Alright peeps, don’t start with any negative comments, it’s time to show some love. After decades in the industry and being trailblazers who kicked down mainstream doors for female rappers, Salt-N-Pepa are getting their long overdue (in this writer’s opinion) star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Before women were seemingly baring it all, Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton were spitting out lyrics focusing on women’s empowerment and sex education while owning their femininity and setting new 80s trends of ripped acid washed jeans, “bamboo earrings,” and “fly” A-symmetrical bob hairdos complete with shaved sides.
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Can you tell I’m a super fan? You probably can guess my age as well (Fabulous forties and proud).
According to a press release, Salt-N-Pepa will be honored on Nov. 4 at 11:30 a.m. with the 2,738th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Recording. The star will be located at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard adjacent to Amoeba Music.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has proudly hosted the globally iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame since 1960. The Chamber exists to transform business and improve lives. Through the Walk of Fame, the Chamber celebrates the business that transforms us all – the business of entertainment.
“This upcoming star ceremony honoring Hip-Hop pioneers Salt-N-Pepa will honor the amazing 80s music we all love and so many grew up with!” stated Walk of Fame Producer Ana Martinez. “We’re placing these ladies of Hip Hop royalty adjacent to Amoeba Music and right next to the Walk of Fame star of another Queen of Hip Hop, Missy Elliott!”
Joining emcee Lupita Sanchez Cornejo for the star unveiling will be MC Lyte and Roxanna Shante.
The “push it real good” duo changed the face of music for women in hip-hop.
Known as the “First Ladies of Hip-Hop,” Salt-N-Pepa were credited for bringing fun, fashion, and femininity to hip hop; their unique and authentic style made them relatable.
They grew up in different boroughs in New York City. Pepa, who was born in Jamaica, lived in St. Alban, Queens, while Salt resided in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Their musical bond began to take shape when they met as students at Queensborough Community College in Bayside, Queens, where they created a diss track that became a local hit.
Soon after, a 16-year-old Deidra “Spinderella” Roper joined the duo as their official DJ.
Spinderella, a Brooklyn, NY native, is considered the most celebrated and iconic female DJ in Hip-Hop.
With a new name and new buzz, Salt-N-Pepa landed a deal to make 1986′s Hot, Cool & Vicious, their debut LP that more than lived up to that spicy title. Propelled by “Push It,” their breakout hit on the pop charts, the album went platinum.
Salt-N-Pepa proved that they were more than just the flavor of the moment with 1988′s “A Salt with a Deadly Pepa,” which is certified platinum.
After that, the ladies really began to shake things up lyrically on their third album, 1990′s Blacks’ Magic. Their music had a message, with empowering anthems like “Expression,” “Independent” and “Let’s Talk About Sex.” Now they were speaking for—and to—women in a way that was bigger than a dope beat and a fly flow.
Salt-N-Pepa only got bigger with 1993′s “Very Necessary,” which true to its title, proved to be an essential album. Boasting two Top 5 hits “Shoop” and “Whatta Man” - a killer collaboration with En Vogue - the LP went platinum five times over. But it was “None of Your Business” that won them Grammy gold, for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, in 1995.
Now, the pioneering ladies are living legends who get to see their legacy playing out while they’re very much still making moves.
And what a lofty list of accomplishments Salt-N-Pepa has had. They became the first female rap act to have an album go gold and then platinum. They became, along with Queen Latifah, the first female MCs to win a Grammy. They have become international superstars, taking hip-hop from Russia to Australia, and they still have the best-selling album of all time by any female rap artists.
For philanthropy, Salt supports Rock the Bells and Pep supports St. Jude.
WATCH LIVE The event will be streamed live exclusively at walkoffame.com.
We’ve added one of our favorite songs, courtesy of Youtube, what’s yours?