Lyte as a Rock

Following the release of her debut single “I Cram To Understand U (Sam)” in 1987, Brooklyn, New York’s MC Lyte was 17 years old when she released her debut album Lyte as a Rock on April 19, 1988 through her stepfather Nat Robinson’s First Priority label. Lyte as a Rock was groundbreaking as it was the first full-length rap album by a female solo artist.

Before she became MC Lyte, Lana Moorer wrote some of the songs that appeared on this album in a composition book when she was as young as 12 years old. Half of the album’s production was handled by Audio Two with additional production from King of Chill, Alliance, and Prince Paul, who worked on production for Stetsasonic’s sophomore album In Full Gear and De La Soul’s debut album 3 Feet High and Rising the same year.

She also explained the concept for the album cover:

That was me, my DJ, K-Rock, and my bodyguard Big Foot. It would have made sense to have Big Foot as my full-time bodyguard since he was so big, but he was really just my road manager. The cover concept was that K-Rock was being enticed by the woman on the side of the picture. Basically we wanted to give him something to do during the shot.

Lyte as a Rock peaked at #50 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with support from the singles “I Cram To Understand U (Sam),” “10% Dis,” “Paper Thin,” and the title track. While the album didn’t impact the charts, it had a lasting impression in hip-hop history as it was featured on several “best of” lists, including The Source’s list of the 100 Greatest Rap Albums of All Time, Rolling Stone’s list of The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time, and the UK’s NME listed Lyte as a Rock as one of the 25 Albums That Changed Hip-Hop Forever. MC Lyte would also help lay the foundation for female rappers that followed her such as her fellow Brooklynites Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown among others.