Beauties With Bars: AllHipHop Presents The Women of Battle Rap

April 04, 2023

Check out 50 of our favorite female battlers!

Women in Hip-Hop have not always been celebrated. However, AllHipHop.com wanted to give the ladies of battle rap their flowers. Often overlooked or stereotyped, femcees in one of Hip-Hop’s only competitive sports work just as hard as their male counterparts. The difference is, many of them are doing it while raising children, worrying about hair and make-up, and navigating pay disparities.

Queen of the Ring, the premier and first all-women’s battle rap league, launched many of the stars in the culture from their ring. Now, another league, Remy Ma’s Chrome 23, has popped out and has given the ladies in the culture more opportunities. In the last few years, major leagues, which usually book their shows around all men rosters, have started to include women on their big stages. There is simply no denying their power to perform, pull in an audience and bring that feminine energy that always keeps a card exciting.

This list of only 50 battle rappers spans generations. It is in alphabetical order, not ranking. There are also some women who did not make the list only because the list maxed out at 50. Still, those who did, we pause to salute— hoping the culture is celebrated and reminded of the jewels they have in its midst.

One of the most popular and impactful femcees, 40 B.A.R.R.S. has been up there with the biggest names in the women’s sport for over ten years. Her pen is as alluring as her cheetah print bodysuits, drawing in both men and women as admirers and adversaries alike, and earned her a place as the sole woman among the culture’s finest pens in the battle rap crew Writer’s Bloque. The most viewed female battle rapper with one of the most elite resumes in the sport, “Queen 40,” is also championed by one of the most loyal and dedicated fan bases, Team 40.

When Aeon burst onto the battle rap scene, she was refreshingly unorthodox. Labeled the battle rap’s misfit, as out there as her personality is— she is just as anchored as a talent. The best way to describe her is the female version of Chess with a little Ol’ Dirty Bastard independence. This Midwest fireball was one of the breakout stars in Hitman Holla’s “Bags and Bodies” reality show and is a member of C3’s elite 4 My Ladies Crew. What she lacks in experience, she makes up for in grit and passion. AND SHE CAN RAP.  

Former Bad Boy recording artist Babs Bunny rose to fame in the early 2020s in Diddy’s Making the Band. She’s been at the forefront of female battle rap for over a decade, using her skills, high energy, and passion for the sport at Queen of the Ring, the first official all-female battle rap league with a history of trailblazing and making stars. Alongside co-founders Debo and Vague, QOTR produces battle rap events in their trademark ring, selling out venues like Irving Plaza and BB Kings in Times Square, and hosting some of the biggest women’s clashes in the history of the sport. Babs’ “Give it up for the ladies,” command has become a ubiquitous slogan for supporting female battle rap.

Despite being more than 60 battles and ten years deep into her career, OG battle rapper Bonnie Godiva continues to elevate, dizzying her opps with rapid-fire punches intertwined with clever wordplay. The cos-playing Yonkers femcee not only brings witty bars to the table but shows out with her fit on battle days, making sure she looks as out of this world as her performances. She’s been in the form of her life throughout the 2020s culminating as a semi-finalist in the first-ever all-female tournament on Chrome 23 last year.

Houston heavy-hitting puncher Buretta Blaze is a well-established figure in the female battle rap arena, regularly spitting hot lines worthy of her scorching name. She’s also one of the biggest voices to come out of Texas, not only as a rapper but as the co-founder of battle league Houston Bar Code which also spotlights the freshest local talent in their cypher series. Buretta Blaze has been putting in work for over a decade, making herself a threat with precisely delivered aggression channeled neatly through well-crafted bars.  

Queens native C3, made history just weeks ago as the first female battle rapper (in the modern era) to win a battle rap tournament on a major league. Her prize? A whopping $25,000 check. A freestyler beyond compare, she is also witty in her approach. C3’s For My Ladies crew opens doors for gay women like Aeon (breakout star of Bags and Bodies), Hashtag NKW, and Fresh. She is backed by her beautiful partner Cee the Boss, at any battle rap gig, who is also as deadly in a battle as she is easy to look at.

In addition to taking lives on stages (she killed newcomer Kausion in the championship round of the Chrome 23 tournament), she gives life as a member of Erica Ford’s Life Camp. She shares her incredible testimony and ability to use rap as a therapeutic and life-skills building tool to help young people in prisons, some of Queens’ most notorious projects and in schools.

