What a Mighty, Mighty Good Milestone! Salt-N-Pepa Receive Their Hollywood Walk of Fame Star!

On Friday, November 4, Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper of the hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa reunited on stage once again. Yet, this reunion was not a concert nor an awards show but a renowned Hollywood ceremony. The ladies were honored with their much-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a historical landmark in Los Angeles, California. Family, friends, and peers showed up to support them on what was officially declared Salt-N-Pepa Day in Hollywood.

Some VIPs who were in attendance to show the group love included En Vogue, Kid ‘N Play, Dana Dane, Monie Love, and Yo-Yo. The ceremony kicked off with guest speakers Roxanne Shanté and MC Lyte, two female hip-hop icons paying homage to the three artists and their impact on the industry. “Powerful, daring, bold, independent, creative, fierce, and indestructible” were the words that MC Lyte used with conviction when describing the group. Her eloquent speech embodied all that Salt-N-Pepa stood for and what they meant to hip-hop heads across the globe. “Salt-N-Pepa has remained a force of nature because they are strong, determined, confident, all while giving us decades of classics whereby the content remains relevant today,” she said.

The groundbreaking trio began their career with their debut album Hot, Cool & Vicious in December 1986. Their emergence was so significant as the first all-female crew in a male-dominated art form then. Known mainly for party and love anthems, they integrated a more pop-oriented style that set them apart. They championed as one of the few rap artists to intersect mainstream pop with their feminine-empowered bars on catchy beats. Hits like “Push It,” “My Mic Sounds Nice,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “None of Your Business,” “Shoop,” and “Whatta Man” dominated the late 1980s and 90s music waves. They broke barriers for women in the industry, even as the first female rappers to win a Grammy award alongside Queen Latifah in March 1995. Salt-N-Pepa will always be revered as hip-hop pioneers who had a hand in laying the foundation for the culture.

Following the guest speakers, the ladies shared appreciation for the accolade as they reflected on their musical careers. “Women who are overlooked and underestimated just keep on pushing it. Keep the faith. Your setback is a setup for your comeback,” Salt professed.

While thanking her support system, she took a “Snoop moment” to humbly thank herself for her hard work and dedication to her craft. Pepa mirrored the sentiment by also thanking those who contributed to her success, most importantly, her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She acknowledged that she would not be standing there without him. The charismatic personality announced that she manifested the achievement. “I pushed through this. I saw this coming. I fought for this. I said I am going to get my name on this ground, and I did it.” Pepa also touched on the struggle for women in a male-dominated field, encouraging them to “stay focused, stay true, and just do it against all odds, all trials, and tribulations.”

DJ Spinderella’s family, husband, daughter, fans, and Sigma sisters were all among the names on her thank-you list. She talked about the group’s influence on women,
including herself. “Women everywhere were inspired, forever changed by the message of strength and independence,” Spinderella said. “And what our message did for you guys, it also did for me as well.” She concluded with admiration for the Salt-N-Pepa legacy and hopes for future reconciliation. “Thank you, S and P, for mentoring me. Salt and Pep. Life lessons. We’ve been through it. Ups and downs, but I have to thank you for those lessons because it wasn’t just the music to me. It was our relationship, and that means everything to me. So whatever we gotta do to fix that, let’s get some unity back in this.”

I am here for a potential Salt-N-Pepa reunion and wish all of the ladies nothing but the best moving forward. According to a press release, the star will be located at 6212 Hollywood Blvd., adjacent to the Amoeba Music store. Salt-N-Pepa’s “Walk of Fame” star is the 2,738th star to be given. Ooh, baby, baby! Congratulations to the Queens!