Which rapper became the first woman to win the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance?

Queen Latifah became the first woman to win the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance.

She won the award at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1991 for “U.N.I.T.Y.” The song appeared on her third studio album, Black Reign, released in 1993, so the award year and album-release year are often confused in short biographies and trivia summaries.

The Grammy category had been introduced for the 1989 ceremony. Queen Latifah’s win recognized “U.N.I.T.Y.,” a socially conscious song addressing disrespect toward women and harmful language in popular culture. The track became one of her defining recordings.

Queen Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens, had already established herself as a rapper, actor, and producer. Her career later expanded into television and film, but her early music made her one of hip-hop’s most visible women. The award was for a solo performance, not Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.