Salt (rapper)

Salt
Salt
	Salt performing withSalt-N-Pepain 2013
Born	Cheryl Renee James; March 28, 1966(age 58); Brooklyn,New York City,U.S.
Other names	Salt; Cheryl Wray;
Education	Queensborough Community College
Occupation	Rapper
Spouse	Gavin Wray (m.2000;div.2018)
Partner	Hurby Azor(1984–1989)
Children	2
	Musical career
Origin	Queens, New York City,U.S.
Genres	Hip-hop; rap; dance; pop;
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Next Plateau; London; PolyGram; Red Ant;

Cheryl Renee James(born March 28, 1966)^[5],also known asSalt,is an American rapper. She is best known as a member of the female rap trioSalt-N-Pepa,which also includes Pepa (Sandra Denton) and Spinderella (Deidra "Dee Dee" Roper). James starred inThe Salt-N-Pepa Show,a reality TV series focusing on reforming the group; which aired on theVH1network in 2008.

Early life

The daughter of a transit worker and Barbara James,^[6]a bank manager,^[7]James was born inBrooklyn,New York City.The middle of three children, James grew up in theBushwicksection of Brooklyn.^[8]James attendedGrover Cleveland High School,graduating in 1983.^[9]After high school, James enrolled atQueensborough Community Collegeto study nursing. James met Queens-native Sandra Denton in 1985 while attending college.^{[citation needed]}

Career

After forming a friendship with Denton, James' then-boyfriend and co-workerHurby Azorapproached the pair and asked them to record a rap for a class project. With Azor's guidance as their manager, James and Denton then formed the group^[10]"Super Nature" (which eventually changed to "Salt N' Pepa" ) and were joined byLatoya Hansonwho was replaced by Deidra Roper joined in 1987. They released five studio albums:Hot, Cool & Vicious(1986),A Salt with a Deadly Pepa(1988),Blacks' Magic(1990),Very Necessary(1993), andBrand New(1997). Salt also co-starred in the 1993 motion pictureWho's the Man?.In 1997, she recorded the song "Stomp" withgospelartistsKirk FranklinandGod's Propertyfor their albumGod's Property,one of the bestselling albums in gospel music history. They were the first female rap act to have gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums, and the first female rap act to win aGrammy.The group disbanded in 2002 but reformed in 2008.

James appeared on VH1's inauguralHip Hop Honorsprogram in November 2004, along with Pepa, but they did not perform. Salt, Pepa, and Spinderella, however, did perform on the second Hip Hop Honors on September 22, 2005, performing their hit "Whatta Man".This was the trio's first performance as Salt-N-Pepa since 1999. On October 23, 2008, Salt-N-Pepa performed" Shoop ","Push It",and "Whatta Man" at the 2008BETHip Hop Awards. In 2009, James was featured in the Generation Gospel Exclusive on 106 & Gospel.^[11]

Personal life

James dated Salt-N-Pepa group managerHurby Azorduring the early start of the group from 1984 until 1989. James married her husband Gavin Wray on Christmas Eve 2000, although they dated for ten years before the marriage. James and Wray have two children.^[12]

James and her daughter are referenced inTupac's song "Keep Ya Head Up".In an interview James stated she considers herself a feminist" in a way ", emphasizing the need for women to avoid complete emotional and financial dependence on men. Songs like" Tramp "and"Shake Your Thang"by Salt-N-Pepa express such feminist themes as female autonomy.^[13]She was baptized into theSeventh-day Adventist Churchon a mission trip inEthiopiawithOakwood College.^[14]^[15]

