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Collaboration has long been a cornerstone of Hip-Hop. Over the years, various artists, groups, and labels within the culture have banded together for the cause of creating quality music. The groupings and pairings we’ve stacked below account for some of rap history’s most pivotal moments—none of it possible without that female costar.
But that’s a sentiment that extends to the role of women in the culture as a whole. Their contributions to the creation and evolution of Hip-Hop and its various moving parts can never be overlooked. In fact, that impact is amplified by the actual music. The ladies don’t just hang with the men but also outclass and outshine them on many occasions.
Getting lyrically annihilated and outperformed on your own song is a lowlight for emcees of any creed or gender; but when a woman turns in a performance superior to her counterparts, it gives even more credence to the fact that ladies can certainly be first, whether on a track with other men, in proximity to one another, or in any other instance in Hip-Hop.
While the ’80s and early ’90s included just the occasional female rapper spotlight as a guest star, rap and R&B songs featuring female rappers were par for the course by the latter half of the decade and into the 2000s.
With pioneers like MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Monie Luv, Salt-N-Peppa, Yo-Yo, and others helping pave the way for the generations to come. These artists and the ones that have come after provide a balance and perspective to the culture that wouldn’t exist otherwise.
In the 30 years since VIBE was founded, countless women rappers have put their imprint on the game. Here, we’re highlighting the 30 best guest appearances by female rappers that shook up and impacted the culture over the past 30 years (1995-2025).
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Rah Digga On “Cowboys”
Image Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Casual rap fans may identify Rah Digga as the First Lady of Busta Rhymes’ Flipmode Squad, however, her first major appearance came alongside her group Outsidaz’s feature on Fugees’ 1996 single, “Cowboys.”
Trading bars with Lauryn Hill, Digga made an instant impression with her couplets on this guest spot, which served as a precursor to her own debut album, Dirty Harriet, which made its way on shelves in 2000.
Memorable Lyrics: My style is perhaps one of the foulest/ I inhale large clouds of smoke through my chalice/ (Buckin’ at stars) And write rhymes for hours/ A ghetto missy, drinkin’ whiskey sours
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Shawnna On “P-Poppin’”
Image Credit: Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage Being explicit on wax has always been Shawnna‘s strong suit since she emerged as a solo artist on Ludacris’ raunchy 2000 hit, “What’s Your Fantasy.” Yet, that bit performance was outdone by her seductive lyrics on Luda’s strip anthem “P-Poppin.”
Employing a slippery, sinewy flow atop the pulsating backdrop, Shawnna gives the dancers and vixens a step-by-step tutorial on the proper moves to make to ensure a money shower.
Memorable Lyrics: “I’mma send a chapter to this pussy poppin legacy/ Shawna be that bi**h can’t no bitches come f**k wit me/ When I pop that cris im on that business and bubbly/ When im in that 6 wit 20s spinin on luxury”
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Cardi B On “No Limit”
Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Airbnb Songs like “Bodak Yellow” turned Cardi B into a superstar, but her performance on G-Eazy’s song had the staunchest of rap critics singing her praises. With a swaggering cadence that makes her entrance on the track an epic one, the Bronx bombshell outshines and outclasses her costars.
Despite only being a couple of years removed, the moment has become a defining one in Cardi’s historic, albeit young, career.
Memorable Lyrics: “I need tongue, I need face, give me brain, concentrate/ Apple phone, Prada case, kill a weave, rock a lace/ F**k the Moët, buy the Ace, f**k the Ghost, drive the Wraith/ Get some money, flood the Rollie, f**k the Rollie, Patek face”
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Queen Pen On “No Diggity”
Image Credit: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images R&B group Blackstreet’s 1996 single, “No Diggity,” was produced by Dr. Dre but anchored by a relatively unknown rhymer named Queen Pen.
Swooping in on the track’s final verse, Pen’s aggression grabbed listeners’ attention and paved the way for the release of her solo album, My Melody, in 1997. Pen’s contributions helped take the track to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Memorable Lyrics: “‘Cause that’s my peeps and we rolls deep/ Flyin’ first class from New York City to Blackstreet/ What you know about me? Not a motherf**king thing/ Cartier wooden frames sported by my shorty/ As for me, icy gleaming pinkie diamond ring/ We be’s the baddest clique up on the scene”
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Rapsody On “Complexion (A Zulu Love)”
Image Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE Being the lone guest star on a classic album from one of rap’s chosen ones crystallizes an artist in the annals of history, provided they rise to the occasion. Such was the case for North Carolina spitter Rapsody following her appearance on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly track, “Complexion.”
