Salt-N-Pepa
Cheryl James, Sandra Denton, and DJ Deidra Roper
First Ladies of Rap
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
They are an American hip-hop group formed in New York City in 1985, that comprised Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper). Their debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious (1986), sold more than 1 million copies in the US, making them the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album included the single, “Push It”, which was released in 1987 as the B-side to their single “Tramp”, and peaked within the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Salt-N-Pepa’s second album A Salt with a Deadly Pepa (1988), was certified gold by the RIAA. The Trio’s third album Blacks’ Magic (1990), featured the singles “Expression” and “Let’s Talk About Sex”. In 1993, they released the album, Very Necessary, which sold over 7 million copies worldwide (5 million of those in the U.S.), and was the highest-selling rap album by a female act (solo or group) in history at the time.The album included the hit singles “Shoop” and “Whatta Man” with En Vogue. They won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for their song “None of Your Business”, making them one of the first female rap acts to win a Grammy Award, along with Queen Latifah, who won later during the same ceremony.
On January 23, 2021, Lifetime released an eponymous biopic, directed by Mario Van Peebles, which starred GG Townson as Salt, Laila Odom as Pepa, Monique Jasmine Paul as DJ Spinderella, Cleveland Berto as Herbie Azor, and featured Daniel Keith Morrison as MC Hammer, Denver Taylor as Martin Lawrence, Bronson Phillip Lake as Christopher “Kid” Reid, and Devante Senior as Christopher “Play” Martin. Salt and Pepa served as the executive producers while Queen Latifah served as a producer. A “Special Edition” of the film was released on January 23, 2021.
On November 4, 2022, all three members were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located by the Amoeba Music Store on Hollywood Boulevard
Salt-N-Pepa has sold over 15 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling rap acts of all time. Their success in rap and hip-hop culture has earned them the title “The First Ladies of Rap”.