Nigerian hip hop and rap artists often don’t get as much love as their Afrobeats, Afropop and Afro fusion counterparts. These rappers put in so much effort into their craft and usually don’t get the same reception as artists in other genres due to the dwindling interest in the Nigerian hip hop scene. Going against all odds, Nigerian rappers have continued to push their craft and carve out a vibrant niche and culture for themselves. Within the Nigerian rap scene, there is however still the issue of female representation. To help close the representation gap, we’ve put together a list of exciting female Nigerian rappers you should check out and add to your playlists.
Here are 13 female Nigerian rappers that should be on your radar:
SGaWD
Popularly known as Seddy, SGaWD is a Nigerian rapper currently making waves in the industry. For SGaWD, music is that space where she can be free to talk about things happening in her life in a way that conversation can’t match. Her music displays both emotional honesty and artistic versatility as she’s able to rap with a ferocity matched by the razor-like sharpness of her pen yet sing with a tenderness that warms the depths of the heart.
Brazy
Brazy, is a genre-bending artist from Nigeria whose unique blend of witty lyricism and diverse beat selection has earned her a loyal following of guys and girls all over the world. With an unmatched ability to glide on instrumentals in a range of languages, Brazy’s music is for everybody, but most importantly for the girls, who she seeks to champion on every track she touches.
SixSaidIt
Born and raised in the UK, Six is a Nigerian rapper and songwriter who presents a fresh take on global hip hop/rap by including her varying cultural influences in her music. She has been able to convey these contrasting sounds to a diverse audience by luring them in with what seems to be familiar, and then capturing them with the discovery of sub-genres they may have not been exposed to before.
Mona Queen
Mona Queen is a rapper, songwriter and singer from Osun State, Nigeria. Born and raised in Ibadan, she fell in love with rap music at an early age drawing inspiration from the likes of Olamide and Nicki Minaj. Her first EP Phoenix dropped in 2020 although she’d been previously known on social media, in University of Ibadan and around Ibadan city as a prolific rapper who brought heat to rap battles. Her covers to Hotkid’s Mandem, Pheelz and BNXN’s Finesse, and Falz and Vector’s Yakubu amongst others have gone viral online bringing her more attention.
AT Merari
AT Merari is an indie artiste, songwriter, and audio engineer. She sometimes dabbles with directing and editing. AT Merari has a sound that encapsulates multiple genres, particularly hip hop, afropop and dancehall.
Shalom Dubas
Shalom Dubas is a rap & song savant who uses her music as a safe space to express, realise, and alchemize her emotions. With music, her mission is to use her talents to elevate the human experience—hers, her circle’s, and eventually the world at large—until there is more depth and gold in this world than how she found it.
Rebelwav
Born and raised in Nigeria, Rebelwav is a rapper, singer, songwriter and sound engineer. She started writing her own songs at the age of 13 while she got influenced by Alicia Keys & listening to rap songs by Nicki minaj. She released her first ever mixtape in December 2014 titled Stolen Grace. Rebelwav lives by her belief that humans have the potential and power to become and do anything.
Tinúké
Tinúké brings something astonishingly fresh to the table. She is an MC who can boast versatility, with an unapologetic hard-core flow and lyrical ammunition. She experiments with different sounds and adopts a vocal smoothness to express herself in a raw and authentic manner.
Phlow
Phlow is a Nigerian rapper that is making a name for herself in the music industry. She made her entry into the music world as a rapper dating back to her university days when she released covers of popular songs. Phlow has several projects to her name, a collaboration with Str8Buttah productions, and has been featured in weekly online show Don’t Drop The Mic and Hennessy’s Cyphers.
DETO BLACK
Lagos-based rapper and creative DETO BLACK has quickly become one of the leading figures in Nigeria’s Alté movement with her boundary-pushing sounds. A melting pot of pop, rock, rap and alternative Afro sounds, DETO BLACK first appeared on the scene in 2020 with a feature on Odunsi (The Engine)’s single Body Count alongside Amaarae and Gigi Atlantis. This was followed up in 2021 with singles Tesla and Brag which feature on DETO BLACK’s impressive debut EP Yung Everything.
Moyoswrld
Moyoswrld is a Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter with a goal to redefine African music. With a style that she describes as ‘Afro-rage’ Moyoswrld contributes to the Alternative African scene with a style that encompasses punk, rap and Afrofusion. Moyoswrld’s process involves experimentation and exploration of themes that translate both sonically and visually. This led to the fan support of her debut EP Sex on drugs and singles Supersonic and Let me down. Utilizing zeitgeist and her post-punk attitude, Moyoswrld cultivates a space for all the misfits.
DEELA
Lagos-based rapper DEELA is best known for her brazen assertive demeanor and witty clever lyricism which sets her entirely apart from her contemporaries. DEELA captivates her listeners with her unique cadence and effortless flow. From expressing the joys of being single in GET A GRIP and showing her vulnerable side on heart (interlude) DEELA’s versatility keeps her listeners on their toes.
Layzee Ella
Layzee Ella is an exciting rapper, singer, and songwriter hoping to grab Afrobeat’s’ promise of prosperity with both hands. She draws creative inspiration from her love of reading and began her own process of storytelling through writing songs. After doing covers of popular Afrobeats songs on social media and growing her online community of supporters, the singer-rapper released her debut single Sober which had people talking, and listening. Her songs speak of a desire for sincere companionship, a passion she shares not just with young people but with music listeners of all ages.