On March 14, 1991, Yo-Yo emerged with a warning — "don't try to play me out."

The L.A. native and mentee of Ice Cube, arrived on the scene, fierce and full of pointed ideology which she readily expressed on her debut, Make Way for the Motherlode. The project was led by the single, "You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" produced by Sir Jinx and Ice Cube and featuring a prominent sample of Earth Wind & Fire's "Devotion." Immediately, Yo-Yo lets it be known that she's an "intelligent Black woman," an ideology she'd continue with her crew, IBWC, Intelligent Black Woman's Coalition, throughout her career as an activist.

“A lot of people didn’t know the history of Yo-Yo” she told HipHopDX in 2018 following her feature on TV One's Unsung. “They got a chance to really look inside of who I am as a person, outside of who I am as an artist. I think that helped me because I think they saw more of me as a human being. They didn’t even know I was an activist."

On her lead single, she gets to it out the gate. Part Black women's power anthem, part declaration of her standing as an MC with a lot to say, "You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo," showcases her skills. "It only takes one punch to drop ya/And then the I.B.W.C. will come mob ya/But no, I'm not living like that verse/AlthoughI pack a real small Gat in my purse (right, right)/But no, it's not to cause corruptions/Just to fight back on destruction," she rhymes on the last verse.

The video, directed by Okuwah Garrett of Power Films, offered an early glimpse of her on-screen charisma (she'd later go on to star in several films and TV shows). "You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" remains a staple in her decades-long career, and one of Hip-Hop's most recognizable singles.