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A 2023 List Of Hip-Hop’s Leading Ladies
As we celebrate the 50th year of Hip-Hop, it’s the perfect time to recognize women in music who are ruling the charts and beating the odds.
Hip-Hop has historically been a male-dominated genre, largely built on the stories of strife of growing up as a young Black man in America. However, women have always been an important part of the culture, and we’re grateful to the legendary rap queens who came in to unify artists breaking into the industry. Today, women from all over the country are making a name for themselves, breaking records and looking good doing it! Read on for the stories behind the leading females currently taking charge in Hip-Hop!
Latto
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Alyssa Michelle Stephens, also known as Latto, is a southern rapper from Clayton County, Georgia. The 24-year-old first appeared on the scene on Jermaine Dupri’s reality show The Rap Game where her spunky energy and advanced wordplay wowed judges and viewers alike. While she ultimately rose to fame after her 2019 hit single “B*tch From Da Souf,” Latto started her journey in music years earlier at the tender age of 10.
After “B*tch From Da Souf” garnered huge label recognition, Latto signed to RCA Records where she went on to release chart-toppers like “Big Energy” and “Put It On Da Floor.”
Latto is of mixed race, which inspired her original rap name, Mulatto. Over time she received severe criticism about over choosing to use a name with a charged racialized history. However, Latto overcame the public castigation and rebranded, changing her social media handles to Latto777.
Her 2021 single “Big Energy” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and was re-released with the legendary Mariah Carey on the remix! Now, that’s killing the game!
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Hip Hop Collabs That Redefined The Genre
Who doesn’t love a good crossover? Even hip-hop heads like to hear a fresh sound from their favorite artist, and what better way to appeal to a larger demographic than to team up with other musicians who don’t share your audience?
Over the years, it’s become more common to see a rapper collab with a country artist or RnB singer collab with a reggaeton star. The cross-promotion and cultural consorting is real, and we’re not mad at it!
Here are some of our favorite collabs that might’ve been unlikely, but won the hearts of hip-hop fans worldwide.
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Numb/Encore – Linkin Park & Jay Z
There wasn’t an adolescent in the early 2000s who didn’t let off some teenage angst to the sounds of Linkin Park. The California-bred six-man rock band is comprised of Mike Shinoda, Joe Hahn, Rob Bourdon, Dave Farell, Brad Nelson, and lead vocalist Chester Bennington. While the group already had hit singles like “In The End” and “Numb”, it wasn’t until the 2004 remix with Jay Z that the rock group rose to global stardom – a live performance at the Roxy Theater on YouTube accruing nearly 50 million views.
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Over & Over – Nelly & Tim McGraw
We all remember the “Country Grammar” era when fans from the Midwest to the Southeast hailed Nelly for his consistent party bops. Similarly, in 2000, Tim McGraw was well into his reign as country King, releasing his first greatest hits album which charted for nine weeks and sold six million copies. There was no surprise when “Over & Over” from Nelly’s fourth album “Suit” performed so well in 2004.
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Tusa – Nicki Minaj & Karol G
Carolina Navarro or Karol G is a Colombian singer out of Medellin. The reggaeton and Latin trap artist is widely known in the Afrolatina community as the voice behind hits such as “Provenza”, “Armargura”, and “Watati” from the Barbie album. In 2019 the 30-year-old reggae ton artist put out a collab with hip hop diva Nicki Minaj which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin chart and rested on the Hot 100 Argentina for six weeks! “Tusa” was definitely a timely bop that pleasantly surprised fans on both sides.
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I Like It – Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Cardi B
Now, if you haven’t heard the 2017 summer jam “I Like It” from Cardi B’s debut album “Invasion Of Privacy”, you may have quite literally been living under a rock. If that is the case, we’d be remiss not to put you on! The Bronx bombshell, best known her for reality TV come-up, paired up with J Balvin and Bad Bunny for this biddy-biddy-bum-bop! J Balvin & Bad Bunny are arguably the Latin music industry’s heaviest hitters of this generation. This collab, which sampled Pete Rodriguez’s “I Like It Like That”, reigned number own the charts for 51 weeks, becoming the first Latin trap song to top the Hot 100, according to Billboard.
