The battle has intensified for the third year of Billboard’s Hottest Female Rappers List. The bars are crisper, the field is deeper, and the music keeps advancing the genre.
After an incredible comeback effort, Cardi B became the final woman standing last year. With her Billboard 200 No. 1 album, Am I the Drama, the Bronx diva returned to the forefront of the discourse after a seven-year absence, reminding hip-hop why she is one of its defining forces.
Cardi’s comeback, however, was not the whole tale. The scene was instantly altered by a wave of breakout stars. Trim, a native of South Carolina, entered the discourse with her glossy voice and lively flow, while Bunna B, Pluto, and YK Niece introduced themselves with powerful club anthems. Samara Cyn, on the other hand, continued to rise to prominence as one of the most intriguing new voices in rap, fusing many genres with a bold inventiveness that has her vying for fame.
Yung Miami was one musician this year who exemplified perseverance. Many questioned if Miami could forge a prosperous solo career when the City Girls broke up and JT achieved her own breakthrough with the Billboard Hot 100 single “OKAY.” In response, she delivered one of the best song-of-the-summer contenders and silenced doubters with the top 20 single “Spend Dat.”
This year’s Hottest Female Rappers were ranked by Billboard’s editorial staff based on a variety of factors, including record quality, chart performance, cultural impact, business endeavours, brand alliances, and touring success.
Continue reading to learn who made Billboard’s list of the year-end Hottest Female Rappers, then return later in December to discover the winner.
10. Megan Thee Stallion
Megan would still be eligible for this list even if she seldom needs to rap anymore. Thanks to her commercial ventures (Popeyes & Hot Girl Summer Swimwear), TV appearances (Love Island), Broadway appearances (Moulin Rouge! ), and, of course, fans’ curiosity about her dating past, the Texas rapper has become a household figure.
She did, however, get a charting single this year when she appeared on Juvenile’s breakthrough hit “B.B.B,” which reached No. 67 on the Hot 100. In addition, she enhanced Bossman Dlow’s remix of “Motion Party” and joined Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta, and EJAE on the song “DNA (More Than a Game)” in honour of the 2026 World Cup. — Angel Diaz
9. Molly Santana
Every time I hear “Ran to Atlanta,” I can’t help but think of “Molly Santana, new Hannah Montana.” Molly Santana received the Drake stimulus package when she joined Future on Iceman’s “Ran to Atlanta,” earning Santana her maiden Hot 100 entry and a No. 2 chart debut. The 21-year-old had some of the most memorable performances of the weekend at Rolling Loud Orlando and Summer Smash in Chicago this summer, bridging the mainstream with the underground of rap. In August, Santana and North West will embark on a co-headlining North American tour. Michael Saponara
8. YK NIECE
In 2025, YK NIECE had the best rookie season. With notable appearances on Pluto’s “Whim Whammie,” Metro Boomin’s “Take Me Thru Dere,” and Trim’s “BOAT (Remix),” NIECE swiftly rose to prominence as one of rap’s most sought-after guest features.
With features on Belly Gang Kushington’s “Friends Do (Remix)” and DaBaby’s “Pop That Thang (Remix),” she maintained her momentum into 2026. She was nominated for three BET Awards and placed in the 2026 XXL Freshman class as a result of her run. The next step is obvious now: demonstrating that she can command the spotlight just as convincingly as she snatches it. Her reputation as one of rap’s most promising young performers would be solidified with several solo albums and pivotal performances as a headliner. Carl Lamarre.
7. Trim
It’s understandable why the South Carolina superstar makes her debut on the list of the Hottest Female Rappers. With her hit song “BOAT,” the recently crowned XXL Freshman had a blockbuster year in 2025. Trim’s lyrical flare and Minaj-coded delivery have made her one of rap’s most intriguing young stars, propelled to hip-hop fame by the Pooh Shiesty-assisted remix.
Alongside Monaleo, she proceeded to gain momentum on “Nobody,” where her slithery rhyming patterns over the “Swag Surfin” flip demonstrated both her deft pen and early skill set, demonstrating that she could more than compete with her peers.
