If it wasn’t obvious enough last year, the rap ladies are providing the best of the genre. With dream collaborations coming into fruition and envelope-pushing visuals, the ladies did everything to exceed expectations we had yet to think of. To memorialize 2021, I want to highlight 21 of the arguably best single releases (with a few honorable mentions) within one of the greatest years of the femme rap niche.
“Thot Shit” – Megan Thee Stallion
Both an objective contender for song of the summer and the year’s best rap performance, “Thot Shit” celebrates Megan’s feminine autonomy and sexual agency as an incoming college graduate, Grammy winner, and venom-spitter who simply does not “brag enough.” The OG Parker-produced droplet is complemented by a cinematic visual of working-class women taunting a male politician archetype with the thot shit they love to hate. Better yet, an ice-cold BET Awards performance showcasing Thee Stallion’s impressive breath control and infamously stable knees reminds us that she is in her prime, and this is the perfect song to bask in its glory.
“Best Friend” – Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
Surviving a premature leak to become the longest-running femcee collaboration on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Saweetie sought to create a song celebrating camaraderie she felt was missing in the mainstream and accomplished just that. Doja Cat, the musical “bestie in a Tessie,” effortlessly matches the Icy Girl’s lighthearted bars and rides for her as she twerks on the hood of their bedazzled Tesla in the Dave Meyers-directed video. As we continue to wait for Pretty Bitch Music, this timeless bop is sure to remain in our “going out” playlist rotation. We know that’s right.
“Money” – Rico Nasty feat. Flo Milli
Hopefully the first of many Flo Nasty collaborations to come, the eclectic pair did not disappoint on “Money.” Paying an interpolative homage to a 2 Live Crew classic, Rico and Flo demand financial compensation for every second they spend on a man’s conscience. The Maryland native teases her “little booty” and affinity for long hair before providing a beat change for her Mobile right-hand’s taunts and commands: “You want a bad bitch, do you got what it take?” The gold-digger femcee persona is as culturally age-old as the song’s sample and may be a clever way for the artists to cement themselves on the roster of our generation’s hip-hop it-girls. Listeners cannot help but want some money and (a lot) more Flo Nasty.
“Fuck Him All Night” – Azealia Banks
As 2020’s quarantine mandates began to lift in the United States, Azealia figured per Instagram story that people cared to do one thing: fuck. The NSFW track, partially inspired by her sexcapades with Ye fanboys, marks a return to the eclectic artist’s signature hip-house style patented early in her career. While comparing her genitalia print to Jay-Z’s lips, our problematic fave reminds us of her timeless lyrical prowess in a song fit to be spun in the wee hours at a dimly lit city nightclub. Needless to say, the unpredictable vegan diva gave what it needed to give.
“MMM MMM” – Kali feat. ATL Jacob
Extending her hit streak following the success of “Do A Bitch,” the Georgia newcomer dropped a call-and-response track dedicated to knowing her wants and desires. Less elaborate in comparison to E-40’s “Choices (Yup),” doing what Kali says is her only “mmm hmm” elicitor, rightfully so. “MMM MMM” promotes personal boundaries above all else, suggestively warning against saying “mmm hmm” to posting a suitor on your page too soon. Catchy and relatable, Kali tapped into a songwriting formula that is nothing short of a whole mood.
“Need To Know” – Doja Cat
Although the pop rapper intended for the track to serve as a promotional single, America needed to know more about the ten-out-of-ten dick she heard about from a friend of a friend. The Planet Her centerpiece stylistically blends hip-pop and R&B with ease; its infectious earworm melodies of unabashed erotic lyrics (and ultra-horny background vocals) is the icing on the cake. Deservingly, “Need To Know” also earned Doja a nomination in the inaugural Best Melodic Rap Performance category for the 2022 Grammys, further validating the star’s prospects in becoming our next cross-over pop supreme. Thank you, Doja. We love you.
“Twerkulator” – City Girls
Originally scrapped from the duo’s City On Lock album due to its sample, Twerkulator was revived by its popularity on TikTok and maintained its momentum through an official release, including an award-winning video directed by the legendary Missy Elliott. Yung Miami and JT float over an interpolation of “Planet Rock” to create a Gold-certified club track with potential cookout longevity. Thanks to the Dade County pair, Summer 2021 will be memorialized with shaking what our mama gave us.
