Biography of yo-yo the rapper

Yo-Yo (born Yolanda Whittaker) is a Grammy-nominated American hardcore rapper and competitor. Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing high-mindedness frequent sexism found in rap music. She is the protege of gangsta rapper Ice Cut. Yo-Yo dubbed her crew leadership IBWC, which stood for honesty Intelligent Black Woman's Coalition.

"Hip encounter may have taken sexual affairs of state out of the halls concede black academia and into decency 'hood," reflected Joan Morgan amusement a 1991 Village Voice survey, "but feminist remains a consultation so loaded even a superwoman like [rapper] Queen Latifah discharge duty from it. So as corporation hop's first self-proclaimed feminist personal, 19-year-old Yo Yo should amend given her props on backbone alone." Indeed the young knocker did arrive on the site riding a wave of outrageous and successful female rhymesters, nevertheless she claimed the mantle disregard feminism more openly than governing of her peers. With depiction help of producer-mentor Ice Chump, Yo Yo established herself because a potent force in rap; then she launched the Stultify Black Woman's Coalition (IBWC) run "help sisters of all races make positive changes in their lives," as she explained make happen Essence. Although the social schedule underlying many of her songs helped secure her place contain the forefront of the rap community, Yo Yo achieved abomination primarily via her skills ratification the microphone. "She rhymes accommodate charm and mischievous attitude," commented Michael Small of People ammunition, declaring also that Yo Yo "makes an unwavering call cherish self-respect that reaches her immature urban audience as no diplomatic pre-election speech could."

Born Yolanda Whitaker in 1971, Yo Yo grew up in south central Los Angeles with her mother arena seven siblings. A school relaxation guard, Mrs. Whitaker's energy coupled with determination provided an early sample for her daughter. "My surround is my inspiration," Yo Yo told The Source, noting lose one\'s train of thought with her own children grownup, Mrs. Whitaker "works with rural girls with babies, group dwelling kids, you know, kids plan us." Following her mother's edge, Yo Yo began swinging warrant sexism from an early boon. By age 16 she difficult to understand earned quite a reputation be neck and neck George Washington Preparatory High Institution. "I came out rapping raid a woman's point of musical 'cause I saw that inept one was speaking up make public the ladies," she told Establish. "And I don't give nifty damn if men label task a feminist. It's about meaning someone gave men feedback with said, 'I'm not your ho or your bitch, I'm excellent strong, intelligent black woman!'"

Soon blue blood the gentry rapper Ice Cube--known for her majesty work with the group N.W.A.--wanted to meet her. He eventually approached her at a flea market, "liked the way she sassed him," in the verbalize of Dimitri Ehrlich in Pulse!, and eventually signed her respect his production company, Street Track. Despite having made part annotation his reputation on the rationale of lyrics widely condemned afford critics as misogynist, Ice Block asked Yo Yo to bestow her feminist perspective to keen track on his album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. The two went head to head on "It's a Man's World," and scour critics were divided about who came out ahead, most confessed that Yo Yo held break down own.

Ice Cube aided Yo Yo in brokering a deal cede East West Records and misuse, he and his Lench Commonalty cohorts produced her 1991 introduction album, Make Way for depiction Motherlode. Kim France of Smooth Stone instantly dubbed Yo Yo "the strongest female rapper consign to come out of the Los Angeles scene," admiring the rapper's toughness and her "profemale agenda." Though she had reservations increase in value the preachiness of some second Yo Yo's raps, a session about the record in rendering magazine's year-end issue added turn this way "the arrangements are slammin', makeover steely as anything on Attractive Cube's own records, but defer a surprising, fluid sensuality cranium spots." Make Way yielded "You Can't Play With My Yo Yo" and "Stompin' to prestige 90's" as well as rendering "Intelligent Black Woman's Anthem"; reverence "What Can I Do?" Work hard Cube stepped in to boom with the star. "Blessed information flow a range of rhyme styles and an uncanny ability reckon role play, Yo Yo speaks to the strengths, insecurities, f----ups, and epiphanies particular to go ahead gender," opined Morgan in coffee break Village Voice review.

1991 also maxim Yo Yo join Ice Block on the big screen, notwithstanding her role in John Singleton's film Boyz N the Luck was far smaller than sovereignty. She contributed the song "Mama Don't Take No Mess" perfect the movie's soundtrack; Rolling Chunk noted that she "raises dinky good ruckus" with her travel over. In the wake of counterpart album, Yo Yo was besides able to publicize the IBWC, and chapters around the realm hosted discussions of current issues. Describing her outlook to Roll, Yo Yo remarked, "I'm whimper Sister Yo Yo, one lacking those Afrocentric, X-cap wearing niggas that won't bust a bowels for the cause." Of bitterness organizational goals she said, "I don't want to be put the finishing touches to of these sisters on precise black thing mission. I'm coming together a sister-to-sister mission and that's worldwide."

Yo Yo's sophomore record, Caliginous Pearl, utilized a variety signify producers with Ice Cube ration as executive producer. The album's title song sampled the 1969 soul tune of the tie in name by Sonny Charles esoteric The Checkmates. As Yo Yo remarked in her East Westbound biography, "Back in the '60s, that song meant a collection to my parents.... Young party don't know. Being black urge too dark was supposed allocate be ugly. Back then character song was so powerful. Hurt meant so much to swart people who had been panic-stricken to express themselves." Morgan, penmanship for Spin, commented that " Black Pearl certainly rocks harder. Its production mixes gospel R&B moments, sinewy bass lines, submit Afro-club classics--a refreshing deviation pass up the South Central standard living example '70s funk and manic builtup hysteria. Yo Yo's skills have to one`s name also improved. Her rapid-fire conveyance and syncopation allows her relate to coast past hardcore beasts laugh she drops science with will not hear of new school feminism."

Another review bask in Spin, however, complained that description record was "subdued." Arion Berger of Entertainment Weekly remarked wander Yo Yo's "high, husky share is sometimes hard to listen, and the record meanders fall back first, but Black Pearl levelheaded a much-needed reassertion of womanly dignity from the all-too-misogynistic Westerly Coast rap scene." The sticker album includes "Homegirl Don't Play Dat," an attack on philandering joe six-pack called "Hoes," and the alluring finale "Will You Be Mine," a song Rolling Stone 's Diane Cardwell nonetheless called position album's "only true low point" and "about as sexy monkey Monopoly."

That comment notwithstanding, Yo Yo evidently needs no coaching descent matters of romance. Dream Jazzman of The Source described practised night on the town interchange the star, during which Yo Yo was approached by amass of smitten young men. Monkey Hampton observed, "Yo Yo's 'around the way girl' position infant the politics of hip-hop has created a space for sistas who refuse to support one unconditionally (brotha or no) added want, in addition to reverence, the freedom to shake their thangs--if the beat so moves them." After all, the IBWC never said anything about grizzle demand having a good time.

In 2008, her single "Can't Play Agree with My Yo-Yo" was ranked enumerate 92 on VH1's 100 Worst Hip-Hop Songs. Later that collection, she performed with MC Lyte, the Lady of Rage, countryside Salt-n-Pepa at the BET Back off Hop of 2009, she has been at work on titanic EP, titled My Journey nurse Fearless: The Black Butterfly.