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Old Town Road Remix – Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus
Lil Nas X shot to fame in 2019 after releasing his viral country hip-hop song “Old Town Road” on YouTube. Naturally, the catchy hit started trending on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram causing the then 19-year-old’s following to grow exponentially. Controversy surrounded the song when it was removed from the Billboard country charts for being deemed not country enough. Just like that, Billy Ray Cyrus hopped on to country it up a bit more! The career-making record spent an unprecedented 18 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.
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As Long As You Love Me – Justin Bieber & Big Sean
11 years ago Justin Bieber serenaded the hearts of young Beliebers everywhere with “As Long As You Love Me” from his Believe album. The song is a testament to true love, proclaiming that nothing else matters. Detroit-bred rapper Big Sean was featured on the track which gave a hip-hop twist to a pop bop. The record spent 56 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart peaking at number 4.
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Havana – Camilla Cabello & Young Thug
Camila Cabello rose to stardom as a member of Fifth Harmony, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. After their split in 2016, Cabello began to release solo hits and created her own lane in American pop. In 2018 she partnered up with Atlanta native rapper Young Thug to conceive “Havana”, a hit that would garner one billion views on YouTube and earn her her first Billboard number one!
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Baby – Justin Bieber & Ludacris
Another Justin Bieber classic, “Baby”, was released in 2010 as the young Canadian prodigy was shooting to superstardom. The record featured Ludacris who was dropping bops like “My Chick Bad” and “How Low” in his club banger era. While the Biebs appeared to be another teenage pop star with a funny haircut, he had soul in his voice and funk in his music.
Naturally, he would start working with heavy hitters in the industry after being introduced to the world by the legendary prince of R&B Usher Raymond. “Baby” has 3 billion views on YouTube and debuted at number 5 on the Hot 100.
Which of these hip-hop collabs changed the game for you?
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In celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, AT&T Dream in Black gathered a diverse panel of artists and unique voices to discuss the genre’s global impact and the importance of connection in moving the culture forward.
The AT&T Dream in Black platform celebrates the achievements and aspirations of the Black community, rooted in the mindset that success can look like anything we can dream.
Host and celebrated lyricist Rapsody is joined by Bronx legend Fat Joe, artist King Combs, and Rayna Bass, co-president of 300 Entertainment, to talk about the evolution of hip-hop.
Impact on the Culture
As we celebrate hip-hop’s golden anniversary, the genre’s global impact on music, style and culture is undeniable. “I remember when I first got into hip-hop. It gave me a voice, it gave me style, it was something I could relate to,” says Rapsody.
The internet and social media have transformed the landscape and changed how artists reach audiences today. “You gotta do the groundwork, you gotta go to the station, you gotta meet the fans, you gotta thank the DJs—but you also can’t really be successful without having that presence on the internet,” says Bass. “Every big record in the last 10 years had some sort of viral moment.”
Hip-hop was born in the Bronx, New York, on August 11, 1973—as immortalized by the handwritten invitation to DJ Kool Herc’s “Back To School Jam.” Ladies paid 25 cents to get in. Fifty cents for the fellas.
Today, hip-hop is a multi-billion dollar industry. “The biggest thing is hip-hop’s influence,” says rapper Fat Joe, who lists artists-turned-moguls like 50 Cent, Diddy and Jay-Z who developed their careers into lucrative business enterprises.
“We have somebody to aspire to be,” he adds. “So when I see my brothers who come up from nothing and become billionaires, I just know that the next generation is going to be so much brighter, so much better.”
AT&T Dream in Black Presents Hip-Hop: The 50 Year Evolution
AT&T Dream in Black celebrates the culture and the creators who are shaping it. Marking 50 years of hip-hop, the panel shares what “Dream in Black” means to them.
“Another 50 years of excellence. More entrepreneurs, more billionaires coming from hip-hop,” says Bass.
“I want to see more success and I want to see more people give back to the community,” says Joe. “Don’t forget your people who made you.”
“Stay true to yourself and stay on your path,” says Combs, son of entertainment mogul and Bad Boy Records founder, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. “Everybody has different paths. People may blow up before you, but you can’t let that discourage you. Because you may be the person that changes the game in a bigger way.”
Rapsody closes out the discussion with her own vision. “Dream in Black means continuing to show up as myself, continuing to open doors, especially for more women in hip-hop to show up and tell their authentic story,” she says.
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Origin Info For Your Favorite Hip-Hop Hits Of Today
There’s an old saying “There’s nothing new under the sun”, which we often write off as a figure of speech. However, when you recognize something you’re almost certain you’ve seen or heard before, there’s comfort in that familiarity.
