Pun’s rap crew, Remy Ma is one of only four female rappers to ever have a number one single on the Billboard Top 100 chart. She’s returned to the scene recently, guesting on DJ Khaled’s “They Don’t Love You No More” and crushing rhymes over a Swizz Beatz-produced track. She’s planning some unexpected new projects, and scheming to make a full-force comeback to reclaim the game.
Since its birth over 40 years ago, women have been shaping the sound, looks and functionality of hip-hop. While the culture’s population is predominantly male, many females have rightfully earned spots in the limelight, and made permanent marks on the industry. We’ve composed a list of 15 women who tout commercial accomplishments, hold coveted awards, and have an impressive influence on contemporary hip-hop. From emcees to executives, these lovely ladies are inarguably killing the game right now, shifting the direction of today’s music industry and proving themselves to be the most powerful women in modern-day hip-hop.