MC Lyte Receives "I Am Hip Hop" Award

Saturday night marked a career highlight for female rapper MC Lyte. At the eighth annual BET Awards held at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, the MC was awarded the “I Am Hip Hop Award” presented by rapper Eve. “She set the precedent for female freestylers,” Eve said of MC Lyte. “I’m truly, truly honored. She has meant so much to me in my career.”

Lyte kicked off her career in the late 80s with the album “Lyte As A Rock,” and came to rise as a trailblazing female lyricist with songs like “RuffNeck” and “Poor Georgie.” Lyte has dedicated herself to the community and pushing the genre forward with her organization Hip Hop Sisters Network, a non-profit developed to promote positive images of women and bring leaders together in the industry to support young women.

A special video tribute featuring Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Queen Latifah also aired for the veteran rapper. “Please keep the dream alive, I am with you,” Lyte urged other female rappers during her acceptance speech.

Lyte joins other honorees such as Rakim, Russell Simmons, Salt-N-Pepa and Grandmaster Flash. Stay tuned for the rapper’s new reality show Hip Hop Sisters along with Lil’ Mama, Yo Yo and Monie Luv.