13 Best Latina Rappers

Rap is a genre of music dominated by men. However, plenty of women are active in the scene recording incredible music. For this list, we found some of the best Latina rappers in the world. Join us as we list the Latina rappers who dominate the scene.

Cardi B

Of course, you can’t have a list of the best Latina rappers without Cardi B. Cardi B is among the most prominent artists in the world today. Cardi B began her career as a pole dancer before moving more into music. As her initial releases gained traction, and Cardi B embarked on her music career.

Cardi B released her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, in 2018 and took the music world by storm. The album won Cardi B the Grammy for Best Rap Album, making her the first and only woman to win the award. Cardi B has established herself as the most popular female rapper in the world and one of the biggest musicians.

Ana Tijoux

Ana Tijoux has been a mainstay in Latin America since the 1990s. Despite her popularity in the region, Tijoux spent her formative years in France.

Her native country of Chile was going through a dictatorship, and her parents relocated to avoid the regime’s ire. With the fall of the Pinochet dictatorship, Tijoux moved to Chile in 1993 and began to soak up the culture, including the burgeoning rap scene.

Tijoux began her musical journey as a member of Makiza, where she served as the MC of the group. She rapped with the group until 2006, when she started a solo career. Tijoux made waves with her second album, 1977. The album was popular outside Latin America, with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke recommending the album to his fans.

Ivy Queen

Ivy Queen hails from Puerto Rico and is one of the pioneers of reggaeton, earning her the nom de guerre of the Queen of Reggaeton. Ivy Queen started with a group called The Noise but quickly shifted to work as a solo artist, where she had a chance to showcase her unique talents.

One year after going solo, she was offered a record deal with Sony that helped expand her reach to new markets. Ironically, Ivy Queen had her most substantial career success after going independent and releasing the album Diva in 2003.

Ivy Queen raps about many topics, including female empowerment and politics. Ivy Queen said she chose these topics to stand out in an industry that men dominate. Missy Elliott is an artist Queen holds in high esteem, and Queen said Elliott’s music inspires her.

Farina

Farina is another forerunner for reggaeton music, following in the footsteps of artists like Ivy Queen while carving her niche. Farina grew up in Colombia, and critics credit her with bringing reggaeton music to the country.

Since 2005, Farina has been making music, primarily in the form of singles. Farina has released only two studio albums in her career but dozens of songs as the primary or featured artist.

Farina is active on social media and showcases her impressive freestyling abilities every chance she gets. American music fans may remember Farina as one of the only Colombian artists to sign with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation record label. Farian moved to Sony Latin in recent years.

Lisa M

If anyone could claim to be a legend in the world of Latina rappers, it is Lisa M. Lisa M grew up in Puerto Rico; critics widely credit her as the first female rapper in Latin America. Growing up in San Juan, Lisa M became interested in music when she was 11 and started hip-hop dancing.

Like many modern rappers, the artist began her career at a young age, recording her first album when she was only 15.

Following her debut album Trampa, Lisa M was prolific through the early 1990s, recording three albums in as many years. Lisa M worked with Sony for several years throughout the 1990s and was considered one of the company’s crown jewel artists in Latin America.

Snow Tha Product

Snow Tha Product, born Claudia Alexandra Madriz Meza, spent years on the independent rap scene trying to make a name for herself. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Madriz grew up in California and took inspiration from the local rap scene as a teenager. She showcased her abilities while hanging out with friends, demonstrating her knack for freestyle rap.

Snow Tha Product began the grind on the independent scene producing several mixtapes in 2007 and establishing herself as a prominent female Mexican rapper in the underground scene.

After a few years of grinding, Snow Tha Product finally made enough waves to secure a contract with Atlantic Records in 2012. From there, her legend and footprint grew as her music reached new heights. She collaborated with other rappers such as Ty Dolla Sign and Lupe Fiasco, and she went on to win an MTV Video Music Award.

Gabylonia

A Venezuelan rapper, Gabylonia has been part of the scene since the end of the 20th century. Gabylonia’s brother introduced her to rap when she was young, and it became her hobby.

