Legend | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 18, 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2013–2014 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 36:47 | |||
Label |
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Producer | Dominique Ludarius Cohill, Emmanuel A. Jimenez, Emmanuel Wells II, Loudbox & Olson Kenneth Wells II | |||
MC Lyte chronology | ||||
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Singles from Legend | ||||
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Legend is the eighth album released by American rapper MC Lyte. [1] The album was released in 2015 via Omnivore Recordings and Sunni Gyrl Inc., and featured production from Dominique Ludarius Cohill, Emmanuel A. Jimenez, Emmanuel Wells II, Loudbox and Olson Kenneth Wells II.
The album features collaborations with artists such as Coko, Common, Faith Evans, Kenny Lattimore, Lil Mama and Stan Carrizosa. [2]
As part of Record Store Day (April 18), the album was available for 24 hours only as a limited-edition vinyl collector's item. [3]
Although in 2008 Lyte had released an EP as part of the group Almost September, Legend was her first solo studio album since Da Undaground Heat, Vol. 1 , released 12 years earlier. The album features collaborations with artists such as Coko from SWV, Common, Faith Evans, Kenny Lattimore, Lil Mama and Stan Carrizosa, the winner of the reality TV show High School Musical: Get in the Picture . [2]
In a Rolling Out interview, Lyte would comment on the "Legend" production "I think it’s very timely in terms of the production. I was able to add a new and true style. New because we have songs like “Check” and “We Here Now,” that sort of encompass the sound that is so popular today. We were also able to capture what I call the true sound, which is organic instrumentation, things that people are accustomed to hearing my songs like “Dear John” and “Last Time.” Those are the songs that are able to capture that sound. It’s just true to my style, I may not be addressing a specific topic song by song, but I am telling you who I am. I am standing for what it is I believe, and hopefully, I’m able to talk to my fans and also to the newcomers to hip-hop and show them a glimpse of who MC Lyte is."[ citation needed ] Some songs were produced by Loudbox Entertainment, of whom Lyte commented: "Eighty percent of them come from a church background, so they play all instruments. They really have a sense of music, which I really enjoy." [4]
When asked by The Source about her motivation to record an album, Lyte responded:
"I listen to quite a few heads in Hip Hop. Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Drake and a bunch of others. I love Hip Hop and I love artist pushing the limits. Now if only they can add the love and understand how powerful their words are and how they have the capacity to uplift communities all over the world." [5]
On June 7, 2013, the single "Cravin'" was released in digital format, in which Lyte collaborates with singer Stan Carrizosa. [6] This song was later included on the album. In October of the same year, she and Carrizosa performed the song at The Arsenio Hall Show . [7]
In September 2014 the second single "Dear John" was released. The track, which features Common and 10Beats, is an open letter to men. [8] The single appeared on the real-time US Billboard + Twitter Trending 140, where it peaked No. 3. [9] On October 14, 2014, MC Lyte performed "Dear John" in front of President Barack Obama, at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the legislation that created the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. [10] [11]
A few months later the third single, "Ball", was released. The song, which features rapper Lil Mama and singer AV, [12] was performed on the Fox talk show The Real . [13] Ball also has had a music video directed by Ron Yuan, who previously had also directed the video for "Cravin'".
