Fabrizio Romano & Laverne
3 years ago
United States MC Lyte is recognized as a pioneering female rapper, speaker, DJ, and business owner, whose career spans from groundbreaking musical achievements to significant philanthropic and acting roles.
Interested in booking Mc Lyte?
Request A ShowMC Lyte has collaborated with industry titans and has been mentioned in relation to AARP, highlighting her extensive career.
The Doux, a hair care brand, partnered with MC Lyte's '1 of 1' Tour as the official beauty sponsor.
Deepr, a Black-owned music discovery app, partnered with MC Lyte's sitcom 'Partners In Rhyme'.
MC Lyte partnered with the NFL's 'Inspire Change' social justice initiative, using her song 'King King'.
MC Lyte's Hip Hop Sisters Foundation partnered with BET & Soul Train to inspire millions.
MC Lyte found a co-lead for her sitcom 'Partners In Rhyme' on UMC (AllBlk), which is a scripted original series she is involved with.
MC Lyte is the national spokesperson for NNPA's Discover The Unexpected (DTU) initiative.
MC Lyte provided branding voiceover work for the Starz Network.
MC Lyte provided voiceover services for Tide.
MC Lyte provided voiceover services for AT&T.
MC Lyte provided voiceover services for the National Urban League.
MC Lyte voiced the character Tia for Mattel's Diva Starz toy line from 2000 to 2002.
MC Lyte served as the DJ for Michael Jordan's 50th Birthday Celebration and his 2013 wedding reception.
MC Lyte provided music for Jay Leno's farewell party as a DJ.
MC Lyte provided music for The Image Awards as a DJ.
MC Lyte provided music for Nissan as a DJ.
MC Lyte provided music for Google as a DJ.
MC Lyte provided music for Black Enterprise as a DJ.
MC Lyte partnered with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund on the iLEAD international tour in South Africa.
MC Lyte's song "My Main Aim" was the title song of the basketball video game NBA Live 2005.
Lana Michele Moorer, known professionally as MC Lyte, was born on October 11, 1970, in Queens, New York City, and raised in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. She began rapping at the age of 12 and recorded her first track at 14. Her career gained momentum with the release of her debut single, “I Cram to Understand U (Sam)” in 1987, at the age of 16. The song was one of the first to address the crack epidemic. In April 1988, she released her debut album, “Lyte as a Rock,” becoming the first female rapper to release a full solo album. This album featured singles like “10% Dis” and “Paper Thin,” establishing her as a significant voice in hip-hop. She followed this with “Eyes on This” in 1989, which charted on the Billboard 200, making her the first solo female rapper to achieve this milestone. Her third album, “Act Like You Know,” was released in 1991, and included the hit single “Poor Georgie,” marking her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100.
MC Lyte’s influence continued to grow throughout the 1990s. In 1993, her single “Ruffneck” made her the first solo woman rapper to earn a gold certification from the RIAA, and it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. She collaborated with Janet Jackson on the remix of “You Want This” in 1994 and was featured on Brandy’s “I Wanna Be Down” remix alongside Queen Latifah and Yo-Yo. Her 1996 single “Keep On Keepin’ On” featuring Xscape reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the years, she has worked with various artists including Missy Elliott, Will Smith, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am. Beyond music, MC Lyte began voiceover work in 1996 for brands like Tide and AT&T. She also transitioned into acting, with her first role in an off-Broadway play in 1991, followed by appearances in films such as “Fly by Night” (1993) and “Civil Brand” (2002), and TV shows like “New York Undercover” and “Queen of the South.
Her career expanded into business with the launch of Sunni Gyrl Inc. in 1997, focusing on artist management and production. She also served as the President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Recording Academy from 2011 to 2013, being the first African American woman to hold this position. Her philanthropic efforts led to the establishment of the Hip Hop Sisters Foundation, which provides scholarships to college students. In 2013, she received the “I Am Hip Hop” Icon Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Hip Hop Awards. A notable milestone occurred in October 2014, when she became the first female artist to perform hip-hop at the White House for President Barack Obama. In September 2016, Harvard University honored her with the W. E. B. Du Bois Medal, its highest award in African and African-American studies. In 2024, she made her directorial debut with the short film “Break Up In Love.”, and acted as music supervisor for the film adaptation of “The Memo.”
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