Top 10 Female MCs of All Time

BET.com takes a look at the Top 10 Female MCs of all time.

Da Brat - Queen Latifah sold gold before her, but Da Brat became the first female MC to go platinum with her debut "Funkdafied." She's since released a gold CD, "Anuthatantrum" and a platinum LP, "Unrestricted." Though she struggled in the later part of her career, releasing a disappointing project in 2003 and going to jail for aggravated assault five years later, she's cemented her place in hip-hop history.

1 / 10

Da Brat - Queen Latifah sold gold before her, but Da Brat became the first female MC to go platinum with her debut "Funkdafied." She's since released a gold CD, "Anuthatantrum" and a platinum LP, "Unrestricted." Though she struggled in the later part of her career, releasing a disappointing project in 2003 and going to jail for aggravated assault five years later, she's cemented her place in hip-hop history.

Foxy Brown - Foxy changed the game when she released her debut, "Ill Na Na," a week after Lil' Kim's "Hardcore," the other album responsible for birthing the hypersexualized female MC. Two platinum CDs and one gold disc into her career, she began unravelling after being diagnosed with hearing loss and getting arrested countless times until she landed in jail for probation violation in 2007.

2 / 10

Foxy Brown - Foxy changed the game when she released her debut, "Ill Na Na," a week after Lil' Kim's "Hardcore," the other album responsible for birthing the hypersexualized female MC. Two platinum CDs and one gold disc into her career, she began unravelling after being diagnosed with hearing loss and getting arrested countless times until she landed in jail for probation violation in 2007.

Eve - The last new prominent MC to burst onto the scene, Eve proved she can spit with the guys as the first lady of Ruff Ryders. Her appearance on The Roots' "You Got Me" earner her a Grammy before she released her solo debut, paving the way for a successful career that included two platinum albums and one gold disc. Her musical success eventually landed her a few movie roles, her own self-titled sitcom and her Fetish clothing line.

3 / 10

Eve - The last new prominent MC to burst onto the scene, Eve proved she can spit with the guys as the first lady of Ruff Ryders. Her appearance on The Roots' "You Got Me" earner her a Grammy before she released her solo debut, paving the way for a successful career that included two platinum albums and one gold disc. Her musical success eventually landed her a few movie roles, her own self-titled sitcom and her Fetish clothing line.

Lil' Kim - Sex sells, but the old adage wasn't true in hip-hop until Lil' Kim struck platinum back in the mid '90s. Femcees had mostly been tomboy-ish before Kim (and Foxy) sparked rap's sexual revolution. She released three consecutive platinum albums until, but her career's been slumping since she went to jail on perjury charges in 2005. Kim's inspired a legion of femcees, including Trina, Jacki-O and Khia.

4 / 10

Lil' Kim - Sex sells, but the old adage wasn't true in hip-hop until Lil' Kim struck platinum back in the mid '90s. Femcees had mostly been tomboy-ish before Kim (and Foxy) sparked rap's sexual revolution. She released three consecutive platinum albums until, but her career's been slumping since she went to jail on perjury charges in 2005. Kim's inspired a legion of femcees, including Trina, Jacki-O and Khia.

MC Lyte - Lyte nearly made you forget a woman was holding the mic. What she lacked in commercial success, she made up in lyrical skills. Though she hasn't been active in recent years, Lyte's still considered a voice for female MCs.

5 / 10

MC Lyte - Lyte nearly made you forget a woman was holding the mic. What she lacked in commercial success, she made up in lyrical skills. Though she hasn't been active in recent years, Lyte's still considered a voice for female MCs.

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Roxanne Shante - Roxanne Shante quickly earned her stripes by battling UTFO. While her career was short-lived, she inspired all femcees who followed to demand respect in a male dominated industry.

6 / 10

Roxanne Shante - Roxanne Shante quickly earned her stripes by battling UTFO. While her career was short-lived, she inspired all femcees who followed to demand respect in a male dominated industry.

Salt-N-Pepa - Salt-N-Pepa got racy years before Kim and Foxy did. Second to none as far as female groups are concerned, the trio's released three platinum CDs and two gold albums from 1986 to 1997. No other female MC has continuously dropped commercially successful projects over a 10-year stretch.

7 / 10

Salt-N-Pepa - Salt-N-Pepa got racy years before Kim and Foxy did. Second to none as far as female groups are concerned, the trio's released three platinum CDs and two gold albums from 1986 to 1997. No other female MC has continuously dropped commercially successful projects over a 10-year stretch.

Missy Elliot - Missy's quirky, yet fun videos provided a needed alternative to the hypersexualized femcee who had become the industry standard at the time of her emergence. She's also a chart-topping producer and songwriter, having produced songs for acts like Destiny's Child and Whitney Houston. Second only to Lauryn in overall sales, Missy has released more platinum albums (five) than any other female MC.

8 / 10

Missy Elliot - Missy's quirky, yet fun videos provided a needed alternative to the hypersexualized femcee who had become the industry standard at the time of her emergence. She's also a chart-topping producer and songwriter, having produced songs for acts like Destiny's Child and Whitney Houston. Second only to Lauryn in overall sales, Missy has released more platinum albums (five) than any other female MC.

Queen Latifah - The original queen has transcended the female MC. Through her 21-year career, Latifah has released two gold albums, starred in her own sitcom and owns a successful production company, Flava Unit. She's also won a Golden Globe and a Grammy and has been nominated for an Emmy and Academy Award.

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Queen Latifah - The original queen has transcended the female MC. Through her 21-year career, Latifah has released two gold albums, starred in her own sitcom and owns a successful production company, Flava Unit. She's also won a Golden Globe and a Grammy and has been nominated for an Emmy and Academy Award.

Lauryn Hill - Hill's widely considered the greatest femcee of all time despite her lack of musical output. A standout member of The Fugees, she became a superstar when the groups' second album, "The Score," sold 18 million worldwide and established Lauryn as one of the game's premiere MCs, period. Her solo debut, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" also sold 18 million worldwide and won five Grammys, a record for female performers at the time. She's the benchmark for female MCs skills and commercial success.

10 / 10

Lauryn Hill - Hill's widely considered the greatest femcee of all time despite her lack of musical output. A standout member of The Fugees, she became a superstar when the groups' second album, "The Score," sold 18 million worldwide and established Lauryn as one of the game's premiere MCs, period. Her solo debut, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" also sold 18 million worldwide and won five Grammys, a record for female performers at the time. She's the benchmark for female MCs skills and commercial success.