Democracy Dies in Darkness

Collaborations between Black women are sparking a golden age for female hip-hop

Clockwise from top left: Lizzo, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat and Cardi B. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP; Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP; Kevin Winter/Getty Images/The Recording Academy; Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
6 min

Turn on your car stereo. Or open one of Spotify’s top hits playlists. Or peruse your TikTok feed. Or go to a cafe, mall, bar, a busy street corner and just listen. Before long, you’ll hear it.

It’s impossible to miss the recent slew of chart-topping, female-forward, hip-hop duets. From the record-breaking, headline-makingWAP” by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion; to the otherworldly anthem by Doja Cat and SZA, “Kiss Me More”; to the recent and instantly trending “Rumors” that teamed up Lizzo and Cardi B, Black women have been choosing to feature other Black women.