Salt-N-Pepa

Salt-N-Pepa, American rap group that became one of the first all-female ensembles not only to break into the male-dominated rap music scene but also to cross over into the pop world. Their songs conveyed an independent, feminist attitude and were hugely popular.

Salt-N-Pepa was founded by Cheryl James (Salt) and Sandra Denton (Pepa), who became friends while attending Queensborough Community College in Queens, New York. In 1985, while they were working as customer service representatives for Sears, also in Queens, their coworker Hurby (“Luv Bug”) Azor asked them to record a song for his class project. The duo, with DJ Latoya Hanson, made “The Show Stoppa (Is Stupid Fresh),” a response to Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s “The Show.” Calling themselves Super Nature, the trio released the single on the independent label Pop Art Records. It soon became a hit, reaching Billboard’s R&B chart.

In 1985 the group signed with Next Plateau Records and changed their name to Salt-N-Pepa. They released their first album, Hot, Cool, & Vicious, in 1986. It contained the hit single “Push It,” which rose high on the pop charts, earned the group widespread recognition, and became a Grammy contender. In 1987 Deidra Roper (DJ Spinderella) replaced Hanson. The following year Salt-N-Pepa released A Salt with a Deadly Pepa (1988). The album included “Shake Your Thang,” which became a top 10 R&B song. The group’s third studio album, Blacks’ Magic (1990), featured the hit single “Let’s Talk About Sex.”

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Very Necessary (1993) produced the hits “Shoop,” “Whatta Man,” and “None of Your Business.” In 1995 Salt-N-Pepa won a Grammy Award for best rap performance for a duo or group for “None of Your Business.” The trio’s next album, Brand New, appeared in 1997.

The group disbanded in 2002 in order for the members to pursue their own interests. Throughout the 21st century, however, the members came together on such reality television shows as The Salt-N-Pepa Show (2007–08) and Cookin’ with Salt-N-Pepa (2015). They also toured throughout the United States and in other countries. In 2021 the group received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement. Four years later Salt-N-Pepa was selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the musical influence category.