Make Way for the Motherlode
1991 studio album by Yo-Yo
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Make Way for the Motherlode is the debut studio album by the American West Coast hip-hop musician Yo-Yo.[1][2] Make Way for the Motherlode was released on March 19, 1991, through East West Records and Atlantic Records. The album was produced by Ice Cube, Sir Jinx, and Del tha Funkee Homosapien. Make Way for the Motherlode peaked at number 74 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The singles included "You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo" and "What Can I Do?", both of which featured Ice Cube, and "Ain't Nobody Better." The background vocals for "You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo" were sung by MC Soula.
| Make Way for the Motherlode | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 19, 1991 | |||
| Recorded | 1990–1991 | |||
| Genre | West Coast hip-hop | |||
| Length | 43:54 | |||
| Label | East West America | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Yo-Yo chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Make Way for the Motherlode | ||||
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Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [3] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[4] |
| The Source | [5] |
Robert Christgau commented that: "By loosing Roxanne Shante's tough talk on Queen Latifah's leadership seminar, Ice Cube's no-shit sister doubles her chance of teaching "intelligent black women" how one respects oneself. Her most salient theme is an ass she's not inclined to give up on the first date, and when she succumbs, she lives to regret it at speeds that'll set you on yours. Sir Jinx's soul-thick, jazz-inflected production suits her gritty drawl and wayward mouth. And if they should split she'll figure out another way to get over."[4] The New York Times noted that Yo-Yo is "fast-talking and competitive in the requisite boasts, then slows down the rhymes to detail male transgressions and, more often, female naivete."[6]
Alex Henderson of AllMusic wrote: "As positive as Queen Latifah but as abrasive in her delivery as MC Lyte, Yo-Yo showed some potential on her debut album, Make Way for the Motherlode."[3]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Yo-Yo.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Stand Up for Your Rights" (featuring Ricky Harris, Tamika Ingram and Threat) | 1:00 | |
| 2. | "Stompin' to the '90s" |
| 4:07 |
| 3. | "You Can't Play with My Yo Yo" (featuring Ice Cube) | 3:34 | |
| 4. | "Cube Gets Played" (featuring Ricky Harris) | 0:19 | |
| 5. | "Put a Lid on It" |
| 3:04 |
| 6. | "What Can I Do?" (featuring Ice Cube) |
| 4:13 |
| 7. | "Dedication" (featuring LA Jay & Ricky Harris) |
| 0:52 |
| 8. | "Sisterland" |
| 3:38 |
| 9. | "The I.B.W.C. National Anthem" (featuring Dawn, Diamond & Sparkles) | Yo-Yo | 1:44 |
| 10. | "Make Way for the Motherlode" |
| 3:47 |
| 11. | "Tonight's the Night" (featuring Dazzie Dee) |
| 3:38 |
| 12. | "I Got Played" |
| 2:45 |
| 13. | "Girl, Don't Be No Fool" |
| 4:40 |
| 14. | "Ain't Nobody Better" |
| 4:22 |
| 15. | "Outro" (featuring Ricky Harris) |
| 0:23 |
| 16. | "More of What I Can Do" (featuring Sir Jinx) |
| 1:48 |
| Total length: | 43:54 | ||
Notes:
- Some CD editions list the outro with the incorrect running time of 2:10
- Featured artists are not listed
Charts
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[7] | 74 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8] | 5 |
