MC Lyte - Fresh Fest Cleveland - September 13, 2025
MC Lyte is an iconic trailblazer in Hip Hop, celebrated as both a legendary rapper and DJ. With a groundbreaking career spanning over 30 years, she made history as the first female rapper ever nominated for a Grammy Award. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including BET's I Am Hip Hop Award, honors from ADCOLOR, BET Her, the National Urban League, and the Black Music Collective.
Recently, she was recognized with the Pioneers of Hip-Hop Honor from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the BET Her Hip Hop Legend Award, AARP's Living Legend Award, and the 2023 Culture Icon Phoenix Award from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, presented by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
MC Lyte was the first rap artist to perform at Carnegie Hall and the first female rapper to achieve a gold-certified single. A leader in the music industry, she has also performed at the Kennedy Center Honors and the White House for President Barack Obama.
In addition to her artistry, MC Lyte serves on the Kennedy Center's Hip Hop Culture Council. In partnership with the Center, she produces the annual "I AM WOMAN" event, which celebrates the contributions of women in Hip Hop.
Roxanne Shanté: Hip-Hop's First Lady Speaks - May 23, 2025
Roxanne Shanté is a trailblazing American MC and one of hip-hop’s first female stars. Hailing from the Queensbridge Projects in New York, she gained fame at just 14 with her breakout track “Roxanne’s Revenge”—a bold response to UTFO’s “Roxanne, Roxanne”—which sold over 250,000 copies in the New York area and launched the legendary Roxanne Wars. A founding member of the Juice Crew, she worked closely with producer Marley Marl and was known for her sharp wit and freestyle skills, often recording songs in a single take.
Throughout the late '80s, Shanté released a string of influential tracks, including “Loosey’s Rap” with Rick James, and became known for her fearless, battle-ready style. Though she stepped away from the industry by age 25, she remained a mentor to young women in hip-hop and made appearances on VH1’s Ms. Rap Supreme and in national ad campaigns like Sprite’s “Obey Your Thirst.” In 2008, VH1 ranked “Roxanne’s Revenge” #42 on its list of 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs, and she re-recorded the song the following year.
Beyond music, Shanté has been committed to giving back through her business, Hip-Hop Ices, and various community efforts. Her life and legacy were brought to the screen in the 2017 film Roxanne Roxanne, produced by Forest Whitaker and Pharrell Williams, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
