For the third straight year, Billboard’s editorial staff highlights the hottest female MCs to this point in 2026.
7/16/2026
From Left: Cardi B, Monaleo, Megan Thee Stallion, Yung Miami
Cardi B: Gilbert Flores. Monaleo: Courtesy of Columbia Records. Megan: Hot Girl Productions. Miami: Brandon Almengo.
For the third annual edition of Billboard’s Hottest Female Rappers List, the competition has reached new heights. The field is deeper, the bars are sharper, and the music continues to push the genre forward.
Last year, Cardi B emerged as the last woman standing following a remarkable comeback campaign. After a seven-year hiatus, the Bronx superstar reclaimed her spot atop the conversation, reminding hip-hop why she’s one of its defining forces with her Billboard 200 No. 1 album, Am I the Drama?
But Cardi’s resurgence was only part of the story. A wave of breakout stars stormed onto the scene and immediately shifted the landscape. Bunna B, Pluto and YK Niece announced themselves with explosive club anthems, while South Carolina native Trim burst into the conversation with her glossy delivery and animated flow. Meanwhile, Samara Cyn continued her ascent as one of rap’s most intriguing new voices, blending genres with a fearless creativity that has her knocking on the door of stardom.
One artist who embodied resilience this year was Yung Miami. After the City Girls dissolved and JT scored her own breakthrough with the Billboard Hot 100 hit “OKAY,” many wondered whether Miami could carve out a successful solo path. She answered emphatically, silencing skeptics with the top 20 hit “Spend Dat” while delivering one of the strongest song-of-the-summer contenders in the process.
As in previous years, Billboard’s editorial staff ranked this year’s Hottest Female Rappers using a combination of record quality, chart performance, cultural impact, business ventures, brand partnerships and touring success.
Read on to see who made Billboard’s year-end Hottest Female Rappers list and check back later this December to find out who ultimately claims the crown.
Megan Thee Stallion (2025 Rank: No. 6)
Megan hardly has to rap anymore, and she would still be considered for this list. The Texas rapper has become a household name, with help from her business endeavors (Popeyes & Hot Girl Summer Swimwear) TV appearances (Love Island) and Broadway appearances (Moulin Rouge!) — and of course, fans’ fascination with her dating history.
However, she did nab a charting single this year, when she was featured on Juvenile’s breakout banger “B.B.B,” which peaked at No. 67 on the Hot 100. She also elevated Bossman Dlow’s “Motion Party” remix, and appeared on the track “DNA (More Than a Game)” alongside Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta & EJAE in celebration of the 2026 World Cup. — ANGEL DIAZ
Molly Santana (2025 Rank: N/A)
“Molly Santana, new Hannah Montana” reverberates in my brain every time I hear “Ran to Atlanta.” Molly Santana was on the receiving end of the Drake stimulus package when she appeared on Iceman‘s “Ran to Atlanta” alongside Future, which earned Santana her first Hot 100 entry and a No. 2 debut on the chart. Bridging the mainstream to rap’s underground, the 21-year-old delivered some of the more memorable sets of the weekend at Rolling Loud Orlando and Summer Smash in Chicago this summer. Next up, Santana will hit the road for a co-headlining North American tour with North West in August. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
YK NIECE (2025 Rank: No. 4)
Nobody enjoyed a better rookie season than YK NIECE in 2025. After barreling through hip-hop with standout appearances on Pluto’s “Whim Whammie,” Metro Boomin’s “Take Me Thru Dere” and Trim’s “BOAT (Remix),” NIECE quickly became one of rap’s most in-demand guest features.
Her momentum carried into 2026 with appearances on Belly Gang Kushington’s “Friends Do (Remix)” and DaBaby’s “Pop That Thang (Remix).” The run earned her a spot in the 2026 XXL Freshman class and three BET Award nominations. Now, the next step is clear: proving she can command the spotlight as convincingly as she steals it. More solo records and defining moments as a headliner would cement her status as one of rap’s brightest young stars. — CARL LAMARRE
Trim (2025 Rank: N/A)
The South Carolina wunderkind makes her debut on the Hottest Female Rappers list, and it’s easy to see why. The newly minted XXL Freshman enjoyed a breakout 2025, detonating with her viral single “BOAT.” Propelled to hip-hop notoriety by the Pooh Shiesty-assisted remix, Trim’s lyrical flair and Minaj-coded delivery have positioned her as one of rap’s most intriguing rising stars.
She continued building momentum alongside Monaleo on “Nobody,” where her slithery rhyme patterns over the “Swag Surfin’” flip showcased both her nimble pen and precocious skill set, proving she could more than hold her own among her contemporaries.
Whether she’s delivering viral soundbites in interviews, torching opponents on freestyles, or sharing the stage with Young Thug, Trim continues to prove she’s far more than a viral moment — she’s a name steadily climbing hip-hop’s ranks. — C.L.
Latto (2025 Rank: No. 7)
Despite her amazing pregnancy and months out of the spotlight, Latto never went anywhere. She simply gave fans a chance to miss her.
After laying low to begin the year, she returned in March with “Business & Personal,” the lead single from her fourth album, Big Mama. The record pulled back the curtain on a new chapter of her life, revealing she was expecting her first child while setting the tone for an album that balanced superstar confidence with newfound vulnerability.