Casey Jay has evolved into a household name, facing down male and female opposition with her aggressive style of attack and neatly aimed punchlines. Her ability to strike fear in the hearts of her male counterparts has earned the Texan an enchantress-like reputation. Smack called her the “Face of Female” battle rap, and since her debut on the Ultimate Rap League, she has lived up to the name. Not just because of her Cover Girl looks, but because she gets crazy when she performs. Think back to Ultimate Madness 3— did she not speed through the competition? There is a reason her nickname is Kylie Penner.

Beautiful Brooklyn Barsmith Cee The Boss means business when she steps in the ring, aggressively delivering gun-bar-spattered punches to dominate with steely poise. She punctuates her gritty lyrics with her animated performances, turning up the energy full blast every time she raps. Her epic back-and-forth with Krissy Yamagucci on her Queen of the Ring comeback was one of the best female clashes of the year and proved Cee is the full package.

Bronx native Chyna Ashley is a veteran emcee in battle rap, highly decorated for her lyrical prowess. The DOT MOB queen has been on hiatus for a number of years but continues to shake rooms with her unique float, powerful delivery, and hard-hitting punches. Her return to battle rap in the first Chrome 23 all-female tournament reminded people of how scary “the Female Biggie” really is— and left the community wanting more from this top-tier battler that has opened the doors for so many.

One of the most prominent voices in the Cleveland battle rap scene, Chetta is nothing that any emcee (male or female) should be comfortable playing with. While small in stature, her verbal punches hit hard like she is might be ten feet tall. With over ten years in the game, many people are just starting to recognize what a problem this battler is— but with her outstanding performances in the Chrome 23 tournament the flowers due her are certainly coming.

Coffee Brown has proved herself as one of the most dangerous female battle rappers over the past few years, rising through the rankings with the characteristic aggression of her gangsta bish persona. After exploding out of the thriving West Coast scene, The San Bernardino rapper showed out on battle rap’s biggest stages, determined to make a name for herself and by herself. Not only did Coffee make herself a household name and a mainstay, but she gained the most coveted honor in female battle rap, bagging Champion’s 2021 Woman of the Year title and belt.

Couture has been one of the most feared writers in female battle rap for over ten years, dominating with displays of elite lyricism delivered with controlled poise to reach the sport’s top tier. As well as using lyrical devices like scheming and wordplay, the Providence native also has a battle rap bag of tricks that includes unique props that she brandishes with the expertise of a showman. She’s delivered classics on Queen of the Ring over the years and become one of their biggest stars and a certified fan favorite.

“Daddy’s home!” When fans hear that slogan, they know that Don Ladyii, one of the original superstars on the Queen of the Ring platform is in the building and about to catch wreck with someone. Her raspy voice, small frame, and tendency to giggle a lot might be misleading to opponents who simply think the Queens native is an easy walk in the park. Don’t be fooled. This emcee is dangerous, always spitting street raps that cut to the core of whoever is standing in front of her. There is no “father to her style,” and she has metaphorically parented so many that have come after her.

E Hart is one of the original Queen of the Ring emcees. The Bronx native’s intricate pen has struck fear in both female and male opponents. She holds several accolades including being a part of the first female battle on the Ultimate Rap League, and a part of the only female battle on Snoop’s Gladiator School. A rapper’s rapper, she still believes in straight bars and the dexterity of wordplay. This is why 50 Cent’s team tapped her music for the current season of BMF. She spits with the prowess of Nas and the intensity of the homie from the way, you know not to mess with. Hart does all that without all the dramatics currently canvassing the culture.

Eliza Versa has been working on her craft since the mid-2010s but had a breakout year in 2021 that saw her impress crowds at Queen of the Ring and She Goes Hard, with one standout being her crazy back-and-forth against fellow up-and-coming talent Aeon. She’s proved her lyrical ability and charismatic stage presence in several battles with her peers and is ready to take it up a notch.

There is something enchanting about the New York City rapper Fendi that people are trying to figure out. She doesn’t do drama. She has an impeccable pen. She is smart. She is conscious. She is probably the most “Lauryn Hill-ish” out of the roster of women active in the culture. She is beautiful, giving the world a full artist package. With all of those accolades don’t forget this one thing: she is deadly as a performer. This emerging artist has been laying the groundwork for her career for years but had a break out in 2022 on Hitman Holla’s reality show, “Bags and Bodies.” The potential is there for her to be one of the greats. Now, the world is waiting to see her bloom.

