Nicki Minaj Becomes #1 Female Rapper in Billboard’s 21st Century Rankings

Billboard has named Nicki Minaj the 16th most important female artist of the 21st century, making her the highest-ranking female rapper on this list.

Other female rappers like Doja Cat, Cardi B, Missy Elliott, and Megan Thee Stallion made the list but were lower than Minaj showing how far female artists have come in a male-dominated industry.

Minaj’s career is filled with achievements that cemented her status as a music legend. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide, she’s one of the best selling artist and the top-selling female rapper. In 2024, she became the first female rapper to have multiple diamond-certified solo songs, which serves as a proof of her staying power and talent.

Her impact goes beyond sales. In 2023, Billboard and Vibe named her the greatest female rapper of all time. Her awards include a Brit Award, 5 Billboard Music Awards, 9 American Music Awards, 8 MTV Video Music Awards (including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award), 13 BET Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and 3 Guinness World Records. Time magazine also put her on the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016.

Minaj’s versatility is seen in her features across genres. She killed it on Kanye West’s “Monster” alongside Jay-Z and her pop features have also contributed to her mainstream appeal, blurring the lines between rap and pop.

Outside of music, Minaj has acted in animated films like “Ice Age: Continental Drift” and live-action films like “The Other Woman” and “Barbershop: The Next Cut”. She was also a judge on the 12th season of “American Idol” in 2013, showing off her many talents.

Her Billboard recognition has brought up questions about the criteria for such honors and the growing recognition of female rappers in the music industry.