Yo Yo (rapper)

Music career

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

Her follow-up in 1992, Black Pearl was well received by critics, partly because of its focus on positive messages and uplifting themes that contrasted the popular gangsta rap style. However, despite a plethora of renowned producers such as DJ Muggs, this did not translate into a hit with mainstream hip-hop audiences, and the album's sales were considered a disappointment.

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

Yo-Yo's next album was 1996's Total Control. In 1998, she finished her fifth album, Ebony, but it was not released. In 2008, her single "Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" was ranked number 92 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs. 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.

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

Acting career

She appeared in the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, 1993's Menace II Society and other urban-oriented films; 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. She has also made many cameo appearances, including the music video for Missy Elliott's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)". She also appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, as the voice of Kendl Johnson.

Personal life

Yo-Yo dated Tupac Shakur for some time in the 1990s. She was with him in the hospital shortly before he died.

She has two daughters named Tiffany Whitaker and Sanai Whitaker.

She got engaged to DeAndre Windom, the former mayor of Highland Park, Michigan, in August 2012. They married on August 17, 2013. She now runs Yo-Yo School of Hip Hop.

Albums

EPs

Singles

Miscellaneous appearances