(AllHipHop News) MC Lyte is a bona fide Hip Hop legend in her own right, but the Brooklyn emcee looked to other rappers for inspiration as well. Lyte spoke with WBLS about the rhyme spitters that influenced her rap style.

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“Melle Mel – when that ‘Message’ came out, I had to know all the words to that. Then of course came Run-DMC with ‘Sucker M.C.’s’ and Slick Rick with ‘La Di Da Di,'” said Lyte.

Besides releasing monumental albums such as Lyte As A Rock, Ain’t No Other, and Bad As I Wanna B, MC Lyte has been active in community outreach. She also serves as a motivational speaker and a Hip Hop historian.