"Lyte as a Rock" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by MC Lyte | ||||
from the album Lyte as a Rock | ||||
B-side | "Shut the Eff Up! (Hoe)" | |||
Released | 1988 | |||
Recorded | 1988 | |||
Genre | Golden age hip hop, Hip house | |||
Length | 4:30 | |||
Label | First Priority, Atlantic Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lana Moorer and Kirk Robinson [1] | |||
Producer(s) | Audio Two, King of Chill (House Mix) [2] | |||
MC Lyte singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Lyte as a Rock" on YouTube |
"Lyte as a Rock" is a 1988 single from the hononym album 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. [1]
In 2000 the song was part of the soundtrack of the Gina Prince-Bythewood movie Love & Basketball .
The song was performed by Lil' Kim at the MC Lyte tribute at the 2006 VH1 Hip Hop Honors. [3]
In the song you hear a dialogue from producer King of Chill and Milk Dee from Audio Two talking about the meaning of "Lyte as a Rock":
Milk Dee:Do you understand the metaphoric phrase 'Lyte as a Rock?' It's explaining, how heavy the young lady is You know what I'm saying King?
King of Chill:Yes my brother, but I would consider 'Lyte as a Rock' a simile because of the usage of the word 'as' And now.. directly from the planet of Brooklyn MC Lyte -- as a Rock!
[4]
The B-side "Shut the Eff Up! (Hoe)" is a diss track to Hurby Azor's associate, Antoinette. [5]
The song contains samples from vocals of Ashford & Simpson's "Solid" and drums from Tommy Roe's "Sweet Pea".
It was later included on the compilation album Cold Rock a Party – Best of MC Lyte (2019). [6]
Later it was sampled in other songs of her like on "I Am the Lyte" from her second album Eyes on This (1989), "Ice Cream Dream (Remix 12")" (1992) and "The Wonder Years" (2006). It was also sampled in songs by others artists, such as De La Soul's "Cool Breeze on the Rocks" interlude on their album 3 Feet High and Rising and Gang Starr's "The Planet".
In 2000 the song was part of the soundtrack of the Gina Prince-Bythewood movie Love & Basketball .
The song was performed by Lil' Kim at the MC Lyte tribute at the 2006 VH1 Hip Hop Honors. [7]
The music video for the song, directed by Lionel C. Martin, [8] shows MC Lyte rapping in different historical periods such as the paleolithic period, as queen of ancient Egypt and as a member of a pro-black social movement and features a brief cameo by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor. It was included on her compilation video album Lyte Years (1991). [9]
In 1999, Ego Trip 's editors ranked "Lyte as a Rock (House Mix)" at No. 7 in their list of "10 Hip House Songs That Don't Suck" in Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists. [10]
In September 2004, as a result of a survey of over 200 musicians, songwriters, disc jockeys and radio programme producers, the song ranked No. 81 on the Top40-Charts Top 100 Greatest Hip-hop/Rap Singles of all time list. [11]
In March 2016, XXL's Dominique Zonyee commented:
"She slapped the sexist game dead in the face with her groundbreaking single, "Lyte As a Rock." The iconic metaphor, as described in the first lines of the song, is symbolic for female MCs." [12]
In 2018, on the 30th anniversary of its release, Albumism's Jesse Ducker reviewed the album Lyte as a Rock where he commented that with the song, MC Lyte "attempts to prove her lyrical dominance straight out the gate. Over the drums and organ from Tommy Roe's 'Sweet Pea', transmits directly from the Planet of Brooklyn, exhibiting complete mic dominance." He also considered the "more rugged" original version superior to the remix house. [13]
A-Side (Funky Side)
B-Side (Spunky Side)
Credits are taken from the liner notes. [14]
Lana Michele Moorer, better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rapper, DJ, actress and entrepreneur. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock. She released a total of eight solo studio albums and an EP with Almost September.
Kimberly Denise Jones, better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and reality television personality. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, she lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. In her teens, Jones would freestyle rap, influenced by fellow female hip hop artists like MC Lyte and the Lady of Rage. In 1994, she was discovered by fellow rapper the Notorious B.I.G., who invited her to join his group Junior M.A.F.I.A.; their debut album, Conspiracy, generated two top 20 singles in the United States and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, better known by his stage name Kool G Rap, is an American rapper from Queens, New York City. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew. He is one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time, and a pioneer of mafioso rap/street/hardcore content and multisyllabic rhyming. On his album The Giancana Story, he stated that the "G" in his name stands for "Giancana", but on other occasions he has stated that it stands for "Genius".
How Ya Like Me Now is the second solo studio album by American rapper Kool Moe Dee from the Treacherous Three. It was recorded at Battery Studios in London, England and released on November 3, 1987 via Jive Records.
Audio Two were the Brooklyn, New York hip hop duo of emcee Kirk "Milk Dee" Robinson and DJ Nat "Gizmo" Robinson, most famous for its first hit "Top Billin'".
La Bella Mafia is the third studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim, released on March 4, 2003, by Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over one million copies in the United States and over two million copies worldwide.
Money, Power & Respect is the debut album by hip hop group The Lox. It was released on January 13, 1998, through Bad Boy Records and featured production from the Hitmen, Dame Grease and Swizz Beatz. The album found huge success, peaking at number three on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and spawned two charting singles, "Money, Power & Respect" and "If You Think I'm Jiggy". In 2008, the title track was ranked number 53 on Vh1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
Niatia Jessica Kirkland, better known by her stage name Lil Mama, is an American rapper, singer, actress and television presenter from Brooklyn, New York and Harlem, New York. She experienced top 10 Billboard placements at seventeen with her debut album VYP (2008) which debuted at #25 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned her four major singles including her staple song and dance anthem "Lip Gloss", earning her two Teen Choice Awards and Monster Single of the Year nominations at the MTV VMA's. Lil Mama gained further attention in Pop music after a collaboration with Avril Lavigne, for the remix of her hit single "Girlfriend”.
Lyte as a Rock is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist MC Lyte. It was released on May 1988, via First Priority and Atlantic Records, and featured production from Audio Two, Prince Paul, King of Chill and his group, Alliance.
I Don't Care: The Album is the second and final studio album by American hip hop duo Audio Two. It was released in 1990 through First Priority Music with distribution by Atlantic Records. Production was handled by its members Milk Dee and DJ Gizmo along with the King of Chill and Terence Dudley. It features guest appearances from MC Lyte and Positive K. I Don't Care: The Album was not a success, only peaking at number 74 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and spawning two singles: "On the Road Again" and "I Get the Papers". Its lead single, "On the Road Again", peaked at number 16 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
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.
Act Like You Know is the third studio album by American hip hop recording artist MC Lyte. It was released on September 17, 1991, by First Priority Music, distributed by Atlantic Records, and featured production from Audio Two, The 45 King, Ivan "Doc" Rodriguez, The King of Chill, Pal Joey, Epic Mazur, Richard Wolf and DJ Master Tee.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
"Stop, Look, Listen" is a song by MC Lyte with DJ K-Rock, released as the second single from Lyte's second album Eyes on This. It was published on February 1, 1990. In its single version it is an Audio Two remix of the original version of the LP produced by King of Chill.
"I Cram to Understand U (Sam)" is the debut single by American rapper MC Lyte, in which features their DJ, DJ K-Rock, released in 1987. The song was part of her first album Lyte as a Rock, released the following year.
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