As if music fans needed more confirmation, like Beyoncé once said, "Who run the world? Girls!" Not only is the track an empowerment anthem to women all over the globe but it also can be taken as a sentiment on how women have shaped the music industry. Over the years, women have teamed up to bring fans some of the most epic songs in music history. Let's look at some of the best all-female collaborations of all time.
Mya Singleton
I Wanna Be Down (Remix)
Brandy feat. Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Yo-Yo
On Brandy’s debut single, “I Wanna Be Down,” she sings about her infatuation with a potential partner. For the remix, Brandy got to team up with some of the hottest female MCs in the game: Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Yo-Yo. During the time, mixing R&B with hip-hop was a match made in Heaven, a method that still works like a charm to this day.
Photography: Prince Williams/WireImage
Lady Marmalade
Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, Pink, and Missy Elliott
Nothing says the ultimate female collaboration like “Lady Marmalade.” Different kinds of artists from different genres worked so seamlessly when Missy Elliott got Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, and Pink to team up on the Moulin Rouge single. Even the lyrics give a womanhood and sisterhood vibe as they sing, “Hey sister, go sister / Better get that dough, sister.”
Photography: Jim Spellman/WireImage
When You Believe
Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston
Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston want people to have faith on their 1998 single “When You Believe.” As the lead single from the The Prince of Egypt soundtrack, the Babyface-produced track was essential for listeners to believe in miracles. The song became a top-20 single on the Billboard Hot 100.
Photography: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Me Against the Music J
Britney Spears feat. Madonna
There is no doubt that Madonna is one of the most iconic figures in pop music, and in 2003, fellow pop girlie Britney Spears got the chance to work with her idol. Spears’ single “Me Against The Music” finds the two singing about how music always keeps them moving on the dance floor.
Photography: John Shearer/WireImage
Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)
Lil' Kim feat. Angie Martinez, Da Brat, Missy Elliott, and Left-Eye
In 1997, Lil' Kim wanted to get an all-star female collaboration on deck, and she did just that with “Not Tonight.” She teamed up with Angie Martinez, Da Brat, Left-Eye, and Missy Elliott for one of the most fun collaborations in hip-hop history. Not only did each rapper bring their core essence to the track, but the song helped represent that iconic artists can come together and make magic.
Photography: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET
Let Me Blow Your Mind
Eve feat. Gwen Stefani Sometimes, when different genres collide, it just works. Eve and Gwen Stefani showed the world that hip-hop and pop can make magic on “Let Me Blow Your Mind.” Stefani has always showcased a cool persona, and the chemistry was seamless between her and Eve. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Photography: Lester Cohen/WireImage
Beautiful Liar
Beyoncé and Shakira
Throughout Beyoncé’s career, she’s always experimented with different sounds. She teamed up with Shakira on their hit single “Beautiful Liar,” which mixed more Latin and Arabic sounds with Beyoncé’s R&B element. Not to mention, the video had plenty of viewers wanting to belly dance in front of their televisions.
Photography: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
WAP
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
Even though fans have been waiting years for Cardi B to drop her sophomore album, she’s still releasing great collaborations. In 2020, she teamed up with Megan Thee Stallion on their single “WAP.” While some critics may have thought the song was a bit too raunchy, real fans realize that it’s more of a woman’s empowerment anthem.
Photography: Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images
Fancy
Iggy Azalea feat. Charli
In 2014, Iggy Azalea released her debut album, The New Classic. She teamed up with Charli XCX on the No. 1 hit single “Fancy.” The song matched perfectly with the music video, which was inspired by scenes from the 1995 film Clueless.
Photography: Larry Marano/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Q.U.E.E.N.
Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu
Janelle Monae, who shared they identify as non-binary in 2022, and Erykah Badu have always been the type of artists to exude Black girl magic. It was only fitting that the two teamed up on the 2013 single “Q.U.E.E.N.” On the track, Monae and Badu encourage listeners to always show up unapologetically, no matter what people may say.
Photography: Jason Kempin/BET/Getty Images for BET
The Boy Is Mine
Brandy and Monica
Brandy and Monica came onto the R&B scene around the same time, and fans seemed to favor one over the other with their vocal styles. In 1998, the two teamed up on their biggest hit single to date, “The Boy Is Mine.” It’s the perfect track about two women dealing with the same unfaithful man.
Photography: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Whatta Man
Salt-N-Pepa feat. En Vogue
In 1993, hip-hop trio Salt-N-Pepa teamed up with girl group En Vogue on their hit single “Whatta Man.” On the track, the MCs describe how they’ve met their perfect man, and they want to world to know it. As En Vogue sings on the hook, “Whatta man, whatta man, whatta man / What a mighty good man.”
Photography: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Heartbreak Hotel
Whitney Houston feat. Faith Evans and Kelly Price
Whitney Houston was not only an advocate for fellow singers, but she also loved to collaborate with them. In 1998, she teamed up with R&B powerhouse vocalists Faith Evans and Kelly Price on her hit single “Heartbreak Hotel.” On the track, they sing about dealing with a partner’s infidelities, which causes them emotional distress.
Photography: Michael Caulfield/WireImage for BET Network
Kiss Me More
Doja Cat feat. SZA
In 2021, Doja Cat released her critically acclaimed album Planet Her. The album spawned several singles, including the SZA-assisted track “Kiss Me More.” On the track, the two sing about being intimate with their partners, but they really love sharing kisses.
Photography: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Telephone
Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce
The pop world was ready to explode when Lady Gaga teamed up with Beyoncé on their 2010 single “Telephone.” On the track, they tell the story of dealing with a partner who continues to call them on the phone, but instead of picking up the call, they rather keep partying on the dance floor.
Photography: Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Live Nation
Rich Girl
Gwen Stefani feat. Eve
In 2004, Gwen Stefani teamed up with Eve for a second time on her hit single “Rich Girl.” Produced by Dr. Dre, Stefani uses the track to talk about how lavish she could live if she were rich. As Stefani sings in the first verse, “Think what money could bring / I’d buy everything / Clean out Vivienne Westwood / In my Galliano gown.”
Michael Caulfield/WireImage for The Recording Academy
Bang Bang
Jessie J feat. Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj
In 2014, Jessie J teamed up with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj on her hit single “Bang Bang.” On the track, the women highlight their confidence in their bodies and sexually pleasing a partner. As Jessie sings in the first verse, “She got a body like an hourglass / But I can give it to you all the time / She got a booty like a Cadillac / But I can send you into overdrive.”
Photography: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)
Barbara Streisand and Donna Summer
When people hear the beginning of the Barbara Streisand and Donna Summer duet “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough),” the song initially sounds like a ballad. But after the first two minutes, it turns into a dance-heavy disco track in which the woman details how relationships can go wrong.
Photography: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for BSB
Feeling Myself
Nicki Minaj feat. Beyoncé
In 2014, Nicki Minaj teamed up with Beyoncé on her hit track “Feeling Myself.” Produced by Hit-Boy and co-written by SZA, the track finds Minaj and Bey tooting their own horns. The song beams with confidence that is sure to put any listener in a better mood.
Photography: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for TIDAL
“Missing You
Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan
Sometimes, people need to hear songs to help them deal with grief. Brandy teamed up with Tamia, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan on her 1996 track “Missing You.” On the track, they sing about losing a loved one as they reminisce on good times and try to push forward in life without them physically present.
Photography: Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET