Salt-N-Pepa say they weren't always respected in hip-hop
They were called sellouts, pop stars and a passing fad. Four decades on, Salt-N-Pepa are still having the last laugh.
Roxanne Shante's groundbreaking 1985 release, Roxanne's Revenge, marked the first hip-hop diss track from a teenage girl in Queens, New York. In response to UTFO's 1984 hit, Roxanne Roxanne, Shante's mix of confidence and sass caught the attention of Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, who went by Super Nature. Inspired by Shante's success, the duo recorded The Show Stoppa, a response to Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick's The Show.
Despite the controversy and initial skepticism, Super Nature evolved into Salt-N-Pepa, one of the first all-female rap groups to achieve mainstream success. Their groundbreaking music, including hits like Push It and Shoop, reshaped hip-hop and paved the way for future female artists. Salt-N-Pepa's impact and enduring legacy are clear, with over 15 million album sales and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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