She got her start in 1999 as a member of the hip-hop group Escuadron X. For several years, Gabylonia toured and sang with the group before deciding to refocus her career on solo ventures.

Gabylonia’s first single as a solo artist helped establish her at the forefront of the rap scene in Venezuela. Since her breakout, Gabylonia has partaken in many avenues for success, such as starring in the movie “Son de la Calle.” In 2014, Gabylonia received a Latin Grammy nomination for a song she contributed to.

Telmary Diaz

Telmary Diaz is a female Cuban rapper who many critics hail as one of the most down-to-earth and earnest rappers in Cuba. Aside from rap music, Diaz also enjoys creating spoken-word art and poetry.

Before getting into rap music, Diaz originally planned for a career in journalism like her mother. She decided upon a career in rap music and poetry after attending a spoken word event with some friends.

Diaz has produced six albums during her career that seek to highlight topics that are important to her. Her music often deals with issues of society and gender, and she draws heavily from her upbringing and experience with the world. Instrumentally, she takes inspiration from Afro-Cuban beats in addition to jazz and funk.

Goyo

Goyo is the frontwoman of Choc Quib Town, a Colombian hip-hop group that has been active since 2000. The group got its start as friends in the department of Chocó. Soon after, the members of Choc Quib Town moved to Bogotá to try and expand their reach to a new audience. The trio constantly played at bars to try and raise its stock.

The group finally had a breakout in 2010 with its second album Oro. The single “De Donde Vengo Yo” won a Latin Grammy the following year. Since the Grammy win, the group has continued touring and creating new music. Goyo has many fans in her hometown and has been an outspoken critic of Afro-Colombian exclusion in the media.

Nitty Scott

Like many modern artists, Nitty Scott got her breakthrough thanks to a viral video. In her case, the viral video was a freestyle she performed over the Kayne West song “Monster.” The video showcased her talents and gave her an audience to release her first mixtape.

Scott released The Cassette Chronicles in 2011 at the age of 21, and she quickly became one of the premiere MCs in Brooklyn’s underground hip-hop scene.

Scott is the daughter of a Puerto Rican mother and a Black father. She started rapping when she was 14 and spent many formative years experimenting with poetry and spoken word art. Scott draws influence from both sides of her heritage to create unique music.

Danay Suárez

Danay Suárez is a female Cuban rapper who has found more success abroad than in her home country. Suárez was born in Cuba’s capital of Havana but spent time abroad while growing up. She got her start in 2007 after reaching out to another Cuban artist, X-Alfonso. Suárez ground on the independent scene before she began to make waves in an unexpected place.

Thanks to a national television appearance, Suárez gained traction in France for her music. Her influence quickly spread throughout continental Europe, where she enjoys a sizable following. In 2017, Suárez secured four Latin Grammy nominations.

Niña Dioz

Niña Dioz is not only a female Mexican rapper but the first openly LGBT rapper working in Mexico. Dioz has strived to make a name for herself in the predominantly male-dominated hip-hop scene in Mexico and never forget what brought her to the genre in the first place.

Dioz, like many rappers on this list, sings only in Spanish but still has a sizable English-speaking fanbase.

Her lyrics are focused on social issues close to her, including the political situation in Mexico and gender issues in the country. She has collaborated with several artists, including on her signature song, “Tambalea.” The track, a feminist anthem of female empowerment, has features from Lido Pimienta and Ceci Bastida.

Rico Nasty

Rico Nasty grew up in Maryland and is the daughter of a rapper. Nasty lived through a turbulent childhood seeing her get kicked out of school and her father heading to prison, leading to a divorce. This difficult childhood led her to begin rapping at a young age, and she released her first mixtape when she was 17 and in tenth grade.

A few years into her career, she got her first break when Lil yachty released a remix of one of her early tracks.

YouTube helped Nasty reach a wider audience, and her singles “Poppin” and “Smack A Bitch” gained millions of views on the platform. From there, the songs continued to go viral on TikTok, helping solidify her brand and giving her attention in popular music magazines like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.

Top Latina Rappers, Final Thoughts

From female Mexican to Cuban rappers, the Latina rapper scene is vibrant and colorful. We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of Latina rappers and perhaps discovered a new favorite to add to your playlist!