MC Lyte is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first
solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a
Rock.
She has long been considered one of hip-hop's pioneer feminists.
Early life Lyte was born Lana Michele Moorer in 1970.
Raised in Brooklyn, Lyte began rhyming at the age of 12.
One long standing misconception is that Lyte is the younger sister of Milk D and DJ Giz,
Audio Two.
She actually first met the hip hop duo when the group was searching for a female artist
for their new label.
Lyte recorded her first song, "I Cram to Understand U," in 1986.
Lyte had originally written the song in 1984.
The song, about a relationship that fell apart due to the protagonist's lover's crack addiction,
was released on First Priority Music, run by Nat Robinson the father of the members
of Audio Two.
Soon after, with the help of Sylvia Rhone, the label formed a distribution deal with
Atlantic Records.
Music In 1987, when she was just 17, Lyte began
schooling other MCs in the art of rhyme; since that time, she has improved upon her musical
prowess, with a total of ten albums released to her credit.
In September of the following year, she released her first album, Lyte as a Rock, noted for
such hits as "Paper Thin" and the battle rap "10% Dis," a response from then-Hurby Azor
associate, Antoinette.
Both rappers released battle records against each other.
Lyte followed her debut with 1989's Eyes on This, which spawned the hits "Cha Cha Cha"
and "Cappucino."
Both albums were notable for Lyte's uncensored lyrical matter.
She sweetened up a little on 1991's Act Like You Know, noted for its new jack swing sound
and the hit single "Poor Georgie."
Lyte's fourth album, 1993's Ain't No Other, became her first to reach gold status and
was notable for her first top 40 pop hit, "Ruffneck".
An inspiring 1993 classic anthem, "Ruffneck," was eventually nominated for a Grammy for
Best Rap Single, and in fact, made MC Lyte the first female solo rapper ever nominated
for a Grammy.
She later went on to become a featured artist on hits by Janet Jackson and Brandy.
Two years afterward, Lyte's fifth album, Bad As I Wanna B, featured production from Jermaine
Dupri and Sean Combs, and featured the hits "Keep on, Keepin' On" and "Cold Rock a Party",
which featured then up-and-coming rapper, songwriter and producer Missy Elliott.
This album was her first with East West Records America and became successful after the aforementioned
singles became big hits with "Keep on, Keepin' On" peaking at the top ten and "Cold Rock
a Party" peaking at number eleven.
It was her second gold album.
Her 1998 follow-up, Seven & Seven, however, wasn't as successful and she left East West
America by the end of the decade.
Lyte released the independently produced record The Undaground Heat, featuring Jamie Foxx,
in 2003, which was notable for the song "Ride Wit Me".
The single was nominated for both a Grammy and a BET award.
In 2005, she released two songs produced by Richard "Wolfie" Wolf called "Can I Get It
Now" and "Don't Walk Away", both available at the iTunes Store.
In 2007, she released a song called "Mad at Me" available at the iTunes Store.
In 2008, she released two songs called "Juke Joint" & "Get Lyte" available at the iTunes
Store.
In 2009, she released a song at the iTunes Store called "Brooklyn."
MC Lyte's song "My Main Aim" is the title song of the video game NBA Live 2005 by EA
Sports.
In 2013, MC Lyte released the song "Craven," produced by Loudbox Entertainment with a video
directed by Ron Yuan.
Acting Lyte has been featured on television as herself
on such shows as MTV Unplugged, In Living Color, Moesha, Cousin Skeeter, New York Undercover,
My Wife and Kids, and Sisters in the Name of Rap.
She also acted on TV in such shows as In the House, Get Real, Half & Half, and The District.
Her first acting role was in 1991, an off-Broadway theater play titled Club Twelve, a hip-hop
twist on Twelfth Night alongside Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, and Lisa Nicole Carson.
After she made her film debut in the 1993 movie titled Fly by Night, starring alongside
Jeffrey Sams, Ron Brice, and Steve Gomer, she also starred other films, such as A Luv
Tale, Train Ride, Civil Brand and Playa's Ball.
She guest starred with Tyler the Creator and Childish Gambino on Regular Show.
Other activities
In June 2006, MC Lyte was interviewed for the documentary The Rap Report, Part 2, also
featuring Chuck D of Public Enemy.
MC Lyte talked about her career in rap music and she also discusses what it was like during
the beginnings of hip hop.
She also performs a concert of her most famous hits.
The DVD is available at historyonvideo.net.
The program is produced by Rex Barnett.
In February 2006, her diary, as well as a turntable, records, and other assorted ephemera
from the early days of hip hop, were donated to the Smithsonian Institution.
This collection, entitled "Hip-Hop Won’t Stop: The Beat, the Rhymes, the Life" is a
program to assemble objects of historical relevance to the hip hop genre from its inception.
In 2007, Lyte joined the cast of MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar and coached Shar Jackson to
a hip hop emcee victory in a mere eight weeks.
During that same time, Lyte hit the road in between shooting and joined the Roots for
a nationwide VH1 House of Blues Tour.
Business and commerce MC Lyte opened Shaitel, a Los Angeles boutique
that specialized in accessories from belts to sunglasses.
"We sell a mixture of new and vintage [items]," she explained.
"We also have a few signature pieces that are done just for the store.
We boast to bring a little New York flavor out here to California."
In 1997, MC Lyte launched Sunni Gyrl, Inc., a global entertainment firm that specializes
in artist management and development, production, and creative services and consulting.
Voiceover In 1996, MC Lyte began what is now a very
successful voiceover career.
She has voiced campaigns with several corporate brands.
She also voiced a short-lived BET show called The Boot and she served a voice for the branding
of the Starz network, Tide, AT&T, the National Urban League and many other entities.
She has served as the voice announcing the BET Awards Show for the past six years.
DJ MC Lyte MC Lyte served as the DJ of choice at Michael
Jordan's 50th Birthday Celebration, at his 2013 wedding reception, at Jay Leno's farewell
party, and a host of other prominent social and corporate events.
Speaker MC Lyte has spoken at colleges and universities,
for organizations around the globe, and with notable people like Iyanla Vanzant, Russell
Simmons, and Soledad O'Brien bringing a message of empowerment from her book Unstoppable:
Igniting the Power Within to Achieve Your Greatest Potential.
She also partnered with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund on the iLEAD international tour
in South Africa to empower the continent's youth and up and coming leaders.
Leadership and philanthropy MC Lyte served as the President of the Los
Angeles Chapter of the Recording Academy from 2011 to 2013.
She is the first African American to serve in this role and she is also the CEO of Sunni
Gyrl, Inc., an entertainment and production firm, and the founder of Hip Hop Sisters Foundation,
which has presented two $100,000 scholarships to college students each year since its inception,
and she is an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.
Awards In October 2006, MC Lyte was one of the honored
artists on VH1's annual award show Hip Hop Honors.
She was joined by fellow female MC's Da Brat, Remy Ma, and Lil' Kim as they performed some
of her tracks, such as "Cha Cha Cha," "Lyte as a Rock," "Paper-Thin," and "Ruffneck."
In 2013, MC Lyte received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Hip Hop Inaugural Ball,
and she also received the BET "I Am Hip Hop" Icon Lifetime Achievement Award, making her
the first female solo hip hop artist to receive the honor from the network.
Discography
References
External links Official website
Okaysister – blog The Lyte Zone – blog
MC Lyte Interview, 909