Yo-Yo (rapper)

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Yo-Yo
Yo yo-04.jpg
Yo-Yo in 1997
Born
Yolanda Whitaker

(1971-08-04) August 4, 1971 (age 50)
Compton, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • actress
Spouse(s)
DeAndre Windom
​
​
(m. 2013; div. 2018)​
Musical career
OriginSouth Central, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresWest Coast hip hop
Years active1989–present
LabelsEast West America
Associated acts
Websiteyoyoschoolofhiphop.com

Yolanda Whitaker, also known as Yo-Yo (Born in August 4, 1971)[1] is an American rapper and actress.

Much of Yo-Yo's music advocates for female empowerment and denouncing the frequent sexism and misogyny in hip-hop music. Yo-Yo is the protégé of gangsta rapper Ice Cube. Yo-Yo dubbed her crew the IBWC, for the Intelligent Black Woman's Coalition.[2]

Career[edit]

Music[edit]

Yo-Yo first appeared as a guest on Ice Cube's 1990 debut studio album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted on the track "It's a Man's World".[3] Cube returned the favor by appearing on "You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo", on Yo-Yo's 1991 debut album, Make Way for the Motherlode.[3] Each of the videos for the singles from the album were directed by Okuwah Garrett of Power Films.

Her follow-up album released in 1992, Black Pearl,[3] was well received by critics,[4] partly because of its focus on positive messages and uplifting themes that heavily contrasted with the popular gangsta rap style at the time.[4] Despite a plethora of renowned producers such as DJ Muggs, this failed to translate into a hit with mainstream hip-hop audiences, and the album's sales were considered a disappointment.[4]

Less than a year later, Yo-Yo released her follow-up album, titled You Better Ask Somebody.[3] The final track on the album was her third recorded hip-hop duet with Ice Cube, "The Bonnie and Clyde Theme".[3]

Yo-Yo's next album, Total Control, was released in 1996.[3] In 1998, Yo-Yo finished her fifth studio album, Ebony, though it was not released. In 2008, her single, "You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" was ranked number 92 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs.[5] Later that year, she performed with MC Lyte, The Lady of Rage, and Salt-N-Pepa at the BET Hip Hop Awards.

As of 2009, Yo-Yo has been working on an EP, titled My Journey to Fearless: The Black Butterfly.[6]

In 2013, it was announced she joined the upcoming BET reality series Hip Hop Sisters which will focus on six female rappers' lives and their attempts to relaunch their careers.[7] Other rappers confirmed to appear are MC Lyte, Lady of Rage, Monie Love, Lil Mama, and Smooth.[8]

Acting[edit]

Yo-Yo appeared in the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood. She had a recurring role on the television show Martin as Keylolo, the sidekick to comedian Martin Lawrence's alter ego Sheneneh. Yo-Yo also appeared on other TV shows, including the Fox network's New York Undercover. She made a cameo appearance in the music video for Missy Elliot's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)". She also appeared in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as the voice of Kendl Johnson.[9]

Personal life[edit]

Yo-Yo dated Tupac Shakur for some time in the 1990s. She was with Shakur in the hospital shortly before he died.[10] Later, Yo-Yo became engaged to DeAndre Windom, the former mayor of Highland Park, Michigan, in August 2012.[11] The two married on August 17,[12] 2013 in the Cayman Islands[13] and divorced in 2018.[14]

Yo-Yo has been active in advocating for hip-hop artists to become involved within their community. Notably, she testified in 1994 for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about whether the government should require rating labels on gangsta rap.[15] She also founded the Yo-Yo School of Hip-Hop to use hip-hop in curriculum for at-risk students.[16]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[17] 		US
R&B
/HH
[18]
Make Way for the Motherlode 74 5
Black Pearl
  • Released: June 23, 1992
  • Label: East West
  • Formats: CD, Cassette, digital download
 145 32
You Better Ask Somebody
  • Released: June 22, 1993
  • Label: East West
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
 107 21
Total Control
  • Released: October 29, 1996
  • Label: East West
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
 — 46
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Unreleased albums[edit]

EPs[edit]

