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This is a following list of the best-selling female rappers of all time, including albums and singles.
Figures for the list include only pure sales figures and available figures after the 1990s: as of 2016 certifications have been combined with streaming or digital audio sales; in this list only digital sales are counted since most of today artists' pure sales are sold digitally.
Artist | Country of origin | Period active | Studio albums | Claimed sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nicki Minaj | Trinidad & Tobago | 2004 – Present | 5 | 100 million [1] |
Iggy Azalea | Australia | 2011 – 2024 | 3 | 65 million [2] [3] |
Cardi B | United States | 2016 – Present | 1 | 54 million [4] |
Lauryn Hill | United States | 1988 – present | 1 | 50 million [5] |
Lil' Kim | United States | 1994 – present | 5 | 45 million [6] |
Doja Cat | United States | 2012 – present | 4 | 42 million [7] [ better source needed ] |
Missy Elliott | United States | 1991 – present | 6 | 30 million [8] [9] [10] |
Sales based on claimed figures and certifications by RIAA in the United States.
Release year | Album | Artist | Claimed sales | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill | Lauryn Hill | 20 million | [32] [33] |
2021 | Planet Her | Doja Cat | 10,2 million | [34] |
2019 | Hot Pink | Doja Cat | 6,7 million | [35] |
2010 | Pink Friday | Nicki Minaj | 3,8 million | [36] |
2023 | Scarlet | Doja Cat | 3,1 million | [37] |
2018 | Invasion of Privacy | Cardi B | 3 million | [38] |
2014 | The New Classic | Iggy Azalea | 2 million | [39] |
2018 | Amala | Doja Cat | 1.9 million | [40] |
2012 | Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded | Nicki Minaj | 1.4 million | [41] |
Kimberly Denise Jones, better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper. She was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. In her teens, she would freestyle rap, influenced by fellow female hip-hop artists like MC Lyte and the Lady of Rage. In 1994, she was discovered by fellow rapper the Notorious B.I.G., who invited her to join his group Junior M.A.F.I.A.; their debut album, Conspiracy, generated two top 20 singles in the United States and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
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"Doo Wop (That Thing)" is a song by American rapper and singer Lauryn Hill from her debut solo studio album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). It was written and produced by Hill. The song was released as her solo debut and lead single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on August 10, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. No commercial release was originally intended for the single in the US, but limited-quantity physical formats were issued two months later, on October 27.
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian rapper, singer, and songwriter. Regarded as the "Queen of Rap" and one of the most influential rappers of all time, she is noted for her dynamic rap flow, witty lyrics, musical versatility, and alter egos and is credited as a driving force in the mainstream resurgence of female rap in the early 2010s. Minaj began rapping professionally in the early 2000s, and gained recognition after releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009.
Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj has released five studio albums, one compilation album, three mixtapes, 136 singles, and 20 promotional singles. After becoming involved with dancing, music and acting in high school in New York City, she eventually pursued her passion for rapping. Minaj was discovered by American rapper Lil Wayne and signed to Young Money Entertainment—a subdivision of Cash Money Records with distribution through Republic Records—in 2009. Her first solo single, "Your Love", peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, an achievement that made Minaj the first female artist to top the chart as a solo artist since 2002. Minaj's next three singles, "Check It Out", "Right Thru Me" and "Moment 4 Life", all peaked within the top 40 on the Hot 100. Her debut studio album, Pink Friday, was released in November 2010, topping the US Billboard 200 and has since been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album's fifth single, "Super Bass", reached the top ten in multiple countries, including the US where it peaked at number three and has since been certified Diamond by the RIAA for selling over 10 million units in the country.
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Belcalis Marlenis Cephus, known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper. Noted for her unfiltered public image and lyrics, Cardi B is one of the most successful female artists in contemporary music. From 2015 to early 2017, she gained recognition on Vine and Instagram, as a cast member on VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York, and by releasing two mixtapes.
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Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, known professionally as Doja Cat, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she began making and releasing music on SoundCloud as a teenager. Her song "So High" caught the attention of Kemosabe and RCA Records, with whom she signed a recording contract prior to the release of her debut extended play, Purrr! in 2014.
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