Five of the best female emcees on the scene

Image: Little Simz

With grime steadily breaking into the mainstream with more and more artists collecting awards and collaborating with pop stars, an abundance of talented emcees are emerging from the once underground scene.

We're taking a look at the fierce ladies storming it to the top alongside the male rappers that take podium positions in the British world of grime. The girls that have a long list of successful male peers requesting collaborations and can spit absolute fire bars over the dirtiest of beats.

Of course, gender doesn't even come into the equation when these artists are just as talented as their male counterparts - but it's always good to see females killing it within a male dominated industry. We've compiled a list of our pick of the top five female emcees currently bringing the heat. 

Little Simz

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Little by name but a huge presence in the rap game, independent artist Little Simz had already gained accreditations from hip hop giants like Kendrick Lamar at the tender age of 21. Her experimental approach to the genre - with futuristic beats underneath her intelligent flows - has seen her push boundaries and brush shoulders with the likes of the legendary Kano. 

Her debut album A Curious Tale of Trials and Persons delves deep into her creative mindset, conscious themes combining with an incredible lyrical ability atop an always polished production. It's surely only a taste of what this talented rapper can offer. 

Lady Leshurr 

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You can't call yourself a grime fan if you haven't had the words "brush your teeth" whirling around your brain, a direct result of the brilliant lyricist Lady Leshurr lashing the random but ridiculously catchy line into her viral track 'Queen's Speech Ep.4'. The fire

The fire diss record might have been released "just for the bants", but it's been taken pretty seriously by a huge audience - as the single has gained over 40,000 views on YouTube. It even caught the attention of grime Godfather Wiley, who has since collaborated with Leshurr on another absolute killer single ('Where Are You Now?') that showcases her outstanding emcee skills.  

Nadia Rose

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Nobody would blame Nadia Rose if she used the success of her cousin Stormzy as a way to claw her way into the scene, but her undeniable talent means that she hasn't had to. The Croydon rapper is not only badass in her bars, but her aura of attitude makes it impossible not to respect what she's doing. 

During the filming for the video of her single 'Stations', Rose took it upon herself to trespass on the tracks in order to get the shots she wanted. If this girl uses the same ruthless tactics within her musical career, she'll be an unstoppable force. 

Ms Banks

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Having previously supported well-established artists such as Big Narstie, and collaborated with Tinie Tempah in his Junk Food EP alongside the likes of other grime giants JME and frequent collaborator Stormzy, there was a bubble of hype building for Ms Banks' solo venture.

To the surprise of no-one, she's definitely delivered, as her EP New Chapter shows. Banks blends trap style beats with distinctive South London style bars. It's worth going to see her live to fully appreciate the creative innovative of this artist. 

Paigey Cakey

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You might recognise Paigey Cakey, as her filmography list is almost as extensive as the catalogue of collaborators she has to her name. She's partnered up with Lady Leshurr, as well as Stormzy (the guy must have a knack for fresh talent) and the fresh-faced Chip.

Her quick witted lines and face paced delivery flow perfectly over some of the hottest beats going, giving her a rightful spot on this list and a reputation as one of the most exciting on the scene.