List of extended plays
Title EP details Track listings
Hits Revealed: Yo Yo
  • Released: December 18, 2007[19]
  • Label: Music World
  • Formats: Digital download
Track listing
  1. "I Did It for Us"
  2. "Gangsta" (featuring Kurupt)
  3. "Fire Dept."
  4. "Whatcha Drinkin On"
  5. "Slow Jamz"
  6. "Hold You Down"
  7. "Pink Panties"
  8. "Be the One "

Singles[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US Hot 100
[20] 		US R&B
[21] 		US Rap
[21]
"Stompin' to Tha 90's" 1990 — — 2 Make Way for the Motherlode
"You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo"
(featuring Ice Cube) 		1991 36 11 1
"Ain't Nobody Better" — 30 4
"Girl, Don't Be No Fool"[22] — — —
"Home Girl Don't Play Dat" 1992 — 53 3 Black Pearl
"Black Pearl" — 74 11
"IBWin' With My CREWin" 1993 —[a] — 1 You Better Ask Somebody
"The Bonnie And Clyde Theme"
(featuring Ice Cube) 		72 37
"West Side Story'" — — 14
"Give It T'um" 2009 — — — Non-album single
"Out of Control"
(featuring Patient Picasso, Brittany B. and Tyeler Reign) 		2019 — — — Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Featured singles[edit]

List of featured singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US Hot 100
[24] 		US Dance
[25] 		US R&B
[26] 		US Rap
[27] 		UK
[28]
"Get The Fist"
(As part of Get The Fist Movement)[29] 		1992 — — — — — Non-album single
"Romantic Call"
(Patra featuring Yo-Yo) 		1994 55 21 35 9 — Queen of the Pack
"Stomp (The Remixes)"
(Quincy Jones featuring Melle Mel, Coolio, Yo-Yo, Shaquille O'Neal, & The Luniz) 		1994 — 1 — — 28 Q's Jook Joint

Promotional singles[edit]

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Same Ol' Thang (Everyday)"[30] 1996 Total Control
"Steady Risin"[30]
"One For The Cuties"
(featuring MC Lyte)[30]
"Iz It Still All Good? (Something's On Your Mind)"
(featuring Gerald Levert)[30] 		1998 N/A
"Do You Wanna Ride"
(featuring Kelly Price)[30] 		N/A
"Push"[30] 1999 N/A

Miscellaneous appearances[edit]

  • 1990 – "It's a Man's World" (with Ice Cube) (AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted)
  • 1991 – "Debbie B. ft. Yo Yo - Pack Your Bags
  • 1991 – "Mama Don't Take No Mess" (Boyz in the Hood SDTK)
  • 1992 – "Get the Fist" (with B-Real, Ice Cube, J-Dee, Kam, King Tee, MC Eiht, Threat) (VA - Get the Fist Movement)
  • 1993 – "Romantic Call" (with Patra) (Queen of the Pack)
  • 1994 – "I Wanna Be Down (Remix)" (with Brandy, MC Lyte & Queen Latifah) (Baby CD SINGLE)
  • 1994 – "Sweet on You" (with Teena Marie) (Passion Play)
  • 1995 – "Freedom (Theme From Panther)" (with VA) (Panther SDTK)
  • 1995 – "Stomp" (with Coolio, Luniz, Melle Mel, Shaquille O'Neal) (Q's Jook Joint)
  • 1995 – "Crazay" (VA - Pump Ya Fist)
  • 1996 – "I Can't Take No More" (Girls Town SDTK)
  • 1997 – "Keep on Pushin'" (ft MC Lyte, Bahamadia, Nonchalant) (Dangerous Ground SDTK)
  • 1997 – "True Dat" (with Levert & Queen Pen) (The Whole Scenario)
  • 1999 – "Set Trippin'" (with Dresta, I Smooth 7) (VA - Gumbo Roots)
  • 2005 – "Mercedes Boy" (B-Side to Mobb Deep's "Get Twisted" 12")
  • 2005 – "Only 4 the Righteous" (with 2Pac) (The Rose, Vol. 2)
  • 2005 – "Boogie Oogie Oogie" (with Brooke Valentine & Lynden,Moet) (Roll Bounce SDTK)
  • 2009 – "Watcha Wan Do" (with DJ Quik, Kurupt & Problem) (BlaQKout)
  • 2009 – "Morning Comes" (with Ray J) (Non-Album Track)
  • 2010 – "Só Rezo 0.2" (with Nx Zero & Emicida) (Projeto Paralelo)

