Editing MC Lyte (section)

=== 1996–1998: ''Bad as I Wanna B'' and ''Seven & Seven'' ===
[[File:M.C. Lyte 1996.jpg|thumb|MC Lyte, 1996]] 

In February 1996, MC Lyte collaborated on the R&B group [[Xscape (group)|Xscape]]'s single "[[Can't Hang/Do You Want To|Can't Hang]]". In February she also collaborated with [[Lord Finesse]] on the interlude "Taking It Lyte" from his album ''[[The Awakening (Lord Finesse album)|The Awakening]]''. In March, after signing with [[East West Records]], she released "[[Keep On Keepin' On (MC Lyte song)|Keep On Keepin' On]]", the first single from her forthcoming album. This new collaboration with Xscape reached #10 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, her highest position on this chart as main artist, getting a gold certification. "Keep On Keepin' On" was part of the [[Sunset Park (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] of the film ''[[Sunset Park (film)|Sunset Park]]''. In September, she won the Best R&B, Soul or Rap Video category in the 3th edition of [[Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards]] with this song.<ref>{{cite book|last=Reynolds|first=J.R.|date=1996|title=Billboard 21 Sep. 1996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wwkEAAAAMBAJ&dq=lady+of+soul+soul+train+mc+lyte+best+video&pg=PA29|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|page=29|isbn=}}</ref> 

In August 1996, Lyte released her fifth album, ''[[Bad as I Wanna B]]''. With tracks with a [[Pop music|Pop]]/R&B-oriented sound<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theboombox.com/5-best-songs-from-mc-lytes-bad-as-i-wanna-b/|title=5 Best Songs from MC Lyte's 'Bad As I Wanna B' |website=[[Townsquare Media|The Boombox]] |date=August 27, 2016|accessdate=June 11, 2022}}</ref> the album received mixed reviews. In November, she released a [[Sean "Puffy" Combs]] remix of "[[Cold Rock a Party]]" featuring [[Missy Elliott]].<ref name= clip /> This single peaked at #11 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and became her fifth #1 single on the Hot Rap Singles (fourth as lead artist), earning a gold certification. It entered the top 40 of various charts outside the United States, being #1 and certified [[Music recording certification|platinum]] in [[Recorded Music NZ|New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web|title=OFFICIAL TOP 40 SINGLES|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1997-07-04|publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ|The Official New Zealand Music Chart]] |access-date=6 February 2023}}</ref>

In February 1997, "Keep on Pushin" was included in the [[Dangerous Ground (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] of ''[[Dangerous Ground (1997 film)|Dangerous Ground]]'', in which MC Lyte, [[Bahamadia]], [[Nonchalant]] and Yo-Yo collaborated under the production of [[Pete Rock]].<ref>{{cite web|title=MC Lyte, Bahamadia & Yo-Yo's Pete Rock-Produced Cut Still Speaks Today (Audio)|url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2018/01/mc-lyte-bahamadia-nonchalant-yo-yo-pete-rock-song/|publisher=ambrosiaforheads.com|date=January 11, 2018 |access-date=13 June 2022}}</ref> In March 1997, she collaborated with [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] singer [[Billy Lawrence]] on the single "[[Come On (Billy Lawrence song)|Come On]]", which was included in the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Set It Off (film)#Music|Set it Off]]''. In June and July 1997, she embarked on a [[United Service Organizations|USO]] Tour, performing for American troops in Italy and Greece.<ref name=Hess>{{cite book|last=Hess|first=Mickey|date=2009|title=Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XkCncJ7j744C&q=USO+Tour&pg=PA84|publisher=Greenwood|page=84|isbn=978-0313343216}}</ref> 

In November she collaborated with LL Cool J and [[Busta Rhymes]] on the [[Levert.Sweat.Gill|debut album]] of the R&B [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] [[LSG (band)|LSG]] on the track "Curious", which was later released as single. In 1997, Lyte also collaborated with [[Parliament-Funkadelic]]'s [[Bootsy Collins]] on the single "I'm Leavin U (Gotta Go, Gotta Go)" from his album ''[[Fresh Outta 'P' University]]''.

[[File:Mc lyte-05.jpg|thumb|MC Lyte in [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]], 1998]]
In August 1998 MC Lyte released her sixth studio album ''[[Seven & Seven (MC Lyte album)|Seven & Seven]]''. It had a poor commercial and critical reception despite having the collaboration of famous producers and artists such as [[The Neptunes]], LL Cool J, Missy Elliott, [[L.E.S. (record producer)|L.E.S.]] and [[Trackmasters]], which lead to Lyte's departure from EastWest Records. In 1998 she went on another USO Tour, performing in Germany.<ref name=Hess />