Book Yo-Yo

Yo-Yo is the South Los Angeles rapper and actress whose debut single, "You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo," featuring Ice Cube, was named one of VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs, and she has earned a Grammy nomination. Born Yolanda Whitaker, she broke through as Ice Cube's protégée, trading verses with him on "It's a Man's World" from his 1990 debut, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. Her own debut album, Make Way for the Motherlode (1991), championed female empowerment, a theme she carried into her crew, the Intelligent Black Women's Coalition. Black Pearl (1992), with production from DJ Muggs, won critical praise for its uplifting messages, and You Better Ask Somebody (1993) closed with "The Bonnie and Clyde Theme," another duet with Ice Cube. Total Control followed in 1996. As an actress she appeared in Boyz n the Hood, played Keylolo on the sitcom Martin, voiced Kendl Johnson in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and has a recurring role as roller rink owner Duchess on the Disney series Saturdays. Off stage, she created an education program that brings hip-hop into classrooms for at-risk students.