Global InformationMC Lyte information
MC Lyte | |
|---|---|
 Lyte in October 2019 | |
| Born | Lana Michele Moorer October 11, 1970 New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | Lytro |
| Education | Hunter College (no degree) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Organization | Hip Hop Sisters Foundation |
| Works |
|
| Title | Founder of Sunni Gyrl Inc. |
| Spouse |
John Wyche
(m. 2017; div. 2023) |
| Relatives |
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| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Labels |
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| Formerly of |
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| Website | mclyte |
Lana Michele Moorer (born October 11, 1970), better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rapper. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap,[5][6][7] MC Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first female rapper to release a full solo album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock. The album spawned the singles "10% Dis" and "Paper Thin".[8][9]
In 1989, she joined the supergroup Stop the Violence Movement, and appeared on the single "Self Destruction", which was the inaugural number-one single on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. That same year, she released her second album Eyes on This, which became one of the first albums by a female solo rapper to chart on the Billboard 200.[10][11] That album included the single "Cha Cha Cha". In 1991, MC Lyte released the hit single "Poor Georgie", which marked her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. Her 1993 single "Ruffneck", made her the first solo woman rapper to achieve a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[12] In 1994, she collaborated with Janet Jackson on the song "You Want This", and was featured alongside Queen Latifah and Yo-Yo on the remix track "I Wanna Be Down" by Brandy. Her 1996 single "Keep On, Keepin' On" featuring Xscape, reached the top ten on Billboard Hot 100. She then collaborated with Missy Elliott on the hit song "Cold Rock a Party", which would become her fifth number-one song on the Hot Rap Singles chart. In 2004, she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rap Solo Performance for the track "Ride Wit Me".
Throughout her career, MC Lyte had collaborations with mainstream artists such as Sinéad O'Connor, Will Smith, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Moby, Aerosmith, Beyoncé and will.i.am; and has been cited as an influence to many women in hip hop. Billboard & Vibe ranked her as one of the 50 greatest rappers (2023).[13] She has received the "I Am Hip Hop" Icon Lifetime Achievement from the BET Hip Hop Awards, and was honored at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors. In October 2014, Lyte become the first female artist to perform Hip Hop at the White House.[14] In September 2016 she was awarded with the W. E. B. Du Bois Medal, Harvard University's highest honor in the field of African and African-American studies.[15] In addition to her career as a rapper, she has worked in parallel as voiceover talent for various events, writer, DJ and has starred in various roles in film and television. In 2022 has her directional debut with the short film Break Up In Love.[16] Lyte has also worked with several charities, including her own foundation, Hip Hop Sisters.[17]
- ^ "MC Lyte 1971–". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ "MC, Lyte". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ "MC Lyte: Still Rockin' With The Best (Interview by Han O'Connor)". Allhiphop.com. January 13, 2010. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- ^ "Artists Pick Their Faves of 2002". HITS Daily Double. December 20, 2002. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- ^ "MC Lyte reps feminist beat at hip-hop conference". The Metropolitan. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ "MC Lyte". Philadelphia CityPaper. Archived from the original on June 19, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ Joan, Newlon Radner (1993). Feminist Messages: Coding in Women's Folk Culture. University of Illinois Press. p. 220. ISBN 9780252062674.
- ^ "Ladies First: 31 Female Rappers Who Changed Hip-Hop". Billboard.com. March 31, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
- ^ "Hip-Hop's Greatest Year: Fifteen Albums That Made Rap Explode". Rolling Stone. February 12, 2008. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ "MC Lyte's "Eyes On This" LP Turns 34". HotNewHipHop. October 17, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ "MC Lyte Released Her Second Album 'Eyes On This' 33 Years Ago Today". MadameNoire. September 12, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ Hess, Mickey (2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide. Greenwood. p. 84. ISBN 978-0313343216.
- ^ Rouhani, Carl Lamarre,Gail Mitchell,Keith Murphy,Michael Saponara,Datwon Thomas,Mark Elibert,Eric Diep ,William E. Ketchum III,Heran Mamo,Neena; Lamarre, Carl; Mitchell, Gail; Murphy, Keith; Saponara, Michael; Thomas, Datwon; Elibert, Mark; Diep, Eric; III, William E. Ketchum (February 8, 2023). "50 Greatest Rappers of All Time". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "MC Lyte". NBMBAA. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ "Pam Grier, MC Lyte Among Recipients Of Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Medals". Yahoo! (website). September 26, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ "MC Lyte". Kennedy Center (Website). Retrieved June 10, 2022.
- ^ Grimm, Marrio (October 29, 2010). "MC Lyte on Her Site for Women 'Hip Hop Sisters'". HipHopClub.biz. Retrieved October 29, 2010.