MC Lyte

Raspy, cutting, and authoritative, the pioneering MC Lyte has one of the most distinctive voices in hip-hop, and wields an enduring influence on the culture that extends from Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott to Rapsody and Doechii. While Lyte wrote her debut single, "I Cram to Understand U (Sam)" (1987), at the age of 12, she displayed rare maturity as a lyricist with a fictitious narrative about a boyfriend whose crack addiction ruined their relationship. Lyte was still in her teens when she released the first rap album by a solo female, Lyte as a Rock (1988), followed by Eyes...