Ally Knapp, Class of 2024, Arts and Sciences

Pictured is the New York hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa, Cheryl James (Salt), Sandra Denton (Pepa), and DJ Spinderella, posing together during a photoshoot for Ebony Man Magazine in 1990, three years after the release of their number one hit song “Push It.” The black, female rap group was known for their eclectic outfits, provocative performances, unique voices, energetic music, and witty lyrics. Salt-N-Pepa’s fame grew rapidly, and they became pioneers in ushering in a new era of hip-hop/rap, one which empowered women and addressed many of the social issues that society was facing.

A 1989 Glamour article referred to Salt-N-Pepa as a “breakthrough female rap group.” They had won their place in the hyper-macho rap world proving the many male rappers who said things like “They’re good—for girls” wrong.

In his book “Somebody Scream!” Marcus Reeves explains that Salt-N-Pepa rode the “tidal wave of political correctness to challenge the exclusionary forces ragging both outside and within the borders of black America.”

James and Denton went from co-workers at Sears to world-renowned female rap pioneers, leaving a lasting impact on the industry. They paved a path for today’s female rappers like Cardi B and Nicki Minaj. They pushed boundaries during their own careers and, as Reeves explains, their expression of womanhood in the rap world helped “expand, challenge, and enhance the music’s evolving dialogue” in an industry that had always faced the hurdle of including outsiders. And they created some of rap’s most seminal works that helped shape the genre as it is today.

Salt-N-Pepa’s style was no less expressive and iconic than their music. Their refusal to succumb to societal norms also applied to their fashion, and they pushed boundaries with their often flamboyant and bold outfits. Their 1989 Ebony Man Magazine shoot captures a staple look for the group: chunky accessories, big jackets, patterned hats, updos, and heavy makeup.

Source

“If rap music is what you’ve got a taste for, spice it up with a little Salt-N-Pepa,” February 1989. Adler Hip Hop Archive, #8092, Box 14, Folder 25, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University, ID# HHCBA_02243_001

https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:16058005

Bibliography

Reeves, Marcus, and Bill Adler. Somebody Scream!: Rap Music’s Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power. New York: Faber and Faber, 2008.

Lewis, John. 2010. “Salt-N-Pepa.” Hotline. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsrbp&AN=edsrbp.42987&site=eds-live&scope=site.