One of the most exciting talents in her class, First Lady Flamez has shown she’s a threat in battles with some top pens, male and female, and has proved herself a worthy adversary by coupling her precisely crafted wordplay with steadfast aggression. She gives raw street style tightly packaged in schemes and angles with an intense high-energy delivery. Her electrifying battle against Viixen the Assassin on the joint URL and QOTR event, Watch The Throne 4, was one of the most talked about matchups of the year and would lead to her facing battle rap legends JC and E Hart.

Frank Nitty comes to slay every time, not just with her gritty punchlines, animated delivery, and powerful projection but with her flawlessly curled baby hair, immaculate make-up, and perfectly manicured talons. In the few years since her debut, Nittii has carved out her space in the scene with her bullying aggression, captivating flows, and room-shaking punches making her an exciting newcomer.

Gattas, the former Grind Time Now emcee and always a threat, brings humor and lyricism to the game. Hailing from Chicago, she makes battle rap look easy and packages her natural intellect into rounds that are as entertaining as they are thought provocative. She is also one of the most highly regarded in the sport, making music that solidifies her as a well-rounded artist.

Hashtag NKW is an emerging talent in battle rap, making her mark in what seems to be one of the most competitive eras in battle rap. Cool and laid back, she brings a New York sensibility to the stage that is similar to Ms. Fit, but without the comedy. As a member of C3’s 4 My Ladies Crew, she brings “edge,” “drive,” and “focus” to the culture. That is amplified by the believability attribute that seeps out of everything she raps about. #NKW is one of the next wave of emcees that has the potential of taking over.

Emerging talent Hope Trilly used her sharp lyricism and comfortable stage presence to snag a coveted place on Hitman Holla’s Bag$ and Bodies Reality show where she became an even greater threat among her class. Whether peppering her opponent with strings of chain punches condensed between folds of neatly layered lines or using humor to roast her way to submission, the talented newcomer has a range of weapons in her arsenal. Her natural beauty shines through just as much as her quiet, self-assured confidence, the poise of someone who knows she could be next up.

The First Lady of We Go Hard and  one of the top voices in the CakeLyfe fam (supporting her brothers Steams and Chess), Jade in a word is “ferocious.” She has to be … just by earning the right to stand next to those lyrical miracles and top emcees in the game. But don’t get it twisted, she is not one of those females in a rap crew that needs to be in one for validation. SHE GETS BUSY AND ADDS VALUE. So much so, many shake and fumble when her name is even mentioned. Just like her name, she is a gem in the culture that people often overlook.

New York newcomer Jay Love is quickly gaining attention and becoming one to watch out for among her class with her distinct cadence and punching powers. The buxom beauty is so much more than a pretty face; she’s been busy shaking rooms since her arrival with her hard-hitting punches delivered with concise aggression as she stalks the stage, making her an exciting addition to the scene with the potential to go far.

Jaz the Rapper has been smoking opponents since she was a teen. Her wordplay, room-rocking haymakers, and ability to create moments make her a fan favorite. Not only does she come equipped with a college degree, but she possesses a high battle IQ. Jaz understands the psychology of winning and that battle rap is an art; there’s a reason why Murda Mook crowned her “the female Mook.” She captivates the audience with subtle smiles, personality to boot, and then turns up on them with room-rocking haymakers. The most heralded female rapper in the culture and voted Top Female Battle Rapper of 2022 by AllHipHop.Com readers, she does two two-on-two’s a day apart and still kills. The beautiful tactician is also a founder member and a third of the most dangerous female crew in battle rap, The Bardashians. She is one of only two women in battle rap history to make the male-dominated Champion of the Year rankings, and after cooking all year long and taking on more battles than ever, she’s one of the favorites to win 2022 Woman of the Year. Last summer, Jaz pulled up on AllHipHop to tell us how far she has come. Check out the interview here.

An early staple on Queen of the Ring, K Prophet refined her distinct flow and hood poetry style over time, bringing raw lyricism and a fit as unique as her raps. Whether using comedy or angles to construct her deft and deadly breakdowns, this Queens native’s pen is the star of her layered rhymes. Her unorthodox delivery combines with a high level of lyricism to make K Prophet one of the most underrated competitors in the women’s game.

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