Commercially, Big Mama proved Latto’s momentum hasn’t slowed. The project became her third consecutive top 20 debut on the Billboard 200, opening at No. 16, while reaching No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Beyond the charts, Latto’s cultural impact remained undeniable, landing an ESSENCE cover and making a triumphant return to the stage at the ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans for her first performance since giving birth. — CHRIS CLAXTON
Doechii (2025 Rank: No. 2)
As fans eagerly anticipate her first full-length studio album, Doechii has been busy outside easing that wait. The Grammy winner’s profile-raising over the last six months includes her pairing with Lady Gaga on “Runway,” lead single from The Devil Wears Prada 2. Doechii reminded fans of her powerful stage presence via several dates on Lollapalooza’s South America festival, in addition to joining SZA to perform “Ready or Not” at the 2026 BET Awards tribute to Ms. Lauryn Hill. Doechii also took home the BET Her Award for the empowering anthem “Girl, Get Up,” also with SZA alongside. — GAIL MITCHELL
Monaleo (2025 Rank: No. 9)
Monaleo has — quite literally — been unstoppable in 2026. She closed out last year with the release of her Who Did the Body mixtape, which significantly raised her profile as her “Putting Ya Dine” single rode an NBA YoungBoy remix to No. 28 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. She embarked on a headlining tour in support of the mixtape but had to cancel several dates due to an emergency medical procedure. Nevertheless, the Houston MC found her way back on the road as a supporting act on Summer Walker’s arena-conquering Still Finally Over It Tour.
In just six months, Monaleo picked up outstanding new artist at the NAACP Image Awards, won breakthrough hip-hop artist at the American Music Awards, and earned two nods at the BET Awards. Fittingly, she also received a proclamation by the Houston City Council declaring April 24 as “Leondra Roshawn Caldwell Day.” With her Teezo Touchdown-assisted “Everything Pinka” winning over new fans every day — as is her remix of Trim’s “Nobody” — Monaleo is playing no games this year. — KYLE DENIS
Sexyy Red (2025 Rank: N/A)
This year, Sexyy kicked off 28th birthday by releasing Yo Favorite Trappa Favorite Rappa, reminding fans that her signature blend of humor, confidence and unfiltered bars remains as entertaining as ever.
Her presence extended far beyond her own releases. She made her Coachella debut, performed during the 2026 NFL Draft festivities in Pittsburgh, and kept festival crowds energized with a medley of hits at Rolling Loud California. She also continued to pop up in unexpected places, making viral appearances on WWE NXT and at Rob49’s Vulture Island Experience in New Orleans.
Sexyy Red also remained one of rap’s most sought-after collaborators, landing on two songs from Drake’s three-project album release. “Cheetah Print” from MAID OF HONOUR debuted at No. 41 on the Hot 100, while “Hurrr Nor Thurr” from HABIBTI opened at No. 61, further proving that her presence still moves the needle.
While 2026 hasn’t been defined by blockbuster solo hits, Sexyy Red has remained a constant force across music, festivals, sports and pop culture. Few rappers have maintained this level of visibility while continuing to expand their reach beyond hip-hop. — C.C.
Yung Miami (2025 Rank: N/A)
What a comeback.
Rap fans have more or less written Yung Miami off as the latest rapper to turn media personality once the City Girls decided to take a hiatus after their third album RAW flopped back in 2023. She now sees herself as one of the hottest rappers in the game as her single “Spend Dat” has not only become the song of the summer; it has climbed to No. 19 on the Hot 100 after debuting on the chart at No. 66 on Jun. 6, giving her the highest charting record of her career as both a solo artist and as a member of the City Girls.
Her comeback didn’t stop there, as she joined DaBaby for his twerk-fest hit “Pop That Thang (Remix),” further increasing her visibility in the rap space. With her buzz at a fever-pitch, earlier this month, the white-hot Miami slammed the brakes and exited Bossman Dlow’s Motion Party Tour to focus on her upcoming solo album.
Her and her track are so poppin’; the New York Knicks tapped her to perform the song on a float during their championship parade. — A.D.
Cardi B (2025 Rank: No. 1)
When Big Bardi snagged the coveted musical guest spot for the 1,000th SNL episode on Jan. 31, the rap game should have known her foot wasn’t coming off the gas. After snagging her second Billboard 200 No. 1 album with 2025’s Am I the Drama?, Cardi launched her Little Miss Drama Tour in support of the record, headlining 35 arena shows across the United States and Canada. That trek — which spawned the “Pretty & Petty” mute challenge and found Cardi sharing her platform with rising stars like YKNiece and Natalie Nunn — grossed over $70 million from 453,000 tickets sold, according to Billboard Boxscore.
While on tour, Cardi picked up three wins at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards, previewing more additions to her trophy case from May’s American Music Awards (three wins) and June’s BET Awards (her first triumph in the best female hip-hop artist category since 2019). At the BET Awards, Cardi also delivered a show-stopping, four-song Am I the Drama? medley that made a strong case for the album’s Grammy chances next February.
Ever the headline-maker, Cardi also dominated the cultural conversation with an unfortunate back-and-forth with Latto, as well as her buzzy love life, endorsement of Jasmine Crockett for the U.S. Senate, Essence Festival of Culture debut and cheeky guest appearance on Kehlani’s “Pocket.” To top it all off, Cardi also entered the hair-care arena with her own Grow Good Beauty, her first venture with the Revolve Group, marking a new chapter in her business portfolio. — K.D.
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