Over three a long time into their musical profession, Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton are nearer than ever.
As for the important thing to their long-lasting friendship? “House,” James, 57, solely advised Us Weekly on Thursday, August 10, whereas chatting about their latest performances on the Smirnoff Relaunch Tour benefitting Girls in Music. Denton, 56, agreed, earlier than James added, “We’re with one another greater than we’re with our personal households and it’s necessary to offer one another some area.”
James even in contrast their relationship to that of a wedding, joking, “Generally we sleep within the mattress collectively and generally Pepa sleeps on the sofa.”
Denton and James shaped Salt-N-Pepa in 1985 with former member Deidra Roper, a.okay.a. DJ Spinderella. Whereas the group has acquired a number of awards and recognitions over time — together with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame — nothing was extra “surreal” than listening to certainly one of their songs on the radio for the primary time.
“We had been ready week after week to see if they’d play it since you solely bought hip-hop on the weekends. So, you already know, you tune in and listen to all of your hip-hop,” James advised Us. “After which, they advised us they have been gonna play it, DJ Marley Marl, and we type of gave up. However then at some point, we have been driving collectively and it got here on. And Pep jumped out the automobile, screaming, ‘That’s my track on the radio!’ And I’m like, ‘Get again within the automobile so we will hear it!’ It was an ideal second.”
Cheryl James and Sandra Denton. Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock
One other certainly one of their memorable profession highlights was the 1989 Grammy Awards. Salt-N-Pepa earned their first nomination for the track “Push It” within the Greatest Rap Efficiency class, which was launched that yr. Upon studying the class wouldn’t be televised, they selected to boycott the ceremony with stars corresponding to Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Public Enemy, LL Cool J and extra.
“[We were] actually combating for our music to be, you already know, visible and seen, as properly,” Denton recalled. “After which to go on to win a Grammy a couple of years later, taking such a giant likelihood as ladies in a male-dominated discipline, and to additionally go on to win — nominated and win — it felt good.”
Salt-N-Pepa scored their first Grammy win for Greatest Rap Efficiency By a Duo or Group for “None of Your Enterprise” in 1995.
Denton and James lately took to the stage on Smirnoff’s Relaunch Tour benefitting the nonprofit Girls in Music. “It was simply cool for [Smirnoff], you already know, getting the message out by means of music and teaming up,” Denton stated of their August 10 efficiency. “The trigger is supporting ladies in music. I feel it’s simply superb. And simply to be a part of the entire collective.”
She continued: “All the ticket gross sales will straight profit Girls in Music, which is nonprofit, you already know, additionally like advancing fairness and alternatives and visibility for ladies in music. I feel that’s necessary.”
Tickets for the tour’s remaining exhibits can be found for buy on the tour’s official web site.
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With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
