MC Lyte (born Lana Michelle Moorer; October 11, 1970) 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.
Originally, her stage name was Sparkle. At age 14, she began recording her first track, although it took two years before it was able to be released. In 1987, when she was 17, Lyte began publicly outshining other MCs. She was also featured in the remix and music video of “I Want Your (Hands on Me)” by Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor which debuted in May 1988 on MTV. In September 1988, she released her first album, Lyte as a Rock. Written over the course of many years, the album was noted for such hits as “Paper Thin”, its title track, 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 “Cappuccino”. 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”. “Ruffneck” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Single, making 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.
Two years afterward, Lyte’s fifth album, Bad As I Wanna B, featured production from Jermaine Dupri and Sean Combs. Its hits were “Keep on, Keepin’ On” (which originally appeared on the Sunset Park soundtrack) and “Cold Rock a Party”, the latter of which also 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, was not as successful. 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.
MC Lyte’s song “My Main Aim” was the title song of the video game NBA Live 2005 by EA Sports. In 2005, she released two songs produced by Richard “Wolfie” Wolf called “Can I Get It Now” and “Don’t Walk Away” (with Meechie). In 2007, she released a song called “Mad at Me” and, in 2008, two songs called “Juke Joint” and “Get Lyte”. In 2009 a song titled “Brooklyn” was released, as well as “Craven”.
“Dear John” (featuring Common & 10Beats) was released on September 9, 2014 and peaked on the Billboard Twitter Trending 140 chart at number three. After twelve years without an album, MC Lyte’s eighth album, Legend, came out on April 18, 2015. “Ball” (featuring Lil Mama & AV) and “Check” are also singles from the album.