A Primer Of Current Atlanta Female Rappers In Their Own Worlds

Prominent femcees in the Atlanta rap scene have hardly been as wide-ranging as they are in 2025. In the early-to-mid 1990s, in other regions, women in hip-hop were scarce across the Dirty South, with Da Brat and Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes being among the few repping the A. Despite getting a career jumpstart in Atlanta, the two weren’t natives, with Brat hailing from Chicago while Left Eye relocated from Philadelphia, but the ladies stuck their claim with playful bars and an androgynous aesthetic. Into the 2000s, women rhymers didn’t adhere to proving themselves to men but were drawn to consummate femininity, albeit keeping their verses tough. Diamond and Princess held it down for Crime Mob, starting with their aggressive 2004 classic “Knuck If You Buck.” Chicago transplant Rasheeda, formerly of rap trio Da Kaperz, made a confident transition into the crunk movement on her third album, GA Peach. 

Each rapper was a product of early Atlanta rap, revitalized by Freaknik culture, where college students–mainly in southern states–congregated over the bass-thumping and slowed-down chopped ‘n’ screwed cuts. But with the progression of the internet, southern lo-fi rap reemerged through SoundCloud, where previously commercial songs were revamped into counterculture material. While not being limited to the community-based streaming platform, contemporary underground female rappers have been consistent in their indie runs and explore electronic, trance, grunge and cloud rap sounds. In having an aptitude for experimentation, artists like Anycia, BKTheRula and Vayda show that female rappers from the A can be nonconformist and still catch buzz. Below, AFROPUNK looks into five current artists who prove that Atlanta’s female rap wave is broadening its reach.

Anycia 

The most eminent of the bunch is Anycia, who made her breakthrough in 2023 and has been racking up streams with defiant tracks like the Latto-assisted “Back Outside” and “BRB.” Also known as ‘Princess Pop That,’ the title of her debut album, the south side Atlanta native turns heads for her gruff tone and nonchalant delivery. She can rap with the best of them from other cities, whether she’s hitting the East Coast for a slizzy drill session with Cash Cobain on “That’s Hard” or pulling up to the Sunshine State for a G-funk-influenced collaboration with Luh Tyler on “Call.” Currently prepping her follow-up, “Grady Baby,” Anycia is an authentic ATL talent who still chooses to do things her way.

BKTheRula

Representing the brash and deeply esoteric side of Atlanta is BKTheRula, who, now, five projects in, should be more commonly recognized. Deriving her rambunctious nature from the mid-2010s SoundCloud rap era, the angsty rapper burst into the scene with viral singles “Faygo” and “Left Right,” but as BK’s lines became more imperceptible, her popularity accelerated. BK’s 2020 track “Tweakin’ Together” redefined her as a rhymer that could skillfully balance melodies and ambient production. She can be solo or collaborating with the likes of Rico Nasty, JID or YoungBoy Never Broke Again—the psych-rapper keeps the same raw energy.

Maleigh Zan

Currently without a full-length project but a star nonetheless is the Savannah-born, Atlanta-raised electronic-rap artist Maleigh Zan. Last year, Maleigh commanded the stage as an opening act on British DJ and producer Nia Archives’ Junglist Worldwide tour. On select dates, Maleigh performed her tantalizing and hypnotic tracks like “Gag” and “Work,” bringing an electric flavor to modern ATL rap. In the last year, Maleigh linked with other female artists both international and stateside, like fellow ATLien Anycia on pulsating new-age ballroom anthem “Go Crazy.” With dance-ready energy, Maleigh expands Atlanta rap with genre-defying appeal.

Mercury

With a punk and skater girl aesthetic, the Atlanta-based Mercury, who hails from Memphis, Tennessee, has been an alt-rap staple for some time. With whispery vocals, the rapper-producer popped up as early as 2020, just years before dropping her singular debut EP, Fear Mercury. With a laid-back approach to her bars, Mercury can hold her own on any beat, although it’s invigorating and boundary-pushing production where the rapper shines. For a crash course on Mercury, who sounds like the lovechild of art pop darling Kilo Kish and rap rocker Lil Uzi Vert, trek through her 2024 debut album MERCZONE.

Vayda

Consistently putting on for Atlanta’s underground is Decatur-born, ATL-bred Vayda, who often classifies her music between jazz, punk and hip-hop, although her baddie rap aesthetic is all-encompassing. With a seductive voice fitting for ASMR, Vayda swept in on her 2022 introductory EP VV, before reinventing herself on celestial follow-ups Breeze, Dawn Forrest Gump and Fever. No one does futuristic and trance-oriented rap quite like Vayda, as heard on her most recent album, Vaytrix. To hold fans over, she recently dropped EP Put Your Clothes On, where she homages mid-2000s ringtone rap group D4L and turns the trap into a spellbinding universe.