MC Lyte
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| MC Lyte | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lana Moorer |
| Born | October 11, 1971 Brooklyn, New York |
| Genre(s) | R&B, Rap, Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper-songwriter, narrator, mentor, actress |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Label(s) | SGI/CMM, First Priority Music, Rhino Entertainment |
| Website | MC Lyte.com |
Lana Michele Moorer (born on October 11, 1971[1]), better known by her stage name MC Lyte is rap artist who has scored several Rap and R&B hits. She has released several albums since 1988.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Moorer began rapping at the age of 12[1] and began her career in 1986. The release of her first single, "I Cram to Understand U (Sam)", was produced by her older brothers. This song, about a lying boyfriend’s crack cocaine addiction, became a modest R&B hit and led to her recording contract with First Priority Music. Her debut album, Lyte As a Rock, was released in 1988, and featured the previously mentioned single and another rap single entitled "10% Dis"; which targeted her rival at the time, rapper Antoinette.
Her second album Eyes on This was released in 1989. It spawned Lyte's first #1 Rap Tracks single "Cha Cha Cha" and another hit titled "Cappuccino", which is a metaphysical story weaved around a bad cappuccino experience. The song's video was directed by Ric Menello, who also helmed the The Beastie Boys's, "Fight for Your Right" music video. MC Lyte turned to producers Wolf & Epic (of Bell Biv Devoe fame) for her third release, 1991's Act Like You Know, which spawned another #1 Rap Track titled "Poor Georgie" and two smaller hits "When in Love" and "Eyes are the Soul". In 1993, MC Lyte released the album Ain't No Other. The album spawned yet another #1 Rap Track, "Ruffneck", which earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Single and was the first ever gold single by a solo female rap artist (Salt-N-Pepa had had several gold and platinum singles earlier).[1] Another minor single titled "I Go On" also came from this album.
Lyte then signed Elektra/Asylum and issuing released 1996's Bad As I Wanna B, which featured a duet with Missy Elliott on the track "Cold Rock a Party," which became another #1 Rap Track for her, and reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. This would be her only album certfied at least gold in the US (selling at least 500,000 copies). She contributed to the Sunset Park soundtrack with "Keep On, Keepin' On", which was her biggest pop hit, reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2001, Rhino Entertainment released The Very Best of MC Lyte. The artist mounted a comeback in 2003 with Da Undaground Heat, Vol. 1 with production team Maad Funk.
In 2003 MC Lyte released her first album on her own label, SGI/CMM, along with manager/partner Fred Crawford. The album, entitled "Da Underground Heat Vol. 1 hosted by Jamie Foxx", went on to garner her yet another Grammy nomination and Bet Award nomination as well, although it failed to go gold. The leading single, "Ride With Me", became the title track for a show called HOLLA hosted by Cheryl Underwood and also became one of the title songs for EA Sports NBA video game of 2003. The song also appeared in a popular LL COOL J feature entitled "Deliver us from Eva".
In the 2008 presidential race, Lyte spoke in favor of Barack Obama. She was quoted in The Source magazine as saying "I'm not voting for him (Obama) because he's a black man, I am voting for Obama because of his message and I identify with his words and his passion." [2]
[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 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).
In 2007 Lyte joined the cast of MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar 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.
in 1996 Lyte began what is now a very successful voice over career. She has completed campaigns with several corporate brands. Lyte is currently voicing a BET show called The BOOT and has just signed on to become a voice for the branding of the STARZ network.
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."[citation needed]
[edit] Other Activities
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.[3] 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.[4]
In October 2006, MC Lyte was one of the honored hip hop artists on VH1's annual award show, Hip Hop Honors. 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 the Moesha actress Shar Jackson. She is also an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
In 2005 she released 2 songs called "Can I Get It Now" & "Don't Walk Away" (with Meechie) available on the iTunes store. In 2007 she released a song called "Mad At Me" available on the iTunes store. In 2008 she released 2 songs called "Juke Joint" (on both UK & US) & "Get Lyte" (exclusive to US) available on the iTunes store. In 2009 she released a song onto to the iTunes store called "Brooklyn".
Moorer is a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. She is also the cousin of young upcoming rapper Charles Hamilton (rapper).