Demolishing her verse with a complex display of her lyrical acumen amid a stream of consciousness on the complexities of colorism, Rapsody’s performance was flawless and seamlessly complemented the headliner.
Memorable Lyrics: “You blew me away, you think more beauty in blue, green and grey/ All my solemn men up north, 12 years a slave/ 12 years of age, thinkin’ my shade too dark/ I love myself, I no longer need Cupid/ Enforcin’ my dark side like a young George Lucas/ Light don’t mean you smart, bein’ dark don’t make you stupid”
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Lauryn Hill On”Nobody”
Image Credit: Anthony Barboza/Getty Images Only a talent as enigmatic and mercurial as Lauryn Hill could release one of the most acclaimed albums in music history, fall off the music map for nearly 25 years, and randomly pop up out with arguably the verse of the year. Like nothing happened.
That’s exactly what she did with her “believe-it-when-you-hear-it” appearance on Nas’ King’s Disease standout “Nobody” in 2021.
Memorable Lyrics: “My awareness like Keanu in The Matrix/ I’m savin’ souls and y’all complainin’ ’bout my lateness/ Now it’s illegal for someone to walk in greatness/ They want the same shh, but they don’t take risks”
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Sole On “Who Dat”
Image Credit: Prince Williams/WireImage JT Money’s 1999 single, “Who Dat,” took the Miami rapper to the upper echelon of the pop charts, but the success of the song had as much to do with his costar, Sole. Her presence on the track made it an anthem for the fellas and ladies alike.
Giving admirers the cold shoulder while mobbing with her crew of femme fatales, Sole’s aggressive, yet cocksure delivery on this outing makes it one of the more underrated, yet slept-on appearances.
Memorable Lyrics: “Me and my girls rollin deep, represent the Sole/ Bunch of fly-ass bi**hes, when we ride it’s on/ See them ni**as all pause, droppin digital phones/ Askin me, where you from, cause they wantin to clone”
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Da Brat On “In My Bed (So So Def Mix)”
Image Credit: SGranitz/WireImage Da Brat continued her dominant run of guest appearances with her work on the remix to R&B group Dru Hill’s 1996 single, “In My Bed.” Rhyming in tandem with Jermaine Dupri, the Funkdafied one interrupted schedules with a flurry of couplets that exemplify her excellence as an emcee.
Memorable Lyrics: “My life ain’t complete if I ain’t got no buzz/ And can’t nobody do it like we does/ It’s a must brat bust and the mic you’re handin’ me/ And represent for the rest of the family”
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Foxy Brown On “Bang Bang”
Image Credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage Foxy Brown dropped what very well may be the most scathing verse from a female rap artist ever with her blistering stanza from Capone-N-Noreaga’s 2000 gun salute, “Bang Bang.”
Released in the apex of her beef with rival Lil Kim, Foxy’s bars lit the fuse that exploded with the infamous 2001 Hot 97 shootout between Kim’s Junior M.A.F.I.A. crew and the entourage of CNN member Capone.
Memorable Lyrics: “Hot damn ho, here we go again/ Pop sh*t like a c**k, Lyte weight as your rocks, bi**h/ You talk slick, f**k is all that sneak sh*t?/ You and Diddy, y’all kill me with that subliminal sh*t”
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Missy Elliott On “Cold Rock A Party (Bad Boy Remix)”
Image Credit: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images Fresh off her exit from the Swing Mob, Missy Elliott found a new lease on life as an artist with a string of features on popular R&B hits.
One of the first was this party rocker from rap legend MC Lyte. Hopping on the Puffy-laced, Bad Boy Remix midway through the proceedings, Missy does her magic. Dropping her patented “Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-how” and blending her rhymes with a hint of the melodic twist, the feature ultimately became one of Missy’s signature guest spots.
Memorable Lyrics: “I’m the M-I-double-S-S, yo’ best-best/ Bi**h from V-A-A, and I be smokin’ hay/ All day in the barn, damn it/ Darn, uh Puff Daddy be my pal/ When I hee-hee, Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-how”
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Eve On “Hot Boyz (Remix)”
Image Credit: Evan Agostini/ImageDirect Eve shot out the gate with her 1999 debut album, Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, which established her as one of the most lyrically skilled newcomers in the game.
