Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip-hop group formed in 1985. Group members included Salt, Pepa, and DJ Spinderella. They were signed to Next Plateau Records and released their single “Push It” in 1987, which hit number one in three countries and became a top 10 or top 20 hits in various countries. The group consisted of Sanda Denton (Pepa), Cheryl Jones (Salt), and Deidra Muriel Roper (DJ Spinderella).
I must admit, I didn’t know a lot about this group but I did know “Shoop” and ” Push it” but that’s literally all I knew. Their breakout hit was “Push it” which came out in 1987, the year I was born so there is no way I would know their history and how they solidified themselves in the male-dominated Rap era and paved the way for other females. I’ve been seeing the ads for their Biopic on Lifetime and decided to tune in. If you watched the film like me and learned a whole lot, there were a few things I didn’t know.
Things I learned about Salt-N-Pepa after watching the Biopic
Pepa is Jamaican
I mean, how could I not know she was Jamaican? Her entire attitude, confidence, and vibe exude “Jamaican”. It wasn’t until Salt’s Boyfriend asked where Pepa was from and also “high-key” shaded her for being off the rhythm and how “music should flow naturally as a Jamaican” I was shook!
Sandra Denton “Pepa” was born in Kingston, Jamaica on November 7, 1964. Her family moved to Queens, New York when she was a child. In 1985, while studying nursing at Queens Borough College, she met Cheryl ‘Salt’ James.
They worked with Martin Lawrence and Kid N’ Play
In the movie, we saw the duo doing telesales for Sears and we were introduced to “Martin Lawrence” who was in the cubicle next to them who was giving jokes. I must admit, that character was the worst cast in the movie as he was not spot on. Other than that, I was shocked and amazed. Can you imagine knowing Martin before he was famous? Kid N’ Play also made a cameo in the film which was again shocking as there was not a lot known or told about these two as we only saw them in “House Party”. I just thought they were friends who were cool and became popular but had known anything else about them. It’s always good to see famous people in their humble stage through the eyes of other famous people also in their humble stage.
DJ Spinderella was super young
DJ Spinderella was only around 16 or 17 when she became their official DJ and was barely out of High School. She was allegedly not happy about being “left out” of the Biopic and that her story was not told. I’m kinda on the fence about this as it was Salt-N-Pepa’s story to tell and I thought that introducing her was enough. 
Salt-N-Pepa’s first time rapping was a response to ‘The Show’ by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
In 1985, while in college, James dated fellow student Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor. Azor studied audio production and asked James and Denton if they could rap for a project he wanted to work on. They were hesitant but agreed to work on a track that Azor wrote and produced. The song, “The Show Stopper” was meant to be a diss track responding to Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s “The Show.”
Not long after recording the track, the duo heard the song on the radio and couldn’t believe it. Denton, who was driving at the time, pulled over to yell “They’re playing my song! That’s me! That’s me on the radio!” With Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick being established rappers, James and Denton waited on a response with bated breath, but they never got a lyrical rebuttal from the rap legends.
Before they were Salt-N-Pepa, they called themselves ‘Super Nature’
In their breakout song, “The Show Stopper,” the two were called “Super Nature” by Azor. However, the track featured a line that said “We the salt and pepper” that resonated with hip-hop heads around New York City. Radio listeners called in repeatedly, requesting the “That salt and pepper song.” After that, they ditched Super Nature and rode the wave when audiences dubbed them Salt-N-Pepa. And the rest is history.
Salt-N-Pepa boycotted the GRAMMYs with their first-ever nomination for ‘Push It’
Salt-N-Pepa were breaking records with their hit single “Push It” when they decided to make a move that could’ve gotten them blackballed in the music industry.
While news of the award was exciting, once it was revealed that the category wouldn’t be televised the nominees took offense. Def Jam, who represented LL Cool J and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, led the charge in boycotting the lack of visibility for rappers at the GRAMMYs that year.
Salt-N-Pepa agreed to join the boycott, standing in solidarity against the GRAMMYs. The group would ultimately lose the award to DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince that year but went on to win their first GRAMMY for “None of Your Business” in 1994.
#Things I learned about Salt-N-Pepa after watching the Biopic
#Things I learned about Salt-N-Pepa after watching the Biopic
#Things I learned about Salt-N-Pepa after watching the Biopic
#Things I learned about Salt-N-Pepa after watching the Biopic
#Things I learned about Salt-N-Pepa after watching the Biopic
