12 Classic Rap Albums by Women

These LPs need to be in your playlist.

12 Classic Rap LPs by Women - Hip hop can sometimes seem like a sausagefest. But luckily, the rap music history books feature some sterling contributions from MCs of the fairer sex. As Women’s History Month wraps up, BET.com highlights 12 classic rap albums crafted by lady lyricists.(Photos from left: Ruffhouse Records/Columbia, Atlantic Records, Big Beat Records)

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12 Classic Rap LPs by Women - Hip hop can sometimes seem like a sausagefest. But luckily, the rap music history books feature some sterling contributions from MCs of the fairer sex. As Women’s History Month wraps up, BET.com highlights 12 classic rap albums crafted by lady lyricists.(Photos from left: Ruffhouse Records/Columbia, Atlantic Records, Big Beat Records)

Lauryn Hill - “Intro,” The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) - It isn’t just an intro that tells you what the album will be about; it’s pretty and cinematic. With a guitar gently plucking way and a teacher taking roll call as Lauryn Hill’s name gets called over and over again, there’s a sadness that Lauryn wasn’t in that class to absorb the lessons that were learned there, but thankfully for us she did miss out so that we could have this gorgeous masterpiece. The work is also punctuated with classroom interludes featuring actual students in a class taught by Newark, New Jersey's now mayor Ras Baraka.(Photo: Ruffhouse, Columbia Records)

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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Artist: Lauryn Hill Year: 1998 While Lauryn Hill had major success as frontwoman of The Fugees, her solo debut album cemented her place in hip hop royalty. Miseducation was heartfelt and honest, stemming from her past relationship with band-mate Wyclef Jean. While L-Boogie bounced back and forth between rhyming and singing, her lyrical ferocity remained at the forefront, reminding us all of why she's one of the best to ever do it.(Photo: Ruffhouse Records/Columbia)

Lyte as a Rock - Artist: MC Lyte Year: 1988MC Lyte's debut album was anything but light. The Brooklyn rapper delivered stellar cuts throughout her project, including her title track, "Paper Thin," and the seminal "10% Dis," which remains as one of the hardest dis tracks in hip hop history. Lyte pulled no punches from day one and kept that going from album to album.(Photo: Atlantic Records)

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Lyte as a Rock - Artist: MC Lyte Year: 1988MC Lyte's debut album was anything but light. The Brooklyn rapper delivered stellar cuts throughout her project, including her title track, "Paper Thin," and the seminal "10% Dis," which remains as one of the hardest dis tracks in hip hop history. Lyte pulled no punches from day one and kept that going from album to album.(Photo: Atlantic Records)

Hard Core - Artist: Lil Kim Year: 1996From Junior M.A.F.I.A. to her own solo show, Lil Kim became a force on her debut album. Kim embodied an early #NoFilter, leaving all inhibitions at the door under the tutelage of the late Notorious B.I.G. She kept her subject matter real and sexually explicit, leaving no room for prudish behavior.(Photo: Big Beat Records)

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Hard Core - Artist: Lil Kim Year: 1996From Junior M.A.F.I.A. to her own solo show, Lil Kim became a force on her debut album. Kim embodied an early #NoFilter, leaving all inhibitions at the door under the tutelage of the late Notorious B.I.G. She kept her subject matter real and sexually explicit, leaving no room for prudish behavior.(Photo: Big Beat Records)

Ill Na Na - Artist: Foxy Brown Year: 1996The Firm’s mafioso missus had already been cosigned by rap legends in the making like Nas, Jay Z and LL Cool J on LL's “I Shot Ya (Remix)." Fox Boogie lived up to the hype with a chic, sexy, street-smart debut. Her rhymes ooze with charisma and confidence, and Trackmasters’ glitzy bounce keep heads bobbing, especially on hit singles “Get Me Home” with Blackstreet and the Hov-assisted “I’ll Be.” Simply put, Ill Na Na is ill.(Photo: Def Jam Records)

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Ill Na Na - Artist: Foxy Brown Year: 1996The Firm’s mafioso missus had already been cosigned by rap legends in the making like Nas, Jay Z and LL Cool J on LL's “I Shot Ya (Remix)." Fox Boogie lived up to the hype with a chic, sexy, street-smart debut. Her rhymes ooze with charisma and confidence, and Trackmasters’ glitzy bounce keep heads bobbing, especially on hit singles “Get Me Home” with Blackstreet and the Hov-assisted “I’ll Be.” Simply put, Ill Na Na is ill.(Photo: Def Jam Records)