While we appreciate the creativity that drives art to influence culture, we also honor the classics and originals that inspire trends today.
Many of the most popular hip-hop tracks on the charts today use samples from old records. According to Tunecore, “Sampling” is best described as reusing a specific portion of another’s sound recording.
The technique has been used for decades, with each generation paying homage to the preceding generation. Some of hip-hop’s greatest hits of all time use sampling, including Notorious B.I.G.’s 90s classic “Juicy” and legendary breakout hit “Through The Wire”. Here’s a bit of background on samples you may not have known about that are topping charts today!
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Creepin’ – Metroboomin, 21 Savage, The Weeknd
In 2004, Mario Winans serenaded the masses with a twisted exclamation to his lover, “I Don’t Wanna Know”.
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In the song, Winans pleads to his lady to keep her dirt secret. The smash, which spent eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in February of 2004, was a sample of The Fugees “Ready Or Not”.
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Even further, The Fugees sampled the 1987 record “Bodaecia” by Irish singer Enya, who is also listed on the credits. Today, The Weeknd and 21 Savage teamed up with Atlanta hitmaker Metroboomin for a modern remake of the song.
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Players – Coi Leray
Coi Leray gave us yet another TikTok sensation with her 2022 song “Players”. What you may not have noticed is the sample of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five’s “The Message”. Coi’s record was released as the 1982 terminal hit turned 40.
Grandmaster Flash and Leray actually met for a celebratory dinner where Flash blessed the record and Coi’s hard work!
“When I got a call saying this girl wanted to resurrect the beat of a song from my past – I wanted to learn more,” Flash said in a second post. “Then when I spoke with & met @coileray, I TOTALLY got it. Go listen to PLAYERS by Coi Leray now ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️Next time I might sport the hoodie”
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The track “The Message”, created by Melle Mel and Duke Bootee, is widely regarded as one of the most significant rap songs of all time. The beat has been revisited consistently over the years with everyone from Ice Cube (“Check Yo Self” remix) to Puffy and Ma$e (“Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down”) and K. Michelle (“Going Under”) sampling the original 80s classic.
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Doja – Central Cee
UK breakout artist Central Cee is another artist with a knack for making viral hits. One of his most notable 2022 records – “Doja” – is derived from a sample of Eve & Gwen Stefani’s 2001 hit “Blow Ya Mind”. You may have heard the often-recited lyrics of “Doja”, “How can I be homophobic? My b—- is gay.” However, you may not have been privy to the fact Eve personally signed off on the Euro Hip Hop track calling it “everything”.
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On BBC’s 1EXTRA RAP SHOW, the Ruff Ryder’s First Lady explained the rizz that made her instantly approve the sample.
First of all, knowing and living in London, his name’s already been ringing and I liked him. I was like, ‘Yo, he’s a dope artist.’ And then we got the song and I was like, ‘This song is everything!’”
I’m sure we can be looking out for much more of Central Cee in the seasons to come.
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P Power – Gunna featuring Drake
Another fire collab between hip-hop artists and Metro Boomin “P Power” by Gunna featuring Drake, is making its rounds as a 2023 club smash.
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The song samples Donna Summer’s 1976 disco classic “Could It Be Magic”. However, the track was noticeably absent from Gunna’s album, “DS4Ever”, when it dropped on January 7, 2022. In an interview with Complex, Gunna reveals that the song was delayed over clearance issues.
“I originally sampled Donna Summer,” Gunna said. “I don’t even know her, because I’m so young. But she was a legend and her estate couldn’t get back in time for my album.”
How honored he must have felt when the clearance came back from one of the industry’s Black disco queens!
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Good Love – Usher, City Girls
If you’ve been out to basically any gathering or event this summer, you’ve probably heard “Good Love” featuring the City Girls. This feel-good dance jam has made waves from social media to the skating rink to family cookouts.
The familiar bump in the bass and repetitive rhythm takes us back to the ’90s and ’00s when denim cut-off shorts and gold door knocker hoops were in their prime. If you (or a mom, grandma, or auntie) attended a Freaknik festival, you may have heard the track before. “Good Love” samples a dance classic – “Freak It” by Lathun.
The 1997 SOSO Def hit is often accompanied by a line dance, perfect for the dance floor. The song quickly became a cultural shift point in Atlanta, bringing communities together through laughter and bounce.
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Which song do you think did the best remake?
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