Moments of a lifetime

I met Doug E Fresh sometime after hearing his music.  His energy was unforgettable and I was definitely inspired by his style and work ethic.  Still he is one of the hardest working men in show biz performing at least 250 days out of the year on stages all over the world.  He is truly the world's greatest entertainer!!

What I adore most about my friendship with Doug E is our long talks.  If Doug E and I pass one another in a hallway of a hotel before a show it's guaranteed we are both going to be late.  It's not often in this biz I can speak to someone so candidly and freely about whatever.

The most memorable moment I have of Doug is him calling me immediately after he had heard me as a guest on a radio show.  We were both in the midwest sharing a performance bill with a couple of other artists.  He heard the show and called me right away.  We talked for moment, catching up and then he asked out of the blue, "Were you upset with anything at the radio station?" and I said, "No, why?".  He waited for a second and I could tell I was in for something and he continued, "well if you're happy to do the show let the listeners know."  I totally got it, just from those few words.  What Doug was saying was to relax and let the listeners in radio land know that I had a personality but most of all that I was happy to be there in their city and that I was going to do my best to give them a great show. From that moment on I dropped the stern Brooklyn hard rock mentality to truly be myself and if that involved being goofy from time to time so be it.  I really lightened up and began to gel with the people who were buying my music and supporting my concerts.

I thank Doug for calling me that day because he didn't have to.  I thank him for keeping it true and loving me enough to hit me up like a big brother and tell me exactly what he was thinking.  He put years on my career by sharing those words with me.  That's a village.....

Candid interview written by HHS Atlas

Hip Hop Sisters started back in 2006. So, for the past three years I've been "Rockin' Wit' The Best" (Had to get a song quote in). It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with this legendary MC. In business I've had many questions, but it has been difficult to keep the fan in me at bay. I was trying to figure out the best way to ask those "fan" questions I had without looking too corny. So when she said she would grant me an interview for the HHS I jumped at the chance to ask.

AtLas’: You were Lana Moorer long before you were MC Lyte. What is your earliest childhood memory?

MC Lyte: My earliest childhood memory is probably refusing to wear a dress for Easter.
We were going to Playland in Rockaway, Queens with my uncle and he wanted me to wear a dress. He had a real problem that day because he was unsuccessful.

A: Speaking of childhood memories, how did you get the scar on your forearm?
I noticed it at the meet n greet

ML: Detective AtLas’ (lol). A glass window; I thought I could stick my arm through what appeared to be a broken window and I didn't see the broken glass that remained in the frame

A: Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when you first heard yourself on the radio?

ML: Yes. I was delivering packages as a messenger at the Graybar Building and heard it playing in their mailroom

A: I noticed that your early work rarely had a hook, usually lots of scratching or sampling your own voice. Was that intentional?

ML: Paperthin and what else?

A: Lyte as a Rock, 10% Dis…

ML: With Paperthin it was written before I heard the beat. I had a rhyme book and everything from the first album was from that book. So I just sat with the producers and fit the rhymes to some of their tracks. I didn't write hooks then. 10% had a hook. BEAT BITER DOPE STYLE TAKER, TELL YOUR FACE YOU AIN'T NOTHING BUT A FAKER.

A: Oh yeah... I meant cappuccino and Cha, Cha, Cha.

ML: Yeah those were the days when the lyrics meant so much you didn't even need a hook. People wanted the hook to be done so they could hear the lyrics and now it's just the opposite.

A: Do you still have clothes and jewelry from then?

ML: Yes I do. My Nefertiti earrings. My jeans with all the graffiti on them. Lots of leather outfits. I almost got into tax trouble because they didn't believe I spent that much money on leather. Then I went back and took pictures of them all and they released any intentions.


To read interview please click below

http://hiphopsisters.ning.com/profiles/blogs/atlas-chats-with-the-lyte

ROCKING WITH THE BEST

Clink your glasses ni**s the bad ass is back
the fastest show your where the cash is
like Cassius
I one two do'em like Erasmus
NY thick like mollases
can't nobody stand close
F* your toast
I celebrate myself doing the most
I'm floating N*
Coast to coast they can't match my weight
you wake dj if I ain't in your crate
WAIT!
Nah n* I been patient enough
the Dr. is in about rip sh*t up
they don't call me Dre though
But I serve them blows that are fatal
So dope I advise your kids to say no
but they can't
I got'em hooked from the naval
cane to the cradle

all night
all day
so hard
I'ma make your city say
YES YOU ARE NOW ROCKING WITH THE BEST!!!!

ROCKING WITH THE BEST

LISTEN

STUDIO TODAY

WHAT A TRIP!!! CREATING MAKES MY BLOOD COME ALIVE. HERE ROCKING WITH MY LIL CUZ CHARLES HAMILTON IN THE STUDIO IN LOS ANGELES. THE FIRST JOINT WE ATTACKED IS CALLED "MOMENT IN A LIFETIME". CRAZY TOPIC ABOUT ME RIPPING AND RUNNING AND MOVING TOO FAST THAT I DIDN'T GET TO SPEND ALOT OF TIME WITH CHARLES. THE BUSINESS HAD ME WRAPPED UP AND MOVING SO QUICK THAT I MISSED ALOT OF MOMENTS THAT WERE BEFORE ME.

WELL NOW ALL THESE YEARS LATER WE'VE DECIDED TO CREATE AN EP FOR HEADS ALL OVER THE GLOBE TO NOD TO. STAY TUNED!!

