By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
In a powerful ode to womanhood, MC Lyte, the mogul, voice-over artist, and hip-hop legend, is dropping her latest single, “Woman.” The track collaborates with fellow hip-hop pioneers Salt from Salt-N-Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, and R&B crooner Raheem DeVaughn. Produced by Warryn Campbell, “Woman” is a bold and lyrical celebration of women across the globe.
The single, a joint venture between My Block Inc. and Sunny Girl Inc., with distribution by Vydia, promises to uplift and inspire all women. Lyte, known for her groundbreaking career spanning over 30 years, was the first female rapper nominated for a Grammy Award and the first rap artist to perform at Carnegie Hall.
“We were in a studio, me, Kane, Raheem with Warryn Campbell and the music was already done,” Lyte told the NNPA Newswire. “We were listening to it, trying to assess what might happen. Raheem went into the booth and started singing ‘woman,’ and just hearing that, I was like, ‘this is an ode to women.’
Lyte noted how she often speaks about her experience, and contemplates how everyone can celebrate women, particularly sending a message to individuals of color that their struggle isn’t in vain. “My greatest hope is the acknowledgement of what has been and what has gotten us here,” Lyte affirmed.
“Generally speaking, women are taking back their power,” she proclaimed. “There are many women who sit in their power and have the ability to nurture and empower others, but there’s so many others who have yet to understand that they can claim their power back, whether it’s through a domestic violence scenario, starting their own business, empowering young people in their community, or realizing it takes a village. I want to give admiration and gratitude to those women who really are superwomen. They lead businesses, they lead families along with their husbands and sometimes alone; they have sisterhoods that are strong; and they’ve been able to provide support to other women.”
Apart from her illustrious music career, Lyte has left her mark as a prolific actress, with roles in television series like “New York Undercover,” “SWAT,” “Power,” and “Queen of the South.” Her film credits include acclaimed titles like “Patti Cake$,” “Girls Trip,” and “Bad Hair.” When the New York Knicks City Dancers perform at home games in the World’s Most Famous Arena, she’s the voice introducing the troop to spectators at Madison Square Garden.
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Lyte is a philanthropist, motivational speaker, and author. She founded the “Hip Hop Sisters Foundation,” presenting over $1 million in scholarships. She’s also served as a US ambassador for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, focusing on youth empowerment, and worked with students in the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and Chevrolet’s college fellowship and scholarship program, “Discover the Unexpected.”
Lyte’s influence includes being a vocal advocate for women in hip-hop and beyond. Her commitment to artistic integrity and empowering female artists remains at the forefront of her work.
With her new single, “Woman,” Lyte continues pushing boundaries and inspiring audiences worldwide with her timeless message of empowerment and resilience. “Woman” shows that Lyte’s impact remains as potent as ever, solidifying her as a true icon of hip-hop and women’s empowerment.
“Hip-hop in my era, and that prior to me, was all about leadership, stepping out in the world, having a global experience, bringing it back to the community, and taking stories from our communities and spreading it worldwide,” Lyte stated. “The world, not just hip hop, has taken a backseat to holding the torch of being a positive influence and how much that matters to our community. I think it is not just entertainment, television, film, or music, but in general, it has been folks’ kind of separate, not realizing we’re much stronger together as a unit.
“Because of that, things have gone awry; kids are not respecting authority, not just their parents. We need to bring back a reason for that respect, a reason for them to live and a longing to be successful. Some are not shooting for the stars, just not caring to rise above. It’s not all, but I know there are certain people who can benefit from some inspiration and loving guidance. Strength, courage, and wisdom, the words of India.Arie, in that order, seeing who you are, reclaiming your power, and reminding others of how much respect is due to the woman of color.”
