MC Lyte Excudes Grown Woman Rap In ‘1 Of 1’: Her First Album Release In 9 Years

MC Lyte, the groundbreaking hip-hop luminary, has officially returned from her musical hiatus.

On Friday, Lyte released her 9th studio album, 1 of 1. Executive produced by Grammy Award-winner Warryn Campbell, the project features an impressive lineup of cultural icons, including Stevie Wonder, Queen Latifah, Cheryl “Salt” James, Mary Mary, Big Daddy Kane, Q-Tip, Ghostface Killah, Common, Raheem DeVaughn, and more.

Lyte has joined the league of hip-hop legends making comebacks to their signature stances in 2024. This year has seen an array of new releases from artists like LL Cool J, Rakim, Ghostface Killah, Common, and Pete Rock. Based on observation, MC Lyte appears to be one of the few, if not the only, female MC from her era to release a fully developed project in 2024.

In our exclusive interview last month, while enjoying breakfast at Junior’s on 42nd Street, the “Woman” MC shared how hip-hop’s 50th anniversary last year confirmed the strong demand and space for hip-hop legends, or rather, old-school artists, in today’s music scene.

“The people were there,” said Lyte. “It was like we really gained an understanding of the many generations that have been influenced by what we’ve done for years, and it’s like, ‘Oh, they want to see us!’ So, somehow I think we might have lost sight of it—LL never did, which is why he put all his time, energy, and invested himself into Rock The Bells Radio—because there’s an audience there.”

“I think that everyone independently thought it was time, and perhaps last year was a testament to that,” Lyte continued. “With it being the 50th year of hip-hop and the advent of LL Cool J’s reimagined backspin into Rock The Bells Radio, we all did quite a bit of touring last year. We did the Rock The Bells festival, the Rock The Bells cruise, and several dates on The Force Tour.”

Lyte revealed the upcoming album during an appearance on the Rock the Bells radio show That’s The Joint with hip-hop pioneers MC Sha Rock and Grandmaster Caz. 1 of 1 marks her first solo album in 9 years, following the release of Legend in 2015.

It’s fitting to say this album is a prime example of what grown woman rap sounds like. There’s no braggadocio about the self-proclaimed pleasurable mechanics a girl theorizes as an offering, or material gains like money and designer fashion. In particular, on the track “Woman,” R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn delivers the hook, while Cheryl “Salt” James (Salt-N-Pepa) and Big Daddy Kane contribute verses in a powerful ode to Black women, celebrating their regal presence and undeniable strength.

“I ain’t never wanted nothing but some respect/And see the love from his eyes be reflected/Never looking for a handout or a check/Just a humble spirit looking for a real connection,” Lyte raps, crystalizing the definition of grown woman rap.

Fans of hip-hop’s golden era are in for a treat as Salt from Salt-N-Pepa showcases the evolution of her rap skills—a performance exuding class and finesse, hallmarks of the legendary artist’s signature style.

“Salt, of course, I used to say all of her lyrics when I was rehearsing before I even became MC Lyte,” said MC Lyte. “And she’s a friend; we attend the same church. She just moved to Cali. It’s easy. It’s like, hey, we’re working in the studio, need you to come by. She comes by, she hears ‘Woman’ — at that point, Kane and Raheem were already on it — and she goes, ‘Oh, I want to be on this one.’ So we actually shortened my verse, shortened Kane’s verse, and put her right there.”

Stevie Wonder makes an exciting appearance on “Change Your Ways” alongside Common, offering a soulful hook while Common’s signature lyricism shines with lines like “Keeper for my brothers, reaching for my sisters.”

Moreover, Q-Tip graces the album, enhancing the nostalgia by giving MC Lyte a taste of the signature A Tribe Called Quest sound on the track “Kick Back Relax.”

“For ‘Kick Back Relax,’ it sounds like a classic Tribe song, and because of that, I felt like, wow, Q-Tip would sound right at home on this. And, you know, not to mention, I can reach out—hey, I need this—and literally, he sent it the next day,” Lyte recalled.

Mary Mary and Muni Long team up on “Thank You,” a track that highlights Lyte’s seasoned perspective, delivering a stirring anthem about triumphing over adversity and the power of praise in tough times. The gospel-infused vocals amplify the track’s uplifting spirit, showcasing Lyte’s growth as both an emcee and a thoughtful storyteller. The music video draws clear inspiration from Lyte’s iconic 1991 single “Poor Georgie,” with the Brooklyn native positioned in the New York City MTA subway, embodying hip-hop’s rap element.

The album also taps into Lyte’s Brooklyn roots, particularly on the DJ Scratch-produced track about the struggles of chasing dreams, delivering a gritty, raw energy that perfectly complements Lyte’s iconic flow. For the first time, Lyte collaborates with legendary hip-hop producer Easy Mo Bee and enlists veteran producer Nottz Da Ruler alongside bourgeoning talent Koncept. In a full-circle moment, Lyte also reunites with King of Chill, who contributed to the production of her 1988 debut album, Lyte as a Rock.

A standout is “King King,” featuring Queen Latifah, a throwback to Lyte’s classic storytelling style reminiscent of “Cappucino,” where both queens address grown situationships with a mix of self-awareness and empowerment.

“With La [Queen Latifah], we had just done the Grammy 50 years hip-hop celebration last year, and while we were there, she says to me, ‘What are you doing after this?’ And I was like, ‘What’s up?’ She said, ‘We’re going to the studio with Talib Kweli.’ I was like, okay cool. So we went to the studio, we worked on this song for his album, and after we were leaving she was like, ‘We gotta do this more often.’ I was like, yeah, let’s do it,” recalled Lyte.

Lyte’s chemistry with Ghostface Killah on the appropriately braggadocious “Gritty” is undeniable, with Ghost’s explosive verse advocating for hip-hop pioneers to own their masters, reminding listeners that this is more than just music—it’s about securing the legacy of hip-hop’s trailblazers. The track also features Lil Mama and steers as Lyte’s continuous co-sign of the Harlem rapper’s lyrical dexterity.

“These are not people that were just conveniently there for me to get, but that I’m actually fans of,” said MC Lyte. “I love Ghostface’s flow because it’s unorthodox. I love Common’s voice, and I love his poetry style of rap. With Toni [Braxton], I’ve loved everything she’s done since the ’90s.”

“I think Muni is probably the most modern on there, and that’s just because we have a mutual respect for one another,” Lyte continued. “I said, ‘Hey, you want to get down on something?’ She was like, ‘Yes, and she followed through. And then, of course, probably the youngest is Lil Mama on the Ghostface Killah song. And I’m a fan of Mama’s; I think that she’s one of the best rappers out of New York City. It’s just we don’t hear from her enough, but I love her flow.”

In our interview, MC Lyte revealed that a part two of the album will be released soon, featuring Toni Braxton, Slick Rick, Anthony Hamilton, and more to be announced. This return to the booth allows Lyte to bring her musical visions to life and curate the quality sound that classic hip-hop deserves.

“We all came quickly to the realization, ‘Let’s put some music out.’ And then I remember [Big Daddy] Kane told me, ‘I’m doing it because you’re doing it.’ So it’s like everybody kind of hears, ‘Oh, so-and-so is… we’re from the same era, I’m gonna do something too.’ It is something that just lives in us. I record all the time, but this will be the first time in a long time I’ve put energy into actually releasing the music.”