MC Lyte

  • Queens, NY
    hometown
  • Hip-Hop/Rap
    genre
  • 1986
    started
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About MC Lyte

Official Site: http://mc-lyte.com/ | @mclyte


MC Lyte was one of the first female rappers to point out the sexism and misogyny that often runs rampant in hip-hop, often taking the subject head on lyrically in her songs and helping open the door for such future artists as Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Lyte began rhyming at the age of 12, which eventually led to a single, "I Cram to Understand U," which led to a recording contract with the First Priority label. MC Lyte's debut full-length, Lyte As a Rock, surfaced in 1988, while a follow-up, Eyes on This, followed a year later. Both discs are considered to be the finest of the rapper's career, especially her sophomore effort, which spawned the hit single "Cha Cha Cha" (peaking at number one on the rap charts) and the anti-violence track "Cappucino." Lyte turned to Bell Biv DeVoe's writers and producers Wolf & Epic for her third release overall, 1991's Act Like You Know, a more soul music-based work than its predecessors and in 1993, issued Ain't No Other (the album's popular single, "Ruffneck," earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Single and turned out to be the first gold single ever achieved by a female rap artist).

By the mid-'90s, Lyte had relocated to a new record label, Elektra/Asylum, issuing such further releases as 1996's Bad As I Wanna B, which featured a duet with Missy Elliott on the track "Cold Rock a Party," and 1998's Seven & Seven, which included further guest appearances by Elliott, as well as Giovanni Salah and LL Cool J, the latter of which produced the track "Play Girls Play." In addition to her own albums, MC Lyte has teamed with other artists from time to time, including Atlanta's Xscape on the Soul Train Award-winning "Keep on Keepin' On" (a track that also appeared on the Sunset Park soundtrack and became Lyte's second gold single), and has tried acting, appearing on several TV shows, including such comedies as Moesha and In the House, plus the crime drama New York Undercover. Lyte has also put aside time to become active in several social projects/organizations, including anti-violence campaigns, Rock the Vote, and AIDS benefits. In 2001, Rhino Records issued the 16-track career overview The Very Best of MC Lyte. Lyte then mounted a comeback in 2003 with Da Undaground Heat, Vol. 1. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi

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Music

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  • Wonder Years
    mc-lyte
    Video
    Wonder Years
  • Stop, Look & Listen
    mc-lyte
    Video
    Stop, Look & Listen
  • Lyte As A Rock
    mc-lyte
    Video
    Lyte As A Rock
  • Cappucino
    mc-lyte
    Video
    Cappucino
  • Eyes Are The Soul
    mc-lyte
    Video
    Eyes Are The Soul
  • I Go On
    mc-lyte
    Video
    I Go On
  • Paper Thin
    mc-lyte
    Video
    Paper Thin
  • Ruffneck
    mc-lyte
    Video
    Ruffneck
  • When In Love
    mc-lyte
    Video
    When In Love
  • 392
    SoundStream
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    All the music you want, just 10 bucks a month. Try it free.
    • Ruffneck
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/5/2/2/9/6/914869225.mp3
    • Paper Thin
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/4/6/3/2/324323643.mp3
    • Keep On, Keepin' On
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/0/4/0/0/9/913390040.mp3
    • Cha Cha Cha
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/7/8/9/9/8/913389987.mp3
    • Cold Rock A Party (Bad Boy Remix - Featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/3/0/4/9/6/914869403.mp3
    • Cold Rock A Party
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/0/5/3/9/6/914869350.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • VH1 Holidays 2010: Posted - MC Lyte Dishes On Her Worst Holiday Gift
    mc-lyte
    video
    VH1 Holidays 2010: Posted - MC Lyte Dishes On Her Worst Holiday Gift

Photos

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  • MIRAMAR, CA - DECEMBER 03:  Rapper MC Lyte poses in the press room during "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" presented by the USO at the MCAS Miramar on December 3, 2010 in Miramar, California. "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" concert event will be televised on Sunday, December 5 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on VH1.
    MC Lyte
    MIRAMAR, CA - DECEMBER 03: Rapper MC Lyte poses in the press room during "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" presented by the USO at the MCAS Miramar on December 3, 2010 in Miramar, California. "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" concert event will be televised on Sunday, December 5 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on VH1.
    Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for VH1
  • Singers MC Lyte (L) and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland performs onstage during "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" presented by the USO at the MCAS Miramar on December 3, 2010 in Miramar, California.
    MC Lyte
    Singers MC Lyte (L) and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland performs onstage during "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" presented by the USO at the MCAS Miramar on December 3, 2010 in Miramar, California.
    Kevin Winter/Getty Images for VH1
  • Rapper MC Lyte (L) performs onstage during "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" presented by the USO at the MCAS Miramar on December 3, 2010 in Miramar, California.
    MC Lyte
    Rapper MC Lyte (L) performs onstage during "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" presented by the USO at the MCAS Miramar on December 3, 2010 in Miramar, California.
    Michael Caulfield/Getty Images for VH1
  • MC Lyte performs onstage during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    MC Lyte
    MC Lyte performs onstage during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Scott Gries/Getty Images for Vh1
  • MC Lyte performs onstage during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    MC Lyte
    MC Lyte performs onstage during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Scott Gries/Getty Images for Vh1
  • MC Lyte onstage during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    MC Lyte
    MC Lyte onstage during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Scott Gries/Getty Images for Vh1
  • The Mentors: MC Lyte,Too Short,Kurupt ,TooShort,Tone-Loc,Bizarre,Bubba Sparxxx; Redman take the stage during the season finale of MTV's "Celebrity Rap Superstar" on Ocotober 18,2007 at Culver Studios in Culver City, California.
    MC Lyte
    The Mentors: MC Lyte,Too Short,Kurupt ,TooShort,Tone-Loc,Bizarre,Bubba Sparxxx; Redman take the stage during the season finale of MTV's "Celebrity Rap Superstar" on Ocotober 18,2007 at Culver Studios in Culver City, California.
    Michael Burr/Getty Images
  • MC Lyte
    MC Lyte
    MC Lyte
    Michael Wong
  • Rapper MC Lyte arrives at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
    MC Lyte
    Rapper MC Lyte arrives at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 24, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
    Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
  • VH1 Hip Hop Honors Tour: The Roots with Big Daddy Kane and MC Lyte
    MC Lyte
    VH1 Hip Hop Honors Tour: The Roots with Big Daddy Kane and MC Lyte
    Anthony Miller

Discography

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  • The Shit I Never Dropped (2003)
    MC Lyte
    The Shit I Never Dropped (2003)
    Unda Ground Kings
  • Da Undaground Heat, Vol. 1 (2003)
    MC Lyte
    Da Undaground Heat, Vol. 1 (2003)
    Imusic
  • Seven & Seven (1998)
    MC Lyte
    Seven & Seven (1998)
    EastWest America
  • Badder Than B Fore (1998)
    MC Lyte
    Badder Than B Fore (1998)
    Eastwest
  • Bad as I Wanna B (1996)
    MC Lyte
    Bad as I Wanna B (1996)
    EastWest America
  • Ain't No Other (1993)
    MC Lyte
    Ain't No Other (1993)
    First Priority
  • Act Like You Know (1991)
    MC Lyte
    Act Like You Know (1991)
    First Priority
  • Eyes on This (1989)
    MC Lyte
    Eyes on This (1989)
    Traffic Entertainment Group
  • Lyte as a Rock (1988)
    MC Lyte
    Lyte as a Rock (1988)
    First Priority
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