MC Lyte

New York-born performer MC Lyte became a pioneer in rap and hip-hop after she began to create rhymes as a child, and at the age of 12 she wrote the lyrics for 'I Cram to Understand U', which she recorded as a single in 1988. It made an immediate impression along with her debut album, 'Lyte As a Rock', and she was heralded for making a feminist breakthrough in the rap world. The title track was released as a single along with 'Paper Thin' and '10% Dis' and the same year she appeared in the remix and video of Sinéad O'Connor's 'I Want Your (Hands On Me)'.

Her next album, 'Eyes On This' in 1989 included hit singles 'Cha Cha Cha' and 'Cappucino', which featured tough-minded lyrics, but she became more soulful with the release of the 1991 album 'Act Like You Know'. MC Lyte became the first female rapper to earn a gold record with her 1993 release 'Ain't No Other', which spawned the hit single and Grammy-nominated 'Ruffneck'. Jermaine Dupri and Sean Combs helped produce her fifth album, 'Bad As I Wanna Be', which included singles 'Keep On Keepin' On' and 'Cold Rock a Party', featuring Missy Elliott.

After the album 'Da Undaground Heat, Vol. 1' in 2003, the artist turned increasingly to motivational speaking and acting with appearances on American television shows such as 'In the House', 'The District' , 'For Your Love' and 'Half and Half'. She also appeared in feature films such as 'Civil Brand' (2002), 'The Dempsey Sisters' (2013) and 'Girls Trip' (2017).

MC Lyte has maintained her fan base through the occasional single, social media and public speaking in America and around the world and she founded the Hip-Hop Sisters Foundation, which awards educational scholarships. In April 2015, she released a limited edition album titled 'Legend' which approached a new vibe, merging her classic sound with a new, edgy twang. Featuring guests such as Common, Faith Evans, Kenny Lattimore, Coko, and Mario, it appeared in a one-day sale on vinyl only with a free digital download.