As Ice Cube’s former protégé, legendary female rapper Yo-Yo was introduced to the world as the fiery MC on Cube’s 1990 classic AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted on the track “It’s A Man’s World.” She then took off and created albums, was seen in movies and created a name for herself in the 90’s. But then, it was like all of a sudden she disappeared.
Born Yolanda Whitaker, the talented MC is now a mother, wife and grandmother (yes, grandma) and nearly 50 years old. She is still rhyming and doing something big by giving back.
As the first female gangsta rapper on the West Coast, Yo-Yo broke down barriers and showed other women it could be done, but there was a small, itty-bitty catch: Yo-Yo wasn’t even 18 yet.
It was after that signing that she formed a crew and called them the IBWC, for the Intelligent Black Woman’s Coalition.
In 2008, her 1990 single “Can’t Play With My Yo-Yo” from her hit album, Make Way for the Motherload, was ranked number on VH1’s 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of all time. 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, she has been at work on an EP, titled My Journey to Fearless: The Black Butterfly.
While on the road, she forged a close friendship (and eventually romantic relationship) with one of the dancers for Digital Underground — Tupac Shakur. Yes, that Tupac Shakur, who eventually became one of hip-hop’s greatest MC’s of all time.
In 1991, YoYo appeared in John Singleton’s feature film debut, Boyz n the Hood. She also appeared in Who’s the Man?, Menace II Society, Strapped, and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. She had a recurring role on the television show Martin as Keylolo, the sidekick of comedian Martin Lawrence’s alter ego Sheneneh; and appeared on other TV shows, including the Fox network’s New York Undercover. YoYo has also appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, as a voice actor.
While in Washington, she met U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who represents California’s 35th Congressional District, which includes YoYo’s native South Central Los Angeles. With the help of Representative Waters’ Community Build program, YoYo launched “YoYo’s School Of Hip Hop,” a seven-week summer program designed to teach 100 low-income children hip-hop dance and how to write rap.
In an interview with HipHopDX, she says, “I tell young women, ‘Listen. Being loud doesn’t always mean you’re the wild and loud girl.’ Sometimes, being loud and wild is just the fearless girl, and being shy doesn’t always mean that people perceive you to be this innocent, really cool chick. It really means that sometimes they look at you like you’re the girl they can take advantage of. You’re not gonna say anything, you’re the girl that could really keep a secret. They try to play off of that. I try to teach that to girls — to not be another #MeToo.”
“Women are badass. We are making way for ourselves, for our families. We have so much power. The fact that we have bridged so many gaps from generation to generation is incredible. On the other hand, those who don’t know their power are setting trends that we’re trying to water down when it comes to the strength of a woman. Not playing always into a man’s hand.”
For more on Yo-Yo, follow her social media here.
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