Who was the first female rapper to win a Grammy Award?

Queen Latifah was the first female rapper to win a Grammy Award. She won Best Rap Solo Performance at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards in 1995 for “U.N.I.T.Y.”, a forceful song addressing street harassment, misogyny, and violence against women.

Born Dana Owens, Queen Latifah emerged from New Jersey’s hip-hop scene in the late 1980s. Her 1989 debut album, All Hail the Queen, established her as one of rap’s most distinctive voices, combining socially conscious lyrics with a commanding, jazz-influenced style. “U.N.I.T.Y.” later became her signature recording and earned her first Grammy.

A common mix-up is Lauryn Hill, who became the first woman to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album as part of the Fugees in 1997 and later won it as a solo artist. Missy Elliott and Salt-N-Pepa also became major Grammy-winning figures, but neither preceded Latifah’s 1995 victory. Latifah subsequently expanded into acting, television, and jazz singing while retaining her place as a hip-hop pioneer.