Chicago born and Houston raised, the music of Lyric Michelle stands a testament to the musical influences of both these cities; southern charm via beautiful prose combined with ferocious lyrics. Having penned poetry since childhood, she would formally debut this talent, after her and a friend came together to create a poetic duo called “SpoKen.” In time she would find yet another medium to release her artistic talent: music. For Lyric it was an easy transition; she explains, “Hip Hop is poetry. Think of Eminem, Lupe, Lauryn; real Hip Hop and poetry are different sides of the same coin.” Having decided to take the first steps onto a new path as an artist, Lyric also began blazing yet another; opening the door for a new crop of female emcees intent on proving their lyrical prowess matches that of any of their male peers in the game. She formally debuted in 2011 with a cover of J.Cole’s “Light Please,” providing a fresh perspective by expanding on the original theme of the song. Since then, she has quickly gained momentum, as well as a cult following of sorts. Lyric may be Houston’s answer to the relatively shallow pool of visible female emcees; her appeal lies in the manner in which she intertwines beauty and sheer talent; a feat that has already garnered her comparisons to one of her own musical icons, Lauryn Hill.