Billboard declares Nicki Minaj Rap ‘GOAT,’ snubs Icons Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott

10th Apr 2025 | Source: Graphic Online

Billboard declares Nicki Minaj Rap ‘GOAT,’ snubs Icons Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott

Billboard, one of the the world’s most influential music media brand has officially crowned Trinidadian rapper and singer-songwriter Nicki Minaj as the Greatest Female Rapper of All Time.

The declaration was made in a special feature released on April 7, titled “Best Female Rappers of All Time,” which spotlighted the most influential and groundbreaking women in hip-hop history.

Nicki Minaj clinched the top spot on the highly anticipated list, outpacing several of the genre’s most revered pioneers and innovators, including Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Eve, Queen Latifah and Cardi B.

While the recognition of the Anaconda rapper’s career has been met with applause from her loyal fanbase, others have expressed disappointment over Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill being outspaced by the former given their influence even in modern day rap.

Billboard’s editorial team explained that their rankings were based on a comprehensive blend of factors commercial success, lyrical skill, cultural impact, creative innovation and lasting artistic legacy.

The publication highlighted how each woman on the list contributed to the evolution of hip-hop, from the golden age of the '80s and '90s to the digital era of the 2000s and beyond.

Nicki Minaj, known for her animated flows, razor-sharp lyricism and genre-bending versatility, has consistently broken barriers in a male-dominated industry. Since her breakout mixtapes and debut album Pink Friday, she has amassed dozens of chart-topping hits, millions of global fans, and an undeniable influence on the sound and image of contemporary female rap.

However, critics of the ranking have pointed out the groundbreaking work of Missy Elliott, whose futuristic visuals and production shifted the soundscape of hip-hop in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, and Lauryn Hill, whose classic 1998 album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill remains one of the most revered works in music history.