*West coast rap veteran Yo-Yo, the co-host of VH1's upcoming series "ego trip's Miss Rap Supreme," says the show's search for the next big female rapper will help bring attention to an area of hip hop that is often taken lightly.

      "I don't think we've had the right leadership or direction," Yo-Yo told Billboard when asked about the plight of the female rapper.

      As previously reported, "Miss Rap Supreme" follows ego trip's 2007 exploration of another disenfranchised rap subset on VH1, "The (White) Rapper Show." The eight-episode series premieres April 14 with returning host Michael "MC Serch" Berrin.

      Ten female hopefuls will reside in the "Fembassy" (a hotel designed in tribute to major figures in female rap) as they tackle various challenges in the quest to be crowned Miss Rap Supreme and pocket $100,000.

      "Women can be catty especially when it comes to competition," says Yo-Yo, whose real name is Yolanda Whitaker. "We know they're only going to allow so many of us in and once we're in, we let them pit us against each other. I was there at one time until I thought, 'Hey, there's room for us all.' There's just not enough sisterhood. I'm 36 now and thank god I have another opportunity to get my name out in the public and use this to do other things."

       Yo-Yo, a Los Angeles native, scored her biggest R&B/pop crossover single (No. 11 R&B, No. 36 pop) with "You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" in 1991. the L.A.-based youth empowerment organization, Let Your Light Shine Youth Foundation, co-founded by Yo-Yo and fellow female rap icon MC Lyte to raise funds for educational scholarships and other youth-oriented programs.      

       A former air personality at Los Angeles radio station KDAY for three years, Yo-Yo is looking for another radio gig and teaching a lyrics class for the Thelonius Monk Institute at her high school alma mater, Washington Prep.