“Roaring 20s” – Flo Milli
Opening the year on an unorthodox Kenny Beats production, Flo Milli only needed two minutes to remind you that she’s in her prime and doing damage to the rap game. The Mobile juggernaut shines on a band of trap hi-hats and bass constructed around a 1960s show tune. Borrowing the track’s title from an era synonymous with deviant women, the rapstress flips the “if I were a rich man” loop to disregard double standards as “stupid shit” and celebrate being “a rich bitch” that could play the same game. Truth be told, this womanist anthem is hard.
“Baby Mama Coochie” – Bbyafricka feat. Saweetie
The Inglewood model found her way on Saweetie’s Pretty Summer Playlist: Season 1 compilation after the latter heard and remixed the coochie hymn’s original cut. Known previously as the alternative artist behind “Downtown & Cigarettes,” Bbyafricka sought to explore her agility as a rapper with “Baby Mama Coochie” being one of her first releases. If their tones did not complement each other’s enough, the Icy Girl’s braggadocio diva verse works with the newcomer’s tweet-worthy one-liners and freaky hoe proclamations. Two rap projects in with the attention of Lil Yachty and Saucy Santana now at her helm, we are collectively excited to ask: what’s next?
“Santanny” – Bktherula
Bktherula can’t trust no gnat, and why should she? The Atlanta artist’s audience multiplied since signing with Warner Records and perpetually cranks out viral hits through TikTok; ”Santanny” is another notch to brag about. This moody cut intimidates panty-droppers with racks, mansions, and handsomeness, but it is the head-banging instrumental that shines through her commands and chants. Impressively, Rula Santanny is one of few women spearheading an emerging rap subgenre predominated by acts like Yeät and Ken Car$on. Black Tanner, with three projects now under her belt, can (and will) only get larger.
“Syrup” – Tkay Maidza
Tkay blessed us with the hottest bassline of the 2021 and it belongs to “Syrup.” Deviating from her dominance in the pop world, the Australian maestro exerts her hard-hitting multisyllabic flow on an industrial beat that cannot help but elevate it. Escaping to a state of unreachable bliss is Maidza’s mission, and her lyrical prowess justifies why she should “take the cake and the kitchen knife” on her way there. “Syrup” is a daydream professing its desire to get low, smoke, and spend riches through a pandemic. Don’t we all?
“Big Energy” – Latto
A notable departure from her complacency in trap, “Big Energy” became Latto’s most commercial (and camp) release to date. Spitting over the classic “Genius of Love” sample previously embraced by her biracial contemporary, Mariah Carey, the Clayton County rapper boasts about the fantasy she can provide for a potential suitor. The single surpassed “Bitch From Da Souf” as her highest-charting entry on the Billboard Hot 100 despite its lukewarm critical reception and social media backlash against its endearingly cheesy music video. Regardless, it’s a big smash that will be remembered as the quintessential segue into Latto’s next big era.
“Pedi” – Baby Tate
Though she dropped the Yung from her stage name, the multi-talented Baby Tate remains playful and clever per usual on the homophonic “Pedi.” The ATLien brings light to her shadow side, warning enemies about how slick her mouth (and bars) could be if you try her. Fitting for an artist well-experienced in Twitter spats with stans, “Pedi” is a bubblegum omen reminiscent of Nicki Minaj’s “Stupid Hoe” and its visual reflects the fun the rapper-producer has with it. This is another stepping stone for Baby Tate proclaiming that she and her talent are resilient.
“Bundles 2” – Kayla Nicole feat. Taylor Girlz & Flo Milli
“Go bad bitch, go bad bitch, go” was seemingly everywhere early this year, and we have the social media phenom Kayla Nicole and Atlanta trio Taylor Girlz to thank. The carefree Black girl anthem was already trending on TikTok prior to the release of its remix, but it was Flo Milli’s additional verse that inspired a viral dance and spread the “bad bitch” mantra further. Numbers aside, the artists’ synergy and lyrics of camaraderie as young and joyous (darker-skinned) Black women is, perhaps, its most important and favorable aspects. The ladies celebrate each other’s looks and laugh at whoever’s mad about it.