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Black Reign - Artist: Queen Latifah Year: 1993Queen Latifah's third studio album was by far her most commercially successful project. Her debut brought us the classic track "Ladies First," but Black Reign had the super success known as "U.N.I.T.Y." along with the hood anthem "Just Another Day." The Queen sharpened her teachings this third time around, and the result was a classic.(Photo: Motown Records)

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Black Reign - Artist: Queen Latifah Year: 1993Queen Latifah's third studio album was by far her most commercially successful project. Her debut brought us the classic track "Ladies First," but Black Reign had the super success known as "U.N.I.T.Y." along with the hood anthem "Just Another Day." The Queen sharpened her teachings this third time around, and the result was a classic.(Photo: Motown Records)

Supa Dupa Fly - Artist: Missy Elliott Year: 1997Whether rocking an inflated garbage bag or running the red planet with Da Brat, Missy knew how to grab your attention with eye-catching music videos from day one. Beyond bugged-out visuals, the sounds of Supa Dupa Fly are otherworldly, too. Over musical soul mate Timbaland’s knocking electro instrumentals, the Virginia legend seamlessly switches between singing and spitting, injecting raps with one-of-a-kind onomatopoeia flows that ranged from love stories to blunt passing to simply talking smack like no lady lyricist prior.(Photo: Elektra Records)

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Supa Dupa Fly - Artist: Missy Elliott Year: 1997Whether rocking an inflated garbage bag or running the red planet with Da Brat, Missy knew how to grab your attention with eye-catching music videos from day one. Beyond bugged-out visuals, the sounds of Supa Dupa Fly are otherworldly, too. Over musical soul mate Timbaland’s knocking electro instrumentals, the Virginia legend seamlessly switches between singing and spitting, injecting raps with one-of-a-kind onomatopoeia flows that ranged from love stories to blunt passing to simply talking smack like no lady lyricist prior.(Photo: Elektra Records)

Hot, Cool & Vicious - Artist: Salt N Pepa Year: 1986The fact that Salt-N-Pepa are still rhyming along to their hit single "Push It" to this day on Geico commercials and episodes of American Idol is proof that this legendary trio broke new ground with their debut. Their debut was shocking in its approach to hip hop, fueled by spandex and 8-ball jacket aesthetics that urged you to both dance and listen. Sexual liberation and girl power ran rampant, and the effects of that project still echo.(Photo: Next Plateau Records Inc.)

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Hot, Cool & Vicious - Artist: Salt N Pepa Year: 1986The fact that Salt-N-Pepa are still rhyming along to their hit single "Push It" to this day on Geico commercials and episodes of American Idol is proof that this legendary trio broke new ground with their debut. Their debut was shocking in its approach to hip hop, fueled by spandex and 8-ball jacket aesthetics that urged you to both dance and listen. Sexual liberation and girl power ran rampant, and the effects of that project still echo.(Photo: Next Plateau Records Inc.)

Pink Friday - Artist: Nicki Minaj Year: 2010Ascending from mixtape all-star to YMCMB’s boss Barbie is no simple task. Yet Nicki Minaj made the leap like Jackie Joyner-Kersee, showing she’s more than punchlines and silly alter egos with Pink Friday. The eclectic debut album built on her clever rhymes by adding full-blown singer moments like “Your Love” and “Right Thru Me.” But the bark and bite are still there; just ask Lil Kim, who caught Nicki’s wrath on “Roman’s Revenge,” which also featured some guy named Eminem.(Photo: Cash Money Records/Universal Motown)

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Pink Friday - Artist: Nicki Minaj Year: 2010Ascending from mixtape all-star to YMCMB’s boss Barbie is no simple task. Yet Nicki Minaj made the leap like Jackie Joyner-Kersee, showing she’s more than punchlines and silly alter egos with Pink Friday. The eclectic debut album built on her clever rhymes by adding full-blown singer moments like “Your Love” and “Right Thru Me.” But the bark and bite are still there; just ask Lil Kim, who caught Nicki’s wrath on “Roman’s Revenge,” which also featured some guy named Eminem.(Photo: Cash Money Records/Universal Motown)