Filmography[edit]

Films[edit]

  • 1991 – Boyz n the Hood ... Girl at Party
  • 1993 – Who's the Man ... Herself
  • 1993 – Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit ... Sondra
  • 1994 – Adventures of D.P. Boys 17: South of the Border (V)
  • 1995 – Panther ... Pregnant Junkie
  • 1996 – Moesha ... Security Guard
  • 1997 – Sprung ... Sista #3
  • 1999 – After Stonewall ... Herself
  • 1999 – Beverly Hood ... Tilly
  • 1999 – The Breaks ... Loretha
  • 2000 – 3 Strikes ... Charita
  • 2000 – The Rev. DoWrong Ain't Right ...
  • 2002 – Paper Soldiers ... Judge Prince[31]

Television appearances[edit]

Voice work[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award
1995 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Rap Video for "I Wanna Be Down" (Remix) (featuring Brandy, MC Lyte and Queen Latifah)[citation needed]
1996 Grammy Award nomination for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo or Group for "Stomp"[citation needed]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "IBWin' With My CREWin'" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 8 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[23]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Ron Wynn (August 4, 1971). "Yo-Yo | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  2. ^ "SUMMER SPLASH III". (May 26, 1991). L.A. Times, p. 50
  3. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 372/3. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
  4. ^ a b c Abdul-Adil, Jaleel (August 1, 1993), "Yo Yo and MC Lyte Turn Tables on Male Rappers", Chicago Sun-Times, p. 9
  5. ^ "VH1′s 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs". Stereogum. September 29, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "Lifestyle | Icons Speak: YoYo Talks Keri Hilson, Female Emcees, more". Singersroom.com. January 6, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  7. ^ "MC Lyte to Executive Produce 'Hip Hop Sisters' on BET". Black Enterprise. June 12, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  8. ^ "@VIBEVixen» BET Announces 'Hip Hop Sisters' and Jeanette Jenkins Reality Series » Madison Lafayette". Vibevixen.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  9. ^ Jones, Francis. "Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (album review 3)". sputnikmusic.com. Sputnik Music. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  10. ^ "Unsung". TVOne. September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  11. ^ Blackman, Ritch (August 24, 2012). "Rapper Yo Yo Engaged To Highland Park, Mi Mayor". UnsungHipHop. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  12. ^ "Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  13. ^ Sylk, Sam (2013). "Yo Yo's Husband, Mayor DeAndre Windom, Shot In Detroit Nightclub". WZAK. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  14. ^ "MC Lyte, Yo-Yo & Remy Ma Featured in New Episode of OWN's 'Girlfriends Check-In' [Video]". July 17, 2020.
  15. ^ "Free Speech for Rappers". The Progressive. 58 (4): 9. April 1994 – via ProQuest Central.
  16. ^ "Compton Artist YoYo Gives Students Hip-Hop Education". NBC Southern California. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  17. ^ "Yo-Yo Chart History". Billboard 200. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  18. ^ "Yo-Yo Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  19. ^ "Hits Revealed: Yo Yo - Release Info". AllMusic.
  20. ^ "Yo-Yo - US Hot 100". billboard.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Yo-Yo - US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  22. ^ "Yo-Yo - Girl Don't Be No Fool (Cassette - Atlantic #98653)". AllMusic.
  23. ^ "Yo-Yo - Bubbling Under Hot 100". Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  24. ^ "Kid 'n Play- US Hot 100". billboard.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  25. ^ "Kid 'n Play - US Dance Club Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  26. ^ "Kid 'n Play - US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  27. ^ "Kid 'n Play - US Hot Rap Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  28. ^ "Kid 'n Play - UK Chart". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  29. ^ "Various Artists - Get the Fist [12"] (12 inch Vinyl Single - Polygram #864431)". AllMusic.
  30. ^ a b c d e f I Wanna Be Me (track listing). Antoinette. Next Plateau Records Inc. 1990. NP50131.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ "Full cast and crew for Paper Soldiers (2002)". IMDb. Retrieved June 2, 2013.

External links[edit]

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