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | Peak positions | Sales and certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | U.S. R&B | |||
| 1988 | Lyte as a Rock
|
- | 50 |
|
| 1989 | Eyes on This
|
86 | 6 |
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| 1991 | Act Like You Know
|
102 | 14 |
|
| 1993 | Ain't No Other
|
90 | 16 |
|
| 1996 | Bad As I Wanna B
|
59 | 11 |
|
| 1998 | Seven & Seven
|
- | 71 |
|
| 1998 | Badder Than B-Fore
|
- | - |
|
| 2001 | The Very Best of MC Lyte
|
- | - |
|
| 2003 | Da Undaground Heat, Vol. 1
|
- | 95 |
|
| 2003 | The Shit I Never Dropped
|
- | - |
|
| 2005 | Rhyme Masters
|
- | - |
|
| 2006 | Back To Lyte
|
- | - |
|
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | US Rap | UK Singles Chart[5] | |||
| 1988 | "I Cram To Understand You (Sam)" | – | – | – | – | Lyte As A Rock |
| "10% Dis" | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Paper Thin" | – | 35 | 1 | – | ||
| 1989 | "Cha Cha Cha" | – | – | 1 | - | Eyes on This |
| "Cappucino" | – | – | 8 | – | ||
| "Stop Look Listen" | – | – | – | – | ||
| "I'm Not Havin' It " | – | – | 16 | – | The First Priority Music Family: Basement Flavor | |
| 1991 | "When in Love" | – | 14 | 3 | – | Act Like You Know |
| "All That" | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Poor Georgie" | 83 | 11 | 1 | – | ||
| 1992 | "Eyes Are the Soul" | – | 84 | – | – | |
| "Ice Cream Dream" | – | – | 11 | – | Mo' Money Soundtrack/Ain't No Other | |
| 1993 | "Ruffneck" | 35 | 10 | 1 | 67 | Ain't No Other |
| "I Go On" | – | 68 | 27 | – | ||
| 1994 | "Freedom" | 18 | 10 | – | – | Panther soundtrack |
| 1996 | "Keep On, Keepin' On" (featuring Xscape) | 10 | 3 | 2 | 27 | Sunset Park soundtrack |
| 1997 | "Cold Rock a Party" (featuring Missy Elliott and Puff Daddy) | 11 | 5 | 1 | 15 | Bad as I Wanna B |
| "Druglord Superstar" | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Everyday" | - | 44 | – | – | ||
| 1998 | "I Can't Make A Mistake" | – | – | – | 46 | Seven & Seven |
| "It's All Yours" (featuring Gina Thompson) | – | – | – | 36 | ||
| 2003 | "Ride Wit Me" | – | – | – | 36 | Da Underground Heat Vol. 1 CD |
| 2006 | "Wonder Years" | – | – | – | - | Back to Lyte |
[edit] Featured singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | US Rap | UK Singles Chart | |||
| 1988 | "I Want Your (Hands On Me)" (Sinéad O'Connor featuring MC Lyte) | – | – | – | 77 | The Lion & the Cobra |
| 1994 | "You Want This" (Janet Jackson featuring MC Lyte) | 8 | 9 | – | 14 | janet. |
| "I Wanna Be Down (Remix)" (Brandy featuring MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, YoYo) | 6 | 1 | – | 36 | Brandy | |
| 1996 | "Can't Hang" (Xscape featuring MC Lyte) | 56 | 16 | – | - | Off the Hook |
| 1997 | "Come On" (Billy Lawrence featuring MC Lyte) | 41 | 19 | – | – | Billy Lawrence |
| "Curious" (LSG featuring LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes and MC Lyte) | 28 | – | – | - | LSG | |
| 1999 | "Who Am I" (Will Smith featuring Tatyana Ali and MC Lyte) | – | – | – | – | Willenium |
| 2000 | "A Film Called (Pimp)" (Common featuring MC Lyte and Bilal) | – | – | - | - | Like Water for Chocolate |
| "Jammin'" (Bob Marley featuring MC Lyte) | – | – | – | 42 | The Shit I Never Dropped | |
| 2003 | "Fighting Temptation" (MC Lyte, Beyoncé, Missy Elliott & Free) | - | 116 | - | – | The Fighting Temptations Soundtrack |
| "Jam for the Ladies" (with Moby and Angie Stone) | – | – | – | – | 18 | |
| 2004 | "Girlfriend's Story" (Gemma Fox featuring MC Lyte) | – | – | – | 38 | Girlfriend's Story |
| 2008 | "That's What Girls Are Made Of" (Katt Williams featuring MC Lyte and E-40) | – | – | – | - | It's Pimpin' Pimpin' |
[edit] Awards and nominations
| Year | Work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Ruffneck" | Grammy Award—Best Rap Performance - Solo | Nominated |
| 1995 | "You Want This" with Janet Jackson | Soul Train Lady of Soul Music Award—Music Video of the Year | Nominated |
| 1995 | "I Wanna Be Down" (Remix) featuring Brandy, Yo-Yo, and Queen Latifah | MTV Music Award—Best Rap Video | Nominated |
| 1996 | "Keep On, Keepin' On" with Xscape | Soul Train Lady of Soul Music Award—Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video | Won |
| 2003 | "Ride Wit Me" | Grammy Award—Best Rap Solo Performance - Female | Nominated |
| 2003 | "Ride Wit Me" | BET Award—Best Rap Solo Performance - Female | Nominated |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Prato, Greg. "Biography". Allmusic. All Media Guide. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fifuxq95ld6e~T1. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- ^ The Source magazine, August 2008 issue
- ^ "MC Lyte’s diary goes to Smithsonian". Associated Press via The Daily Journal (New York City, New York). http://www.dj.com.ve/article.asp?CategoryId=13003&ArticleId=227532. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- ^ National Museum of American History (2006-02-28). Hip-Hop Comes to the Smithsonian. Press release. http://americanhistory.si.edu/news/pressrelease.cfm?key=29&newskey=318. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 357. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
