Dancehall artist Patra was overjoyed to reunite with her Romantic Call collaborator and rap pioneer Yo Yo on Sunday as both women prepare to perform at the BET Awards.
The legendary artists hugged and kissed each other backstage taking turns to tell each other that they miss each other. Yo Yo real name Yolanda Whittaker shouted “Patra” upon seeing her and Patra jumped on the west coast rapper as both of them took turns in saying “I missed you so much.” Patra continued in relief “Oh God this is so great, Oh my God, this is the moment man, this is so real girl.” Yo Yo then said “I love you.”
Yo Yo has been busy on the entertainment scene as an actor and activist and even creating the Yo Yo School Of Hip Hop. She recently told the Huff Post, “I think what’s kept me strong and kept me relevant is the fact that I never gave up, that I never put my eggs all in one basket.” The hip hop pioneer has been in the movies Boyz In The Hood, the Tv comedy series Martin with Martin Lawrence as well as New York Undercover on For network.
The 51 year old first came on the scene as a featured artist on Ice Cube’s “America’s Most Wanted Album” {1990} on the track “It’s a Man’s World.” She then dropped her debut album “Make Way for the Motherlode” in 1991 {East West Records/Warner). Yo Yo was the featured act on Romantic Call, the third single from Patra’s debut album Queen Of The Pack. The song produced by Clifton Specialist Dillion, Vivian Scott and Hitman Howie Tee peaked at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 22 on the Billboard Dance Chart.
Romantic Call also peaked at No. 9 on the US Rap chart. The music video for the song features Tupac Shakur riding shot gun with Patra in a drop top on the streets of Los Angeles.
The BET Awards celebrates 50 years of Hip Hop and both Patra and Yo Yo will be performing live in Los Angeles at the the Microsoft Theater. It’ll be simulcast on BET, BET HER Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, and VH1 streamed live on bet.com.
Drake is up for 7 nominations, the most for any artist this year: best male hip-hop artist and male R&B/pop artist, as well as a few shared titles, including best collaboration and viewer’s choice with Future and Tems for their song “Wait for U.” Drake is also nominated for album of the year and best group for his collaboration with 21 Savage, “Her Loss,” and viewer’s choice for their hit “Jimmy Cooks.”
Although no dancehall artist was nominated this year, the genre’s artist will feature prominately in stage in a tribute to Busta Rhymes.
In addition to Patra, Queen Of Dancehall Spice, who pulled out of the Groovin In The Park show in Queens New York this Sunday causing some to speculate that it was because her nemesis Marion Hall formerly Lady Saw is also on the show. 90s hit maker Super Cat and Dexta Daps will also make his first BET appearance.
