Photograph of MC Lyte performing in the "Sisters in the Name of Rap" tv special: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black-and-white photograph of MC Lyte performing in the "Sisters in the Name of Rap" tv special at the New Ritz in New York City on Oct. 8, 1991. Lyte is pictured center frame, wearing baggy overalls. She appears to be dancing, with her left hand on her left hip and her left leg raised mid-step. Behind her, a close up of her face is repeated across a wall of televisions behind her. The outstretched hands of audience members are visible in the lower right corner of the image. On the back of the photograph are inscriptions by Bill Adler identifying the photographer, subject, location, and date.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: October 8, 1991; printed 2003
• Photograph by: Al Pereira, American, born 1963
• Subject of: MC Lyte, American, born 1970
• Subject of: The Ritz, American, 1980 - early 1990s
• Printed by: Bill Adler, American, born 1951
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 13 7/8 × 10 15/16 in. (35.2 × 27.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 13 × 8 3/4 in. (33 × 22.2 cm)
• Place captured: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Musicians
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Rappers (Musicians)
• Topic: Television
• Topic: Women
• Object number: 2015.132.294
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Al Pereira Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.