While her voice dominated airwaves due to the popularity of her own hits, the Philly rhymestress made a major statement with her performance on this remix to Missy’s own 1999 smash. Outclassing the likes of Nas and Q-Tip in the process, Eve’s performance further confirmed her arrival as a star.
Memorable Lyrics: “S-4-3-0 keep me on my toes/ Get a tingle in my spine, what spot? Only he knows/ He’s a hot boy, Missy sing it out and I’m gon’ spit it/ Ruff Ryders scream it loud, daddy is you with it”
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Trina On “One Minute Man”
Image Credit: Tamarra/Getty Images Breaking us off with a guest spot that saw her dismissing vertically-challenged suitors, the Diamond Princess shined bright with this gem of a verse. Doling out directives and specifications alongside Missy and Ludacris, Trina put the cherry on top of one of the biggest rap hits of 2001 with this showing.
Memorable Lyrics: “You know lil’ mama ain’t with that quick sh*t/ You better break me off stiff tongue or stiff d**k/ One minute, two minutes, three minutes/ Hell naw, to please me you gotta sleep in it”
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Da Brat On “Sock It 2 Me”
Image Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Teaming up with Missy Elliott for one of the more lethal combinations of 1997, Da Brat stayed true to her Chi-Town roots with this tongue-twister of a verse. Brat’s couplets on this Supa Dupa Fly cut are stacked similarly to that of Tetris blocks and proved to be equally intricate as they remain entertaining.
Memorable Lyrics: “Why Missy be socking it to ni**as like Ree-Ree?/ The baddest industry bitches of the century/ Hit hard like penitentiary d**k/ Finally admitted that we the shit combination is lethal/ Popping Patron with Missy in the 600 with no see-through”
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Amil On “Can I Get A…”
Image Credit: YouTube Alongside Jay-Z, Amil made her entrance in the rap game with this appearance, which placed her on the mainstream radar. Dropping a verse and hook that had listeners nationwide reciting her lyrics, Amil eventually signed to Roc-A-Fella Records, releasing her solo debut, All Money Is Legal, in 2000.
Memorable Lyrics: “You ain’t gotta be rich but f**k that/ How we gonna get around on your bus pass/ ‘Fore I put this pu**y on your mustache/ Can you afford me? My ni**as breadwinners, never corny/ Ambition makes me so horny”
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Foxy Brown On “I Shot Ya (Remix)”
Image Credit: Shane Gritzinger/FilmMagic Foxy Brown laid down one of the greatest debut guest appearances of all time with her verse on the remix to LL Cool J’s 1995 cut, “I Shot Ya.” The song saw the unknown up-and-comer not only holding her own against the likes of LL, Prodigy, Fat Joe, and Keith Murray, but arguably outclassing her collaborators.
A mere teenager at the time, legend has it that production duo Trackmasters snuck Foxy’s verse onto the record at the last minute before delivering it to LL. Safe to say, the Queens legend was impressed enough to put it on wax, and the rest is history.
Memorable Lyrics: “Flossin’ rocks like the size of Fort Knox/ Four carats, the ice rocks, pu**y bangin’ like Versace locs, pops/ Wanna creep? Open like raw a** cheeks/ I’m sexin’ raw-dog without protection, disease infested”
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Vita On “Put It On Me”
Image Credit: Evan Agostini/ImageDirect A definitive moment for the thug-love movement of the early aughts, this classic from Ja Rule featured Murder Inc.’s first lady Vita, who spat one of the most heartfelt professions of loyalty of the era.
R&B singer Lil Mo and Rule are the more renowned dynamic duo, but Vita’s priceless contributions to The Inc.’s biggest hits can never be taken for granted.
Memorable Lyrics: “And I appreciate the rocks and gifts that you cop me, baby/ And that house on the hill when you dropped like 80/ On a down payment thinking damn ain’t life gravy/ And ever since for my honey, I been twice the lady”
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Mia X On “Make Em Say Uhh!”
Image Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images During its dominant late ’90s run, No Limit Records’ strength in numbers was exemplified by hits like Master P’s 1997 smash single, “Make Em’ Say Ugh.”
A posse cut featuring the label’s stable of talent that skyrocketed up the charts and put the clique on the national stage. Mia X, No Limit’s “Unlady Like” assassin, obliterated all comers with this outing, attacking the track with a ferocity that’s yet to be matched. Mia X’s performance on this classic bolstered her status as one of the illest spitters in the game, gender notwithstanding.
