Legendary lyricist nd philanthropist Dr. Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker is continuous to feed followers recent taste on AspireTV, serving up one thing delightfully totally different.
Supply: Santiago Felipe / Getty
Now in its third season, her sequence Downright Scrumptious with Yo-Yobrings collectively household, taste, and religion in a single kitchen.
“The cooking present is my love language,” Yo-Yo instructed BOSSIP. “It’s a ardour I’ve had for a very long time. I’ve been cooking on the street for Too Brief and his crew, the Lynch Mob, Dice and the gang. I’ve been cooking for my household and buddies for a lot of moons.”
Recognized for traditional bars and daring vitality, Yo-Yo’s at all times been a artistic power. However on Downright Scrumptious, she trades the stage lights for stovetops, letting followers see the lady behind the mic.
“Though I’m a kitchen cooker and a celebration goer, a hip hop legend, an educator, a radio host; I feel the enjoyable is at dwelling,” she defined. “This lane I’ve created is full circle for me. Individuals get to see me and my household in a special type of gentle.”
The AspireTV hit offers viewers a front-row seat to Yo-Yo’s actual life, the place garlic, laughter, and good music fill the air. She’s additionally not shy about displaying off her taste.
“You gonna odor garlic and listen to music, what I imply? Relying on the music, I can prepare dinner two meals in someday if you happen to let me,” she laughed. “I’ve firm and I gotta present out, meaning I gotta go to the shop!”
The Recipe For Connection
Meals has at all times been greater than only a meal for Yo-Yo. It’s her manner of displaying love.
“It’s the artwork of displaying love, making a protected area for folks to return in and really feel appreciated with out you shopping for their time,” she mentioned. “My youngsters odor these onions, and so they operating down the steps asking ‘Mother, you cooking?’”
When requested which dish takes her again to her roots, Yo-Yo didn’t hesitate.
“It’s my Spanish meals, my Mexican meals. I’m low-key Mexican and I’m okay, so I’m spicy with my dishes,” she joked. “I’m making burritos, fish tacos, refried beans over rice..and though it’s burritos, it’s nonetheless a feast. And don’t overlook the Cadillac Margarita with a bit shot of Hennessy on the facet. Everyone can’t dangle with the large canine!”
Supply: Downright Scrumptious With Yo-Yo / AspireTV
A Household Affair
Of all her visitors, one stood out probably the most.
“The very best has been my mom,” Yo-Yo mentioned proudly. “Having my mom in that kitchen jogs my memory of being 17, leaving dwelling to tour the world. To come back again and prepare dinner along with her, and have her respect my kitchen, that’s full circle. My mother might be my finest visitor. Mama Mia, that gangster!”
Yo-Yo says her mom taught her the golden rule of cooking: by no means depart the kitchen till it’s proper.
“You may comply with a recipe, however make it your individual,” she mentioned. “I at all times put a timer on as a result of my ADD received’t let me sit nonetheless, however my mom..she doesn’t depart the kitchen. One trick she gave me is: it’s your kitchen, it’s to your liking. Style your meals. Don’t depart it till it’s proper.”
Boss Brunch Power & Sisterhood
One standout episode this season options Yo-Yo’s “Boss Brunch,” celebrating ladies in enterprise, magnificence, and style. For her, it’s extra about development and sisterhood, than simply good meals.
“It took me a very long time to even know the right way to be a pal,” she admitted. “It wasn’t till I had an actual pal that made me notice I used to be a faux pal. The sisterhood is so essential. To have somebody you may share a recipe with is essential.”
Yo-Yo even cooks nearly along with her girlfriends.
“We go to the market and sit on FaceTime and prepare dinner for our households,” she mentioned. “That’s our motivation, that’s sisterhood. Cooking, cocktails, and dialog. It helps folks get again on observe and reminds them that you’re worthy.”
Grounded In Religion, Fueled By Love
Outdoors of the kitchen, Yo-Yo’s nonetheless the identical trailblazer: a two-time recipient of President Biden’s Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and an honorary physician in humanitarianism.
“It feels good to be humbled. It feels good to be liked. It feels good to provide love,” she mentioned. “It’s development, it’s love, it’s being settled, it’s being completely happy.”
In terms of stability and longevity, she says the reply is easy:
“Prayer. That’s my recipe. I rise up, I present up, I find time for my household. I’m not chasing cash, I do know what it means now. It feels good to be at peace, to be within the kitchen cooking, to entertain, and to let the world see younger ladies who grew up with me doing the identical.”
Closing Style
Whether or not she’s dropping knowledge or whipping up wings, Yo-Yo proves that actual taste comes from love, legacy, and laughter.
“It’s nothing like good vibes, nice meals, and better firm,” Yo-Yo mentioned with a smile. “That’s downright scrumptious.”
Catch Downright Scrumptious with Yo-Yo Thursdays at 8 PM ET on AspireTV. The place dishes inform a narrative, visitors get fed, and episodes remind us why Black ladies are nonetheless defining the that means of legendary.
