1 / 12

Trina - "MC Lyte is hip hop; she represents a culture of music that paved the way for female artists worldwide." (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for BMI)

2 / 12

8Ball - "MC Lyte was definitely a pioneer for women in hip hop. Her flow was unique, honest, lyrical and hard. She rocked the club and she could tell a story with her music as well. On top of all that she was a beautiful and sexy little tomboy that could only be handled by a 'Ruffneck.'"(Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

3 / 12

U-God - "Back in the days, yeah, that was my broad. Yeah, I have loved MC Lyte for a long time. 'I Cram To Understand,' 'Ruffneck.' Her DJ was from Staten Island and she used to come to the Hill and I used to see her at my pizzeria. I used to go crazy when I saw her. She is one of the illest female MCs of all time. Before Queen Latifah, Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim, there was MC Lyte. She paved the way."(Photo: Kevin Winter/ImageDirect)

4 / 12

Bun B - "I remember watching MC Lyte in the 'Stop, Look, Listen' video and saying to myself that one day I wanna be that cool. The style, the flow, the look...she epitomized what a MC should be. Not just a female MC, any and every MC." (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

5 / 12

Cory Gunz - "Auntie Lyte was the first female rapper I saw...'Ruffneck' is the first video of hers. I saw she had her own style and she opened a lot of doors for female artists getting in the game."(Photo: John Ricard / BET)

Photo By Photo: John Ricard / BET

6 / 12

Maino - "She is one of the greatest of all time, it wouldn't be no Foxy Brown or Lil Kim; She paved the way, and she reps Brooklyn to the fullest."(Photo: John Ricard / BET) 

7 / 12

Kevin Liles - "I have three words to describe my friend from BK. She is a Visionary, Lyricist and Pioneer. She is truly The Light!" (Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images)

8 / 12

Styles P - "I don't look at MC Lyte as a female emcee. I look at her and remember a great emcee with a great vocab, style and delivery she is one the best to touch a mic period!!! "(Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic)

Photo By Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic

9 / 12

UM - "I think MC Lyte pioneered good girls wanting a bad boy. She had everybody wanting a ruff neck like me [laughs]." (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage) 

10 / 12

Curren$y - "She's dope ... her voice demands attention, great story teller as well. Lyte was way ahead of her time." (Photo: Warner Bros. Records)

11 / 12

Sebastian Mikael - "I am young, but my love for music, especially R&B and hip hop, always made me look back and pay homage to the artists that paved the way. MC Lyte's work is outstanding. She set the bar high for all female lyricists!" (Photo: Slip-N-Slide Records)

12 / 12

Pastor Troy - "MC Lyte was the first female solo chick I remember seeing in a video. 'Paper Thin' will always be my JAM!!!" (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Radio One)