Seven & Seven (MC Lyte album)

Seven & Seven is the sixth studio album by American rapper MC Lyte, released on August 18, 1998, by East West Records.

Recording and release
Recording sessions took place at Electric Lady Studios, Quad Recording Studios, Record Plant, 2 Ton Sound, Chung King Studios, Unique Recording Studios and First Priority Labs in New York City, Capitol Studios and Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, The Hit Factory and East Digital/Einstein Lab. Production was handled by Milk Dee, Missy Elliott, Giovanni Salah, The Neptunes, Peter Panic, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Marc Kinchen, LL Cool J, Ralph Roundtree, Trackmasters, L.E.S., with co-producers the Dynamic Duo and Royal Krush, and additional producer Sprague "Doogie" Williams. It features guest appearances from Beenie Man, Gina Thompson, Giovanni Salah, Inaya Day, La India, Milk Dee, Missy Elliott, Mocha, Nicci Gilbert, Pamela Long, Space Nine and D Knowledge.

At the time of the album's recording, MC Lyte was also acting for the thriller film Train Ride. According to MC Lyte, the album's title references "a perfect number" twice. She also considered it "an introspective number, which means I looked inside for this album. I didn’t feel pressured by the hip-hop world to do a particular kind of album. I just let the music speak to me and talked about what came naturally."

In the United States, the album did not reach the Billboard 200, however it peaked at number 71 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It also made it to number 87 in Germany. Both of its singles, "I Can't Make a Mistake" and "It's All Yours", gained minor success in the UK Singles Chart, landing at No. 46 and 36, respectively.

Critical reception
Rolling Stone described Seven & Seven as "the hardest, smartest, funniest female rap album of 1998; it’s full of memorable anecdotes, graceful beats and tasteful samples".

Track listing

 * Sample credits
 * Track 4 is a cover of "Top Billin'" by Audio Two.
 * Track 6 contains elements from "Le Freak" by Chic.
 * Track 7 contains elements from "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)" by B. T. Express.
 * Track 8 contains elements from "Fame" by David Bowie.
 * Track 9 contains elements from "Love Is The Message" by MFSB and "Seventh Heaven" by Gwen Guthrie.
 * Track 13 contains elements from "Boogie Oogie Oogie" by A Taste Of Honey.
 * Track 14 contains elements from "Give Me Your Love" by Sylvia Striplin.
 * Track 18 contains elements from "Crabapple" by Idris Muhammad.
 * Track 21 contains elements from "Night Shift" by the Commodores.