Memorable Lyrics: “Want some mo? Then let’s go, stretch you out like elastic/ Zip that ass up in plastic, have ya folks pickin caskets/ We drastic, our tactics is homegrown in the ghetto/ So feel the wrath of this sista, it’s like you fightin 10 ni**as“
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Lady Of Rage On “Stranded On Death Row”
Image Credit: Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives The Chronic marked a watershed moment in Hip-Hop, as it not only marked the emergence of Death Row Records, but shined a spotlight on the label’s roster of talent. Lady of Rage, who appeared on multiple records on Dr. Dre’s solo debut, earned high marks among critics and fans alike with her bars on “Stranded on Death Row.”
While rising to the occasion on one of the hardest posse cuts of the early ’90s, Rage announced herself as a “lyrical murderer” with the skills to go line-for-line with some of the most respected emcees on the coast.
Memorable Lyrics: “Rage, lyrical murderer/ Stranded on death row and now I’m servin’ a/ Lifetime sentence, there’ll be no repentance/ Since it’s the life that I choose to lead, I plead guilty/ On all counts, let the ball bounce where it may/ It’s just another clip into my AK”
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Nicki Minaj On “Hello, Good Morning (Remix)”
Image Credit: Vincent Sandoval/WireImage The Queen put on her Alexander McQueens and reeled off a stanza for the ages with her outing on the remix to Diddy and Dirty Money’s 2010 thumper, “Hello, Good Morning.” With a 16-bar verse sandwiched in between Rick Ross and Diddy’s, Nicki’s wordplay neutralized that of her costars and has been one of her most electric showings thus far.
Memorable Lyrics: “I just came up in it a little bit self-centered/ But did I kill a Queen? Now Alexander McQueen’s got the wrists on glow/ The bottles is on po’/ Got that shimmy shimmy ya, shimmy ya, shimmy yo”
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Eve On “You Got Me”
Image Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Prior to being presented as the First Lady of the Ruff Ryders, Eve‘s voice was heard on hip-hop band The Roots’ 1999 single, “You Got Me.”
The Things Fall Apart single became the group’s biggest hit at that point in time and earned them a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Initially uncredited, Eve’s smooth, conversational flow meshed seamlessly with that of her fellow Philadelphians and fellow guest star Erykah Badu.
While fans would eventually put a name and face to the lyrics upon her own star turn, the mystery surrounding its author added to the intrigue and buzz that surrounded this flawless performance.
Memorable Lyrics: “I know you gotta get that paper, daddy, keep that sh*t tight/ But, yo, I need some sort of love in my life, you dig me?/ While politickin’ with my sister from New York City/ She said she know this ball player and he think I’m pretty”
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Left-Eye On “You Know What’s Up (Remix)”
Image Credit: SGranitz/WireImage Being a member of a group classified as R&B has caused some to overlook or undervalue Left-Eye’s prowess as a lyricist. During her sabbatical from TLC, Left-Eye put the world on notice with this show-stopping guest spot alongside crooner Donell Jones.
Released in 1999, “U Know What’s Up” topped the R&B and Hip-Hop charts, with Jones’ smooth vocals setting the tone, and Left-Eye’s performance serving as its crescendo. The late legend’s bars certainly remain the X-factor that makes this selection timeless.
Memorable Lyrics: “So baby tell me what’s up / Can we ascend to higher heights / And when the path gets rough / We can give into brighter nights breathe with peace / Expound by leaps, and soul to reap, our souls to keep / The passion’s deep, and filled with heat”
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Lil’ Kim On “Quiet Storm (Remix)”
Image Credit: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images Lil’ Kim threw down the gauntlet against her competitors and peers with this scathing verse, which saw her publicly addressing those vying for her position.
Hopping on the remix to Mobb Deep’s Murda Muzik track “Quiet Storm,” Kim went straight for the jugular. The Brooklyn diva used her appearance to send shots many attributed as slights against Foxy Brown but were reportedly aimed at The Notorious B.I.G.’s former love interest, rapper Charli Baltimore.
Coining various one-liners that would become part of Hip-Hop’s lexicon, Kim’s dynamic performance boosted the popularity of Prodigy and Havoc’s remix. It became one of the biggest club and street bangers of its time.
Memorable Lyrics: “My Brooklyn style speak for itself/ Like a wrestler, another notch under my belt / The embezzler, chrome treasurer/ The U-N-O competitor / I’m ten steps ahead of ya / I’m a leader, y’all on some followin’ sh*t/ Comin’ in this game on some modeling sh*t”
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Foxy Brown On “Affirmative Action”
Image Credit: David LEFRANC/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images In 1996, Nas rounded up rappers AZ, Cormega, and Foxy Brown for “Affirmative Action,” a posse cut from his It Was Written album that doubled as the birth of the rap supergroup The Firm.
