The one rapper MC Lyte calls her favorite of all time

Within the pantheon of hip-hop, the place machismo typically reigns supreme, MC Lyte carved out a singular area of interest, embodying a potent mix of lyrical prowess and unabashed femininity. MC Lyte’s ascent started within the late Eighties, a time when feminine rappers had been uncommon and sometimes relegated to the margins. Her debut album, Lyte as a Rock, launched in 1988, was a clarion name, heralding the arrival of a formidable voice in a male-dominated business.

The Brooklyn native’s lyrical dexterity was evident from the outset. She wielded phrases with the precision of a grasp craftsman, setting up narratives that had been each deeply private and universally resonant. Tracks like ‘Paper Thin’ and ‘10% Dis’ showcased her potential to dissect relationships and rivalries with a eager, virtually surgical precision.

What set MC Lyte aside was not simply her technical ability, however her unwavering dedication to authenticity. In an period the place hypersexualised personas had been typically the norm for feminine artists, Lyte remained resolutely herself — woman from the streets, unafraid to struggle again together with her fists. She navigated the treacherous waters of the music business with a fierce independence, refusing to evolve to the expectations positioned upon her by advantage of her gender.

It’s a defiant profession that had only a few blueprints for fulfillment. Lyte’s influence on the world of hip-hop extends far past New York, however the performer’s inspiration will be heard all through the crop of artists who emerged from the Huge Apple within the Nineteen Nineties and past. One such performer is Lyte’s favorite MC of all time: Nas.

The aggressive nature of hip-hop means artists are usually requested for his or her high MCs, and Lyte didn’t disappoint when she was posed the identical query. “My favourite male rapper of all time? Did you hear that question? Favourite male rapper of all time?” Whereas the confusion could appear unusual, the interview arose shortly after lyte was named the best feminine rapper of all time, suggesting that gendering the query was obligatory.

Lyte’s reply was impressed by he latest dealings with hip-hop: “I just heard a new song on the radio, by Nas. He’s talking to little kids,” she explains of the basic observe ‘I Know I Can’. The track is rightly seen as one of many extra constructive messages from the NYC rapper, and Lyte labels it “lovely”.

She highlights that Nas, who in 2003 was one of many greatest rappers on the planet, can take time away type the standard parts of hip-hop to supply an uplifting message. Lyte was sutiably impressed by the power to do all that “and still keep it funky. So Imma have to say Nas.”