MC Lyte (born Lana Michele Moorer; October 11, 1971) 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.
Lyte was born Lana Michelle Moorer in 1971. Raised in Brooklyn,
Lyte began rapping at the age of 12. Two of her brothers later formed
the hip-hop duo, Audio Two, which later helped to collaborate on
Lyte's records. Lyte recorded her first song, "I Cram to Understand
U (Sam)", in 1986. Lyte had originally written the song in 1984.
The song, about a relationship that fell apart due to the protagonist's
lover's crack addiction, got her notice from First Priority, who
signed Lyte in late 1987. Soon after she was signed with Atlantic
Records by its VP Sylvia Rhone.
[edit] Musical career
Her first album, Lyte as a Rock, was released in September 1988
and was noted for the hit "Paper Thin" and the battle rap, "10%
Dis", which was 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 "Cappucino". Both albums were notable
for Lyte's uncensored lyrical matter. Lyte 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". Lyte became a
featured artist on hits by Janet Jackson and Brandy in 1994.
Two years afterwards, Lyte's fifth album, Bad As I Wanna B, featured
production from Jermaine Dupri and Sean Combs and featured the hits "Keep
On, Keepin' On" and "Cold Rock a Party", which featured
then up-and-coming rapper, songwriter and producer Missy Elliott.
This album was her first with East West Records 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, wasn't as successful
and she left East West by the end of the decade. Lyte released the
independently produced record The Undaground Heat featuring Jamie
Foxx , in 2003, notable for the song, "Ride With Me". The
single was nominated for both a Grammy and a BET award.
[edit] Acting career
Lyte has been featured on television as herself on such shows as
MTV Unplugged, In Living Color, Moesha, New York Undercover, My Wife
and Kids,and Sisters in the Name of Rap. She has also acted on TV
as a character (not as "MC Lyte") in such shows as In the
House, Get Real, Half & Half, and The District.
Her first acting role was in 1991, an off Broadway theater play
entitled Club Twelve, a Hip-hop twist on The Twelfth Night alongside
Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill and Lisa Nicole Carson. After she acted
in a film was in the 1993 movie titled Fly by Night, starring alongside
Jeffrey Sams, Ron Brice, and Steve Gomer. Since then she has also
starred other films, such as A Luv Tale (1999), Train Ride (2000),
Civil Brand (2002) and Playa's Ball (2003).
[edit] Other activities
In 1996 Lyte began what is now a very successful voice over career.
She has voiced campaigns with several corporate brands. Lyte also
voiced a short-lived BET show called "The Boot"[2] and
has just signed on to become a voice for the branding of the STARZ
network.
In 2007 Lyte joined the cast of MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar[3]
and coached Shar Jackson to a hip hop mc victory in a mere 8 weeks.
During that same time Lyte hit the road in between shooting and joined
The Roots for a nationwide VH1 House of Blues Tour.
She has also recently opened Shaitel, a Los Angeles boutique that
specializes in accessories from belts to sunglasses. "We sell
a mixture of new and vintage [items]," explains Lyte. "We
also have a few signature pieces that are done just for the store.
We boast to bring a little New York flavor out here to California." [4]
In February 2006, her diary, as well as a turntable, records, and
other assorted ephemera from the early days of hip hop, were donated
to the Smithsonian Institution.[5] This collection, entitled "Hip-Hop
Won’t Stop: The Beat, The Rhymes, The Life" is a program
to assemble objects of historical relevance to the hip hop genre
from its inception.[6]
In October 2006, MC Lyte was one of the honored hip hop artists
on VH1's annual award show Hip Hop Honors.[7] She was joined by fellow
female MC's Da Brat, Remy Ma, and Lil' Kim as they performed some
of her tracks, "Cha Cha Cha," "Lyte as a Rock," "Paper-Thin," and "Ruffneck." She
previously took part in the MTV reality series Celebrity Rap Superstar
as the mentor of Moesha actress Shar Jackson. She is also an honorary
member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
In 2005, she released two songs produced by Richard "Wolfie" Wolf
called "Can I Get It Now" & "Don't Walk Away" (with
Meechie), both available at the iTunes store. In 2007, she released
a song called "Mad at Me" available at the iTunes store.
In 2008, she released two songs called "Juke Joint" (on
both UK & US) & "Get Lyte" (exclusive to US) available
at the iTunes store. In 2009, she released a song at the iTunes store
called "Brooklyn."
MC Lyte's song "My main aim" is the title song for the
console and computer game 'NBA Live 2005' by 'EA sports'. In it she
speaks about constantly maintaining her main aim, being that her
primary aim is to maintain, and how you must step aside while she
does her main thang.