As the last rhymer on the Dr. Dre-produced record, Foxy reels off a complex verse that sees her breaking down points on a brick, albeit using a mathematical equation that’s questionable at best.
That said, and faulty figures aside, Foxy’s sheer ambition and originality scored her major points for this verse, helping build her case for being among the hottest artists in NYC.
Memorable Lyrics: “In the black Camaro, Firm deep/ All my ni**as hail the blackest sparrow/ Wallabee’s be the apparel/ Through the darkest tunnel/ I got visions of multi millions in the biggest bundle/ In the Lex pushed by my ni**a Jungle”
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Mia X On “I’m Bout It, Bout It”
Image Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images Before the No Limit tank became a nationally recognized symbol of independence, Mia X helped put the label on the map with her guest spot on TRU’s 1995 single, “I’m Bout It, Bout It.”
Taking listeners on a tour through the slums of New Orleans, Mia X shouts out various landmarks while pledging her allegiance to her stomping grounds. It is regarded on one of the most pivotal verses in the history of southern rap.
Memorable Lyrics: “Brings drama, either way I have to do this/ So break your selves, ni**as here comes a woman to this Tru click/ The bi**h you love to hate but yet ain’t bold enough to face/ Cause Mia X will finish first in this grand diva race”
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Remy Ma On “Ante Up (Remix)”
Image Credit: Julia Beverly/Getty Images M.O.P. dropped one of the greatest street anthems with their 2000 single, “Ante Up (Robbin-Hoodz Theory),” but doubled up later that year with an official remix, which included a breakout verse from Bronx rapper Remy Martin.
Pouncing on the opportunity to stamp herself as the next hot prospect in rap, Remy wasted nary a bar. Flexing her lyricism and aggression, the Terror Squad member put forth a fiery performance that made her an instant fan favorite among the hardcore sect.
Released in the months following Pun’s death, Remy’s tribute to Pun mid-verse is a moment that continues to produce chills and has increased in popularity with each passing year.
Memorable Lyrics: “Wish I could bring Pun back, bi**h run that/ Bi**h run that, bi**h run that/ So keep acting like you don’t know where the funds at/ And I’mma show y’all motherf**kers where the guns at”
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Trina On “Nann Ni**a”
Image Credit: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images The battle of the sexes is a concept that’s been in play in Hip-Hop since the earliest days of the culture and has evolved with the music. One of the most brilliant displays of these verbal exchanges came via Trick Daddy’s 1998 single, “Naan Ni**a,” which marked rapper Trina‘s debut appearance on wax.
While other women in rap had gravitated toward sexually explicit content in their music, none had struck a chord among listeners quite like Trina. Her man-eating persona resonated with women determined to walk to the beat of their own drum.
Beyond the initial shock value of Trina’s brash admissions was an empowering swagger and attitude that marked an evolution in the role of women in rap and society as a whole. It marked one of the first instances of a woman flipping the script on her aggressor.
Memorable Lyrics: “You don’t know nann h*e uh-uh/ Don’ been the places I been/ Who can spend the grands that I spend/ F**k bout 5 or 6 best friends/ And you don’t know nann h*e uh-uh/ That’s off the chain like me/ That’ll floss the thang like me/ Ole’ lil awful thang like me”
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Lil’ Kim On “I Can Love You”
Image Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images In 1997, the Queen Bee and the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul linked up for this monstrous collaboration, which became one of the biggest hits of their respective careers at that point.
Singing and rapping atop a track sampling Lil’ Kim’s own Hard Core cut “Queen Bi**h,” Mary sets the tone with a pair of verses before Kim swoops in for the kill. Reeling off a string of bars that speak to her sheer ability and star presence behind the mic, the Junior M.A.F.I.A. member anchored the track in spectacular fashion.
Switching from witty metaphors to sly nods of her affiliation/love affair with The Notorious B.I.G., Kim saunters across the Rodney Jerkins-produced track while professing her allegiance to Frank White. The result is a classic that came amid Kim’s late ’90s reign.
