Album Review: 1 of 1 by MC Lyte
With the help of producer Warryn Campbell, MC Lyte is back after ten years with a brand new release featuring Muni Long, Common, Queen Latifah, Ghostface Killah, Q-Tip, Stevie Wonder, and more.
Besides knowing her as a voiceover lady at the BET Awards, MC Lyte is a prominent figure from “the planet of Brooklyn.” Raised in East Flatbush, she discovered her passion for rap at the tender age of 12, captivated by hip-hop’s energetic beats and streetwise narratives. Four years later, her impactful debut single, “I Cram to Understand U,” arrived as one of the earliest cautionary anthems during the crack epidemic. This track set a thoughtful precedent that continued with 1991’s Act Like You Know, featuring singles like “Poor Georgie,” which spoke against drunk driving, and “Eyes Are the Soul,” a tribute to those lost during the AIDS crisis.
In 1996, with Bad As I Wanna B, MC Lyte embraced a sultry new style, blending R&B influences and collaborating with rising stars such as Xscape on “Keep On, Keepin’ On” and Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott for the “Cold Rock a Party.” Over her extensive career, she has partnered with icons like Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Queen Latifah, and Sinéad O’Connor, solidifying her status as a rap pioneer. Her contributions have paved the way for future generations of female artists in a genre historically dominated by men. Her ninth studio album, 1 of 1, is a follow-up to 2015’s Legend. It’s executive produced by the veteran Warryn Campbell, marking his first hip-hop produced record, and the lead-off single, “Woman,” sets the tone as Big Daddy Kane and Cheryl “Salt” James (of Salt-n-Pepa) join for the tribute as Raheem DeVaughn carry hook duties.
As Mary Mary and Muni Long provide singing vocals, “Thank You” examines struggle, gratitude, and personal growth. The song eloquently narrates the progression from an existence of struggle to one marked by triumph, blending personal anecdotes with a hard-knock Nottz beat. Nottz also produced “King King” as a tribute to Black men (we need more of that in today’s climate), with Queen Latifah providing the hook, but a verse would’ve taken the song to new heights. “All Day All Night” combines nostalgia with the complexities of personal growth, youthful love, and evocative imagery, depicting memories as vivid and almost tangible.
“Older now, with him here in front of me
It was clear he had no idea what he’d done for me.”
Produced by DJ Scratch, “Life & Luxury” epitomizes the struggle between maintaining authenticity and navigating the complexities of success and fame. Through lines such as “Sometimes it feels like the walls be closing in/I stay praying for the door and the opening,” Lyte talks about the pressure and seclusion accompanying her professional realm. The narrative oscillates between gratitude for her achievements and the pitfalls of an industry fraught with fakeness and corruption (“For all I sacrificed, truth is all I got/And the plaques I stacked, some of y’all forgot”).
In “Change Your Ways,” MC Lyte, Stevie Wonder, and Common addresses deeply rooted social issues, particularly systemic injustice and the pervasive impact of racism on African Americans, especially the times we’re in (“Black skin don’t mean we monolithic/To put it plain, we ain’t the same, we are very different”). Featuring Q-Tip, “Kick Back, Relax” is a poetic anthem about finding calm amidst life’s various pressures. “Lyte Ghost Lil Mama” has her, Ghostface and Lil Mama’s unequivocal commentary on personal and industry challenges, framing them within the context of self-empowerment and astute business acumen. Lyte confronts the often predatory nature of music contracts (“How these monsters ate yo ass in the process/Even Issa Rae said we should stop this nonsense”), Ghostface comes through with incisive wisdom (“Make sure you own up all your masters, masters”), and Lil Mama’s poignant examination in the last verse culminates as she turns inward, recognizing her trajectory as a form of self-affirming destiny (“It’s encrypted, written in the stars when you gift it).
One of the true album standouts, “Alright,” is embedded with moments of honest reflection, detailing the frequent missteps one encounters (“I can’t tell you how many times I erred”) and the hard-earned wisdom that follows (“Lessons came hard in between the good days”). The song addresses the hardships and unfair practices in the music industry, describing the emotional toll and sacrifices involved (“Gave my everything, trotted me around the globe/Never said no, showed up for every single show”). This conflict is articulated when MC Lyte highlights the exploitative side of the business, revealing the rigged game of promoters and the struggles for rightful earnings (“I put work in, now it’s like, “Who the hell you jerking?”/Young, but I know that this ain’t right for certain”).
Outside of the serious content, MC Lyte knows how to have fun with her rapping, starting with a three-track run with “To Rock the Mic,” “1-5,” and “Make a Livin’.” With “To Rock the Mic,” Lyte’s assertive voice illustrates a life that has faced and surmounted trials: ”What I’ve been through could’ve shook my mental/But I kept it all together, I was meant to.” The song concludes by paying homage to influential figures in the hip-hop community, such as Nipsey Hussle and Young Dawg. “1-5” eloquently consolidates crucial principles for anyone aiming to excel in the rap and hip-hop industry, as he offers a roadmap toward technical proficiency, stage presence, and audience engagement, and Warryn Campbell offers an 808 upbeat party jam with “Make a Livin’.”
We close the album with “Music Is,” in which Lyte raps about her personal recollections, perseverance, and deep connection to music as a lifeline. The autobiographical layers embedded within the lyrics connect listeners with MC Lyte’s journey from her early days to her ascent in the hip-hop scene. The verses recount formative experiences and significant encounters that shaped her career, enhancing the personal stakes of the song. In doing so, she doesn’t merely recount her history for the most part on this album but uses her story to reinforce the central theme that music is an essential, unifying force in her life.
We welcome you back, Lyte.
Great (★★★★☆)
Favorite Track(s): “Thank You,” “Change Your Ways,” “Music Is”