Black Pearl (Yo-Yo album)

Black Pearl
Studio album by
Yo-Yo
ReleasedJune 23, 1992 (1992-06-23)
Recorded1991–92
Studio
  • Echo Sound (Los Angeles, CA)
  • One Up Studio
  • 38 Fresh (Los Angeles, CA)
Genre
Length38:37
LabelEastWest Records America
Producer
Yo-Yo chronology
Make Way for the Motherlode
(1991) 		Black Pearl
(1992) 		You Better Ask Somebody
(1993)
Singles from Black Pearl
  1. "Home Girl Don't Play Dat"
    Released: May 28, 1992
  2. "Black Pearl"
    Released: 1992

Black Pearl is the second studio album by American rapper Yo-Yo. It was released on June 23, 1992, through EastWest Records America/Atlantic. Production was handled by DJ Pooh, Sir Jinx, Down Low Productions, DJ Muggs, Rashad Coes and DJ Bobcat, with Ice Cube serving as executive producer. The album peaked at number 145 on the Billboard 200 and number 32 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

The album spawned two singles: "Black Pearl" and "Home Girl Don't Play Dat". "Black Pearl" reached number 11 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and number 74 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and "Home Girl Don't Play Dat" peaked at number 3 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and number 53 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. The song "I Can't Take No More" was included in the Girls Town soundtrack.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauA−[3]
Los Angeles Times[2]
Spin[4]

AllMusic's Ron Wynn wrote that: "Yo-Yo's positive (but not simplistic or naive) messages regarding female sexuality, self-esteem and achievement were grounded in hard raps and thudding beats on this album, still her most complete, and effective production."[1] Robert Christgau commented that "the nervous propulsion and unreleased tension of her funk agitates mind-body-spirit, only to be put right by a voice that's gotten kinder without even thinking about going soft. Advising the downpressed or dissing fools, her lyrics are smarter throughout and stunning on one that makes a battered wife's bizness its own."[3]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The No Intro"  0:12
2."Home Girl Don't Play Dat"
DJ Pooh2:38
3."So Funky"
DJ Pooh3:02
4."Black Pearl" (featuring Big Bubba)
Down Low Productions3:10
5."Cleopatra"WhitakerDown Low Productions3:46
6."It's a Long Way Home"
DJ Muggs4:36
7."You Should Have Listened"WhitakerSir Jinx4:00
8."Woman to Woman"
2:26
9."Hoes"
DJ Pooh3:13
10."I Can't Take No More"
Sir Jinx3:39
11."A Few Good Men"
DJ Pooh3:50
12."Will You Be Mine"
  • Whitaker
  • Hayes
Sir Jinx4:05
Total length:38:37
Sample credits

Personnel

  • Yolanda M. Whitaker – main artist
  • Shawn McLemore – background vocals (track 3)
  • Frederick Lee Drakeford – featured artist (track 4)
  • Marsha McClurkin – additional background vocals (track 4)
  • Kymberli Armstrong – background vocals (tracks: 10, 12)
  • Joyce Tolbert – background vocals (tracks: 10, 12)
  • DeMonica Santiago – background vocals (track 10)
  • Shireen Crutchfield – background vocals (track 10)
  • Craig A. Miller – background vocals (track 11)
  • Torrence Woods – background vocals (track 12)
  • Joseph "DJ Wildstyle" Mann – scratches (track 5)
  • Mark Jordan – drum programming (track 7), recording engineer (track 3), producer (tracks: 2, 3, 8, 9, 11)
  • David Foreman – guitar & bass guitar (tracks: 7, 10, 12)
  • Jason White – keyboards (tracks: 7, 10, 12)
  • James Perry – bass guitar (track 10)
  • Bob Morris – recording engineer (tracks: 2, 11)
  • Down Low Productions – mixing & producer (tracks: 4, 5)
  • Prince Charles Alexander – recording engineer (tracks: 4, 5)
  • Mike Green – recording engineer (track 6)
  • Jason Roberts – engineering (track 6)
  • Bob Drake – engineering (tracks: 7, 10, 12)
  • Darryl Dobson – recording engineer (tracks: 8, 9)
  • Lawrence Muggerud – producer (track 6)
  • Anthony Wheaton – producer (tracks: 7, 10, 12)
  • Bobby Ervin – producer (track 8)
  • James Rashad Coes – producer (track 8)
  • O'Shea Jackson – executive producer
  • Carlton Batts – mastering
  • David Provost – photography

Charts

Chart (1992) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[5] 145
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[6] 32

References

  1. ^ a b Wynn, Ron. "Black Pearl - Yo-Yo". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Johnson, Connie (July 12, 1992). "*** YO YO, "Black Pearl", EastWest America". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "CG: Yo Yo". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Ro, Ronin (July 1992). "SPIN". SPIN. Vol. 8, no. 4. SPIN Media LLC. pp. 71–72. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  5. ^ "Yo-Yo Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "Yo-Yo Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2020.