Memorable Lyrics: “Now I watch you play Columbo, Picasso/ Tricks inside colossals, turn your castles to brothels, uh!/ Who you lovin? Who you wanna be huggin?/ Dippin on ya Ninja Honda with Tanisha and Rhonda”
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Foxy Brown On “Ain’t No Ni**a”
Image Credit: Desiree Navarro/FilmMagic It may be hard to conceive in hindsight, but at one point in time, Foxy Brown was considered a hotter commodity than rap icon and arguable G.O.A.T. Jay-Z.
Sure, Jay was buzzing in his own right and would attain classic status with his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, but Foxy was the first of the pair to go platinum, as her own debut album, Ill Na Na, achieved that feat. Prior to both albums’ release, the two Brooklynites teamed up for this single from The Nutty Professor soundtrack, which would go on to become one of the greatest duets in rap history.
Matching wits with Hov atop a sample of “Seven Minutes of Funk” by funk band The Whole Darn Family, Foxy closes out the track with precision, presenting herself as the man-eating femme fatale we’ve all come to know and love.
Lending her star power to the track, Foxy’s presence helped turn “Ain’t No Ni**a” into a Top 5 rap hit and gave Jigga the first bona fide smash of his career.
Memorable Lyrics: “Mackin’ this bi**h, wifey ni**a/ So when you flip that coke, remember the days you was dead broke/ But now you style and I raised you, basically made you/ Into a don, flippin’ weight, Her-on and shit/ You know the pu**y is all that/ That’s why I get baguettes, 5 carats and all that” -
Nicki Minaj On “Monster”
Image Credit: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images Certain moments in Hip-Hop have the feel of a coronation or the passing of the torch. Those rare, but memorable instances in which we collectively witness the changing of the guard or the emergence of the culture’s next megastar in waiting.
Nicki Minaj‘s notable DVD and mixtape run earned her a slot on Lil Wayne’s Young Money roster, and her appearances on hit singles like “Bedrock” helped put the world on notice, but it was her appearance on this raucous posse cut that truly secured her Queendom. Released months prior to her own debut album, “Monster” saw Minaj being given the ultimate honor of anchoring the track, which featured Kanye West, Rick Ross, and Jay-Z, three of the hottest emcees in the game at that time.
Living up to and owning the moment, the leader of the Barbz came through with a monumental verse that put the whole game on notice and reverberated throughout the culture.
Memorable Lyrics: “So let me get this straight, wait, I’m the rookie?/ But my features and my shows ten times your pay? / 50K for a verse, no album out/ Yeah, my money’s so tall that my Barbies got to climb it/ Hotter than a Middle Eastern climate, violent/ Tony Matterhorn, dutty wine it, wine it” -
Lil’ Kim On “All About the Benjamins (Remix)”
Image Credit: SGranitz/WireImage Lil’ Kim’s blistering verse on “All About the Benjamins” wasn’t just a highlight of the Bad Boy posse cut—it was a defining moment in Hip-Hop history.
Surrounded by label heavyweights like Diddy, Jadakiss, and Sheek Louch—rappers revered for their sharp lyricism—Kim didn’t just hold her own; she stole the show. And in an almost unthinkable feat, she even bested her own mentor, The Notorious B.I.G., with a performance drenched in confidence, aggression, and raw finesse.
Kim’s bars were slick, her delivery razor-sharp, and her presence undeniable. While the song was already an anthem, her contribution transformed it into a rallying cry for women in Hip-Hop, proving they could not only compete in male-dominated spaces but dominate them outright.
Decades later, her verse remains one of the most recited, still shaking speakers and serving as a testament to her trailblazing impact. More than just a guest feature, this was the moment Lil’ Kim solidified herself as a force, crystallizing the ascension of women to Hip-Hop’s forefront.
Memorable Lyrics: “What the bloodclaat/ Wanna bumble with the Bee, huh? / Bzzz, throw a hex on the whole family/ Dressed in all black like The Omen/ Have your friends singin’, “This is for my homie”/ And you know me from makin’ ni**as so sick/ Floss in my 6, with the ‘lex on the wrist/ If it’s murder, you know she wrote it/ German Ruger for yo’ ass, bi**h, deep throat it/ Know you wanna feel the womb ’cause it’s platinum-coated/ Take your pick, got a firearm you shoulda toted, suck a d**k/ All that bullsh*t you kick, player-hatin’ from the sidelines/ Get your own sh*t, why you ridin’ mine?/ I’m a Goodfella kinda lady/ Stash .380s in Mercedes/ Puffy, hold me down, baby!/ Only female in my crew and I kick sh*t like a ni**a do/ Pull the trigger too, f**k you!”
