MC Lyte is one of the most influential hip hop artist in the music industry. As one of the first female rappers, she paved the way for many others to make their mark in the male dominated business.
MC Lyte began rapping at the age of 12 and released her debut single “I Cram to Understand U (Sam) in 1987 at the age of 16.
MC Lyte broke many barriers as a female hip hop artist.
She released her first album “Lyte as a Rock” in 1988 and it peaked at #6 on the Billboard Top Black Albums chart. That same year she was named “the best female vocalist in hip hop” by The Village Voice magazine. She is also the first woman to reach #1 on the Billboard Rap Songs Charts with “Cha Cha Cha”.
Furthermore, MC Lyte is the first female solo rapper to have an album land on the Billboard 200.
Throughout the years MC Lyte has expanded her talents and taken on multiple roles as a songwriter, producer, actress, director, radio personality, writer, model, voiceover talent, motivational speaker and more. She is, and will always be known as one of the great pioneers of hip hop.