Jeanius - Artist: Jean Grae Year: 2008Jeanie’s super duper lyrical flows go down oh-so-smoothly paired with soul man 9th Wonder’s sliced and diced samples. “Most of this here is just braggadocio,” Grae 'fesses on “2-32’s,” yet collectively Jeanius gets much deeper, delving into passion and pain. Unfortunately, this third studio LP — originally slated for a 2004 release — leaked prematurely, and was subsequently shelved until 2008. But the boom-bap flavor still hasn’t staled.(Photo: Blacksmith Music)

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Jeanius - Artist: Jean Grae Year: 2008Jeanie’s super duper lyrical flows go down oh-so-smoothly paired with soul man 9th Wonder’s sliced and diced samples. “Most of this here is just braggadocio,” Grae 'fesses on “2-32’s,” yet collectively Jeanius gets much deeper, delving into passion and pain. Unfortunately, this third studio LP — originally slated for a 2004 release — leaked prematurely, and was subsequently shelved until 2008. But the boom-bap flavor still hasn’t staled.(Photo: Blacksmith Music)

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Who's the Boss? - Artist: Antoinette Year: 1989Antoinette showcases a hard-edged lyrical style on her maiden disc, predating the likes of future “gangstresses” Foxy Brown and Remy Ma. The Queens MC best remembered for her lyrical feud with MC Lyte (see: “Lights Out, Party’s Over”) rocked beats by the Ultramagnetic MCs on this oft-forgotten pillar in feisty female rap.(Photo: Next Plateau Records Inc.)

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Who's the Boss? - Artist: Antoinette Year: 1989Antoinette showcases a hard-edged lyrical style on her maiden disc, predating the likes of future “gangstresses” Foxy Brown and Remy Ma. The Queens MC best remembered for her lyrical feud with MC Lyte (see: “Lights Out, Party’s Over”) rocked beats by the Ultramagnetic MCs on this oft-forgotten pillar in feisty female rap.(Photo: Next Plateau Records Inc.)

Scorpion - Artist: Eve Year: 2001E-V-E built on her dope rookie album with a polished sophomore project that won over both pop fans and fellow skirted pit bulls. (See: “That’s What It Is,” featuring Styles P.) The Ruff Ryders First Lady’s increased ambition paid off, as she nabbed a Grammy for the hit Gwen Stefani collaboration “Let Me Blow Your Mind” and made the Scorpion’s catchy lead single, “Who’s That Girl?” the most rhetorical query of 2001.(Photo: Interscope)

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Scorpion - Artist: Eve Year: 2001E-V-E built on her dope rookie album with a polished sophomore project that won over both pop fans and fellow skirted pit bulls. (See: “That’s What It Is,” featuring Styles P.) The Ruff Ryders First Lady’s increased ambition paid off, as she nabbed a Grammy for the hit Gwen Stefani collaboration “Let Me Blow Your Mind” and made the Scorpion’s catchy lead single, “Who’s That Girl?” the most rhetorical query of 2001.(Photo: Interscope)

Kollage - Artist: Bahamadia Year: 1996Philly's own Bahamadia brought her solo debut at a time when hip hop was in a transitional phase where the culture was about to have a huge shift with the deaths of Tupac and Biggie in tandem. Enter Bahamadia, a lady boss whose rhymes were both thought-provoking and rhythmic. The wordsmith brought an elevated level of wordplay on Kollage, but had her syllables backed by production from legends like DJ Premier, Da Beatminerz, and even the Roots. If you haven't heard it, you definitely should.(Photo: EMI Records)

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Kollage - Artist: Bahamadia Year: 1996Philly's own Bahamadia brought her solo debut at a time when hip hop was in a transitional phase where the culture was about to have a huge shift with the deaths of Tupac and Biggie in tandem. Enter Bahamadia, a lady boss whose rhymes were both thought-provoking and rhythmic. The wordsmith brought an elevated level of wordplay on Kollage, but had her syllables backed by production from legends like DJ Premier, Da Beatminerz, and even the Roots. If you haven't heard it, you definitely should.(Photo: EMI Records)