Trim continues to demonstrate that she is much more than a viral moment—she is a name that is steadily rising in the ranks of hip-hop—whether she is sharing the stage with Young Thug, providing viral soundbites in interviews, or torching opponents on freestyles. — C.L.
6. Latto
Latto never left the spotlight, even though she had an incredible pregnancy. All she did was give supporters an opportunity to miss her.
She made a comeback in March with “Business & Personal,” the lead single off her fourth album, Big Mama, following a quiet start to the year. In addition to revealing that she was carrying her first child, the album revealed a new chapter in her life and set the tone for an album that struck a mix between superstar confidence and newly discovered sensitivity.
Big Mama demonstrated that Latto’s commercial momentum hasn’t diminished. The project opened at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking her third consecutive top 20 debut. Beyond the charts, Latto’s influence on culture was evident. She was featured on an ESSENCE cover and triumphantly returned to the stage for her first performance after giving birth at the ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans. CHRIS CLAXTON
5. Doechii
Doechii has been working outside to ease the anticipation of her debut full-length studio record. Over the past six months, the Grammy winner’s popularity has grown thanks to her collaboration with Lady Gaga on the lead single from The Devil Wears Prada 2, “Runway.” In addition to performing “Ready or Not” with SZA at the 2026 BET Awards tribute to Ms. Lauryn Hill, Doechii reminded fans of her strong stage presence on multiple days during Lollapalooza’s South America event. Alongside SZA, Doechii won the BET Her Award for the inspiring song “Girl, Get Up.” — Gail Mitchell
4. Monaleo
In 2026, Monaleo has literally been unstoppable. Her Who Did the Body mixtape, which she released at the end of the previous year, greatly increased her popularity. Her single “Putting Ya Dine” rode an NBA YoungBoy remix to No. 28 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. In promotion of the mixtape, she started a headline tour, but an urgent medical operation forced her to postpone many appearances. The Houston MC did, however, return to the road as a supporting act on Summer Walker’s arena-conquering Still Finally Over It Tour.
Monaleo received Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist at the American Music Awards, Outstanding New Artist at the NAACP Image Awards, and two BET Awards nominations in just six months. Appropriately, the Houston City Council also proclaimed April 24 to be “Leondra Roshawn Caldwell Day.” Monaleo isn’t playing games this year because her remix of Trim’s “Nobody” and her Teezo Touchdown-assisted “Everything Pinka” are gaining new admirers every day. Kyle Denis
3. Sexyy Red
With the release of Yo Favourite Trappa Favourite Rappa, Sexyy celebrated her 28th birthday this year and reminded her fans that her trademark mix of confidence, humour, and raw bars is still as engaging as ever.
She was much more than her own releases. She appeared at the 2026 NFL Draft festivities in Pittsburgh, made her Coachella debut, and energised festival audiences at Rolling Loud California with a mix of songs. She also kept making surprising cameos, becoming viral on WWE NXT and at Rob49’s Vulture Island Experience in New Orleans.
2. Yung Miami
Since the City Girls chose to take a break following the failure of their third album, RAW, back in 2023, rap fans have mostly written off Yung Miami as the latest rapper to become a media celebrity. Her single “Spend Dat” has not only become the song of the summer but has also risen to No. 19 on the Hot 100 after making its debut on the chart at No. 66 on June 6, giving her the highest charting record of her career as both a solo artist and a member of the City Girls. She now considers herself to be one of the hottest rappers in the game.
1. Cardi B
Big Bardi should have known she wasn’t going to let up when she secured the highly sought-after musical guest role for the 1,000th SNL show on January 31. Cardi started her Little Miss Drama Tour to promote her second Billboard 200 No. 1 album, Am I the Drama?, in 2025. The tour featured 35 stadium performances in the US and Canada. According to Billboard Boxscore, the tour, which gave rise to the “Pretty & Petty” mute challenge and featured Cardi sharing her platform with up-and-coming celebrities like YKNiece and Natalie Nunn, brought in over $70 million from 453,000 tickets.