In April 2015, shortly before the album's release, the fourth and final single "Check" was released. The song also has a music video, which also serves as a lyrical visual, combining some footage from Lyte's live presentations. [14] As part of Record Store Day (April 18), the album was available for 24 hours only on a limited-edition vinyl collector's item. The promotion was to support independent record stores nationwide. [3]
The information are taken from the liner notes and the official page of the ASCAP. [15] [16]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "We Here Now" (featuring Mario) | 2:48 | ||
2. | "Ball" (featuring Lil Mama & AV) |
|
| 2:30 |
3. | "Bomb Wild Out" (featuring AV) | 3:47 | ||
4. | "Dear John" (featuring Common & 10Beats) |
| Loudbox | 3:20 |
5. | "Last Time" (featuring Coko & Faith Evans) | 3:42 | ||
6. | "Wanted" | 3:18 | ||
7. | "Cravin'" (featuring Stan Carrizosa) |
| Loudbox/The Natives | 3:35 |
8. | "40 Days" (featuring StayC Reign) | 3:25 | ||
9. | "Way Back" | 3:34 | ||
10. | "Check" |
|
| 3:14 |
11. | "Love on Me" (featuring Kenny Lattimore) | 3:54 | ||
Total length: | 36:47 |
Production
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Lana Michele Moorer, better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rapper. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, MC Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first female rapper to release a full solo album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock. The album spawned the singles "10% Dis" and "Paper Thin".
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SWV is an American R&B vocal trio from New York City whose members are Cheryl (Coko) Gamble, Tamara (Taj) George, and Leanne (Lelee) Lyons. Formed in 1988 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here ", "I'm So into You", and "You're the One". The group disbanded in 1998 to pursue solo projects and reunited in 2005.
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Cheryl Elizabeth Gamble, known professionally as Coko, is an American singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer of the R&B vocal trio Sisters With Voices (SWV). Aside from her R&B career, Gamble also has a solo gospel career. As a member of SWV, Coko has sold 10 million records in the US, and 25 million records worldwide, and is a four-time Grammy Award nominee.
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Lyte as a Rock is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist MC Lyte. It was released on April 19, 1988, via First Priority and Atlantic Records, and was produced by Audio Two, Prince Paul, and King of Chill and his group, Alliance.
Eyes on This is the second studio album American hip hop recording artist MC Lyte. It was released on October 3, 1989, via First Priority and Atlantic Records, and featured production from Audio Two, as well as Grand Puba, The King of Chill, Marley Marl and PMD.
Cha Cha Cha is the lead single from MC Lyte's second album Eyes on This. Produced by King Of Chill, who also has songwriting credits, it was released on September 8, 1989.
"Eyes Are the Soul" is the third and final single from MC Lyte's third album Act Like You Know. Produced by Wolf & Epic, it was released on April 9, 1992.
"Poor Georgie" is the second single from hip-hop artist MC Lyte's third album Act Like You Know (1991). The song was produced by Ivan 'Doc' Rodriguez, and released on December 12, 1991. The song seeks to convey an anti-addiction message, through the story of George and the dysfunctional relationship MC Lyte has with this individual with self-destructive behaviors. It features a sample of "Georgy Porgy" by rock band Toto.
The following is the discography of MC Lyte, an American hip hop musician.
"Ruffneck" is a hip hop song recorded by American rapper MC Lyte. It was published on May 27, 1993 by First Priority Music and Atlantic Street, as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Ain't No Other (1993). The song was produced by Aqil Davidson with Walter "Mucho" Scott, who along with Lyte have songwriting credits.
"Paper Thin" is the third single from MC Lyte's debut album Lyte as a Rock. It is produced by King of Chill, who along with Lyte has songwriting credits.
Jazz Ishmael Butler, professionally known as Lil Tracy, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He was also known under the name Yung Bruh during the beginning of his career. Tracy is best known for his collaborations with the late rapper Lil Peep, specifically "Awful Things", which peaked at 79 on the Billboard Hot 100, and for being a prominent member of the "SoundCloud rap" and underground rap scene.
This article lists the discography of American rapper Lil Mama.
10% Dis is a single from MC Lyte's album Lyte as a Rock produced by the hip hop duo Audio Two, who are also credited as songwriters.
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"Lyte as a Rock" is a 1988 single from the album of the same name by American rapper MC Lyte. Although in its version on the album it is produced by Audio Two, the single and the music video use a house music mix produced by King of Chill. The song was composed by Lyte With Audio Two's Milk Dee.
"Dear John" is a single by MC Lyte featuring Common & 10Beats from her subsequent eighth solo album Legend.
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