HOT MUSIC

HEY!! NOT SURE IF YOU KNEW IT OR NOT BUT I'VE BEEN MOONLIGHTING AS A DJ AND HAVING A WHOLE LOT OF FUN DOING IT. I GET AT MINIMUM A100 NEW TRACKS A WEEK FROM KNOWN ARTISTS AS WELL AS NEW COMERS. I LOVE IT!! OF COURSE I CAN'T GIVE SONGS AWAY HERE BUT WHAT I CAN DO IS TELL YOU WHAT I'M FEELING.

B.O.B I'LL BE IN THE SKY
SIM CITY WATCH ME
SOPHIA FRESH WHAT IT IS
KERI HILSON TURNIN ME ON
MIMS MOVE
CHARLIE HUSTLE GO HARD
HOLD ON G DEP

AND FOR ALL THOSE ALTERNATIVE HEADS, I'M FEELING THESE GROUPS

WEEPIES
TOKYO POLICE
THE FEATURES
FINGER ELEVEN
BRAZILIAN GIRLS
JUSTICE
YAEL NAIM
BREVVY
LILY ALLEN

AIDS AWARENESS CIRCA 90

HIP HOP LIVES

IT IS STILL AMAZING TO ME HOW ONCE BORN IN THE STREETS OF THE BRONX, HIP HOP HAS PASSED OVER EVERY CULTURAL LINE ON THE FACE OF THIS PLANET!!! ROCK ON!

HIP HOP IS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM SO VERY PROUD OF WHAT THE HIP HOP COMMUNITY HAS ACCOMPLISHED THIS ELECTION. EVERYONE EVERYWHERE DID THEIR PART INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY!!

LET'S START WITH RUSSEL SIMMONS, P DIDDY, JAY Z, T.I., LUDACRIS, MARY J BLIGE AND A HOST OF OTHER CELEBRITIES THAT USED THEIR VOICES AND THEIR FACES TO GET MILLIONS TO GET OUT THERE AND VOTE.

LET'S SLIDE OVER TO RADIO TALK SHOW HOSTS THAT BLEW UP THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AROUND THIS NATION!! LET'S NOT FORGET TO MENTION BET, MTV AND VH1!!!! BET STOOD UP TO THE OCCASION BY PROMOTING AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT NOW WAS THE MOMENT, IF ANY, TO GET INVOLVED AND MAKE IT TO THE POLLS.

OK, SO NOW WE MUST THANK THE HIP HOP JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE MADE IT THEIR BUSINESS TO NOT KEEP A CLOSED MOUTH THIS ELECTION SEASON AND USE THE POWER THAT THEY TRULY HAVE TO INSPIRE AND GET A NATION OF PEOPLE TO EXERCISE THEIR MUSCLES!!!!!!! HATS OFF TO THE NEW REGIME AT THE SOURCE, MY GOD, VIBE AND ALL THE OTHER PUBLICATIONS THAT GAVE SENATOR OBAMA THE SPACE NOT ONLY TO BE SEEN BUT HEARD AND THEREFORE RESPECTED!!!!

I GET CHILLS JUST TYPING THIS BLOG THINKING OF HOW POWERFUL AND MIGHTY WE AS THE HIPHOP COMMUNITY REALLY ARE WHEN WE COME TOGETHER FOR A DIVINE PURPOSE. NOW ALL WE MUST DO IS FIND OTHER ISSUES TO BE JUST AS PASSIONATE ABOUT AND MAKE THEM HAPPEN.

LAST NIGHT I HOSTED A FEW MINUTES OF WEEN RADIO ON LINE AND SHARED MY THOUGHTS WITH A YOUNG LADY IN COLLEGE WHO VOTED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. I SAID,"WHAT YOU DID BY VOTING THIS TERM WAS ASSURE A FUTURE FOR YOUR CHILDREN'S TOMORROW."

UP UNTIL NOW I WAS REALLY UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR VOTES. DID THEY GET WHISKED AWAY IN SOME HUGE BLACK HOLE AND THE DECISION WAS LEFT UP TO THE REAL POWERS THAT BE? BUT OH NO, I THINK I FINALLY UNDERSTAND THE MATRIX AND THAT IS...WE DO HAVE THE POWER, WE ARE THE DECISION. I JUST THINK FOR SO LONG WE'VE BEEN INDOCTRINATED TO BELIEVE WE HAVE NO POWER AND WE JUST HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH THE FLOW. PEOPLE!!!!!!! I AM HONORED AND ELATED TO BE A PART OF HIP HOP, OBVIOUSLY A CULTURE THAT IS VERY MUCH ALIVE, POWERFUL AND LONGING FOR PURPOSE!!!!!!!!! WHEN THERE IS PURPOSE WE SEE BEYOND THE MADNESS AND AIM HIGHER THAN ANYONE THOUGHT POSSIBLE!!! MY PEOPLE, MY CULTURE......I AM SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BET REHEARSAL

OMG, TALK ABOUT A FEMALE EMPOWERMENT MOVEMENT! I JUST LEFT REHEARSAL WHERE SALT N PEPA, YOYO, RAGE AND I GOT BUSY DURING THE RUN-THRU. SO MUCH LOVE IN THE SPOT.

WE ALL MET THIS AFTERNOON AT USHER'S MOM'S STUDIO TO GO OVER WHAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE ONE OF THE MOST MONUMENTAL MOMENTS IN HIP HOP. IT IS THE FIRST TIME EVER 4 FEMALE HIP HOP ENTITIES WILL TAKE THE SAME STAGE AND ROCK!! ATL LOOK OUT!!!