“Track & Field” – Enchanting feat. Kali
Enchanting and Kali is a dream collaboration and this single is proof. Rising stars in their own right, the tatted dolls blend their signature deep rasps and menacing bars as they run through their respective bags. A novice listener may have trouble distinguishing the two rappers by ear and their synergy sounds as if they could care less. The fact that the 1017 princess and Georgian belle could swap their verses of ideal men and yellow diamonds if they chose to may have been their reason to come together. In other words, they know and adore that they are each other’s perfect musical match.
“Uber Therapy” – Hook
Hook’s idiosyncratic flow and delivery perpetually sound as if she is having a conversation with the beat, and on “Uber Therapy” she unleashes a stream of consciousness. The Riverside-bred rapper vents about the societal expectations that agitate her to an inquisitive Uber driver, from eyelash applications to texting people back. Set to a piano trap production, the introspective track is authentic as it is moody. Even minuscule irritants deserve a release, and we are thankful that Hook did not decide to hold them all in.
“Whole Lotta Money Remix” – Bia feat. Nicki Minaj
The Boston heavyweight received a rare co-sign from the Queen of Rap both in the form of a show-stopping feature and her first collaborative back-and-forth verse. “Whole Lotta Money Remix” romanticizes flaunting wealth for the sake of it, notably in rocking ice to the neighborhood bodega or even to lay out by the pool. Nicki explained that she was drawn to complement Bia’s raspy tone and withdrawn delivery that rightfully perfects the song’s perpetually unbothered attitude. The Epic Records signee’s recognition in the mainstream may be long overdue, yet the timing of this hit’s release–reaching TikTok before Nicki’s involvement–could not have been more perfect. For certain, her time is now.
“Beating Down Yo Block” – Monaleo
Dripped in pink any and everything, Monaleo holds no bars back on her breakthrough hit. The 20-year-old’s brash Houston accent colors lyrics about her inevitable come-up and escapades from “pimping on a daily basis.” Self-assured and unapologetic, Monaleo’s beat-breaking refusal to sweat a man attracted the tastemakers of TikTok, creating a viral sound of the bar with over 700,000 videos to date. With hundreds of thousands now faithfully watching her, it is only the beginning for the Texan star coming for what’s hers.
“Easy” – Lakeyah
Simply put, Lakeyah makes it look easy. The Quality Control heiress made this year’s XXL Freshman list, released three mixtapes in a span of nine months, and dropped a slew of visuals that reach a million YouTube views on average. This two-minute cut is not even her most popular single this year, but she talks her shit. The Milwaukee buck boasts about her imprint thus far, having more money than her father, and being the youngest going in (reminiscent of a teenage Foxy Brown). The 20-year-old is focused and gives us every reason to root for her on the way to the top.
“Seeing Green” – Nicki Minaj feat. Lil Wayne & Drake
This Young Money reunion is nostalgic. Since the Big Three’s last collaboration “No Frauds” in 2017, Nicki birthed a (biological) son, made amends with her labelmate Drake, and wrestled with a bout of writer’s block. The glorious instrumental instantly inspired her, penning a fiery verse declaring her victory against corporate giants and delivered with an intentional emphasis on each syllable. Now a decade into her mainstream career, the Barbie is a seasoned veteran with nothing else to prove and everything more to say; “Seeing Green’s” placement on the re-release of Beam Me Up Scotty, moreover, feels prophetic. The legendary trio persists in spitting some of their best, and this is worth a celebration.
“No More Parties” – Coi Leray
This was Coi Leray’s year. “No More Parties” became the Hackensack hopeful’s breakthrough hit, scoring her a platinum plaque, notoriety as a XXL Freshman, nominations at the BET Awards, and viral festival performances. The melodic track finds Leray reassessing her priorities, disengaging from anyone and everything that won’t help her “elevate” in accomplishing her goals (or pulling up in that “mmm mmm”). In spite of incessant critiques that nearly led her to quit entirely, she continues to drop masterful earworms that keep her on her haters’ radars. Leray is in a league of her own, flexible in her musical stylings with much more up her sleeve.
Honorable Mentions:
“Different Freestyle” – DreamDoll
“Facetime” – Kodie Shane feat. Rick Ross
“Food Stamp Hoe” – Sukihana feat. Saucy Santana
Article & Graphic Illustration by Jimmy Hawkins III