List of best-selling female rappers

The following is a list of the best-selling female rappers of all time, based on sales of albums and singles. As of 2016, traditional sales have been combined with streaming and digital downloads, making up album-equivalent units.

Best-selling female rappers worldwide

Artist Country of origin Period active Studio albums Reported sales
Nicki Minaj Trinidad & Tobago 2004 – Present 5 100 million[1]
Lil' Kim United States 1994 – present 5 45 million[2]
Missy Elliott United States 1991 – present 6 30 million[3]
Lauryn Hill United States 1988 – present 1 20 million[4][5]

Best-selling singles from female rappers

Sales based on claimed certifications by the RIAA in the United States.

Artist Single Released Sales
(in millions)		 Source
Nicki Minaj "Super Bass" 2011 12 [6]
Cardi B "Bodak Yellow" 2017 11 [7]
Cardi B featuring J Balvin & Bad Bunny "I Like It" 2018 11 [7]
Nicki Minaj "Starships" 2012 10 [6]
Jessie J featuring Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj "Bang Bang" 2014 10 [6]
Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B "Girls Like You" 2017 10 [7]
Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX "Fancy" 2014 9 [8]
Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea "Problem" 2014 8 [8]
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion "WAP" 2020 8 [7]
G-Eazy feat. A$AP Rocky & Cardi B "No Limit" 2017 7 [7]
Lizzo "Truth Hurts" 2017 7 [9]
Doja Cat "Say So" 2020 6 [10]
Migos feat. Nicki Minaj & Cardi B "Motorsport" 2017 6 [6]
Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj "Side to Side" 2016 6 [6]
Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora "Black Widow" 2014 5 [8]
Yo Gotti featuring Nicki Minaj "Rake It Up" 2017 5 [6]
Ciara featuring Missy Elliot "1, 2 Step" 2004 5 [11]
Big Sean featuring Nicki Minaj "Dance (A$$)" 2011 5 [6]
Doja Cat "Streets" 2019 5 [12]
Doja Cat featuring SZA "Kiss Me More" 2021 5 [10]
Lizzo "Good As Hell" 2016 5 [9]

Best-selling female rap albums worldwide

Release year Album Artist Claimed sales References
2010 Pink Friday Nicki Minaj 10,8 million [13]
1998 The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Lauryn Hill 20 million [14][15]
2018 Invasion of Privacy Cardi B 3 million [16]
2014 The New Classic Iggy Azalea 2 million [17]
2012 Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded Nicki Minaj 10.4 million [18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Columbia Concerts: 9 shows to see this October, including Nicki Minaj, Method Man and Redman". The Post and Courier. September 30, 2024. Archived from the original on October 11, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Skelton, Eric (August 1, 2018). "Premiere: Lil' Kim Lives a Life of Luxury in "Nasty One" Video". Complex. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  3. ^ Platon, Adelle (June 14, 2016). "Missy Elliott Named Honoree at VH1 Hip Hop Honors: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  4. ^ Greig, Jon. "Lauryn Hill Says She Was Called 'Crazy' For Calling Out Systemic Racism Over A Decade Ago: Now, It's 'Part Of The Mainstream Chorus'". Blavity. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "20 Years Since Ms. Lauryn Hill's Debut, How Much Has Changed?". Paper. June 29, 2018. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Gold & Platinum – RIAA (Nicki Minaj)". RIAA. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Gold & Platinum – RIAA (Cardi B)". RIAA. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Gold & Platinum – RIAA (Iggy Azalea)". RIAA. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Gold & Platinum – RIAA (Lizzo)". RIAA. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Gold & Platinum – RIAA (Doja Cat)". RIAA. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA (Missy Elliot)". RIAA. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "Doja Cat - Streets". RIAA. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  13. ^ Trentz Fitzgerald (April 4, 2012). "Nicki Minaj Performs 'Roman Reloaded' Concert on BET's 106 & Park". Pop Crush. Archived from the original on July 22, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  14. ^ Gee, Andre (October 18, 2023). "Lauryn Hill and the Fugees Gave Their Hometown a Legendary Tour Opener". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "First female rapper to reach RIAA Diamond status". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  16. ^ Jessica Napoli (September 16, 2020). "What is Cardi B's net worth?". yahoo.com. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  17. ^ "Iggy Azalea RIAA Certifications". RIAA. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  18. ^ "The Global Bestsellers of 2012" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.