Discography

Studio albums

References

^Bynoe, Yvonne (2006).Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip-hop Culture.Greenwood Press.ISBN 978-0-313-33058-2.RetrievedOctober 16,2017.
^Hess, Mikey (2007).Icons of Hip Hop: 1.Greenwood Icons.ISBN 978-0-313-33902-8.RetrievedOctober 16,2017.
^D., Chuck (2017).Chuck D Presents This Day in Rap and Hip-Hop History.Hachette Books.ISBN 978-0-316-43098-2.RetrievedOctober 16,2017.
^"Ebony Magazine".Google Books.Johnson Publishing. February 1998.RetrievedOctober 16,2017.
^"Celebrity birthdays for the week of March 26-April 1".The Associated Press.March 20, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 6,2024.Rapper Salt of Salt-N-Pepa is 57
^Rolling Stone – Salt N' Pepa Do It Their Way – October 16, 1997
^Encyclopedia – Salt N' Pepa
^Biography Today.Omnigraphics. 1996.ISBN 978-0-7808-0063-2.RetrievedNovember 30,2017.
^"Straight Outta Queens".Google Books.New York Magazine. 1994.RetrievedNovember 30,2017.
^Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop – Frank W. Hoffmann
^"Salt in a different Season".RetrievedAugust 16,2009.
^"Straight Outta Queens".Google Books.New York Magazine. 1994.RetrievedNovember 30,2017.
^Rose, Tricia (May 1990)."Never Trust A Big Butt and a Smile"(PDF).Camera Obscura.8(2): 108–131.doi:10.1215/02705346-8-2_23-108.RetrievedFebruary 12,2015.
^Cusey, Rebecca (March 4, 2008)."Let's Talk About God, Baby".Christianitytoday.com.Christianity Today.RetrievedApril 25,2019.
^"Ethiopia Mission 2001".YouTube.August 24, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2021.RetrievedMay 8,2019.

External links

[1] Bynoe, Yvonne (2006).Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip-hop Culture.Greenwood Press.ISBN 978-0-313-33058-2.RetrievedOctober 16,2017.

[2] Hess, Mikey (2007).Icons of Hip Hop: 1.Greenwood Icons.ISBN 978-0-313-33902-8.RetrievedOctober 16,2017.

[3] D., Chuck (2017).Chuck D Presents This Day in Rap and Hip-Hop History.Hachette Books.ISBN 978-0-316-43098-2.RetrievedOctober 16,2017.

[4] "Ebony Magazine".Google Books.Johnson Publishing. February 1998.RetrievedOctober 16,2017.

[5] "Celebrity birthdays for the week of March 26-April 1".The Associated Press.March 20, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 6,2024.Rapper Salt of Salt-N-Pepa is 57

[6] Rolling Stone – Salt N' Pepa Do It Their Way – October 16, 1997

[7] Encyclopedia – Salt N' Pepa

[8] Biography Today.Omnigraphics. 1996.ISBN 978-0-7808-0063-2.RetrievedNovember 30,2017.

[9] "Straight Outta Queens".Google Books.New York Magazine. 1994.RetrievedNovember 30,2017.

[10] Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop – Frank W. Hoffmann

[11] "Salt in a different Season".RetrievedAugust 16,2009.

[12] "Straight Outta Queens".Google Books.New York Magazine. 1994.RetrievedNovember 30,2017.

[13] Rose, Tricia (May 1990)."Never Trust A Big Butt and a Smile"(PDF).Camera Obscura.8(2): 108–131.doi:10.1215/02705346-8-2_23-108.RetrievedFebruary 12,2015.

[14] Cusey, Rebecca (March 4, 2008)."Let's Talk About God, Baby".Christianitytoday.com.Christianity Today.RetrievedApril 25,2019.

[15] "Ethiopia Mission 2001".YouTube.August 24, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2021.RetrievedMay 8,2019.

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v t e Salt-N-Pepa
Cheryl "Salt" James Sandra "Pepa" Denton Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper
Studio albums	Hot, Cool & Vicious A Salt with a Deadly Pepa Blacks' Magic Very Necessary Brand New
Compilation albums	A Blitz of Salt-N-Pepa Hits The Greatest Hits Rapped in Remixes: The Greatest Hits Remixed The Best of Salt-N-Pepa
Singles	"Tramp" "Push It" "Shake Your Thang" "Twist and Shout" "Expression" "Do You Want Me" "Let's Talk About Sex" "You Showed Me" "Start Me Up" "Shoop" "Whatta Man" "None of Your Business" "Heaven 'n Hell" "Champagne" "R U Ready" "Gitty Up" "The Brick Track Versus Gitty Up"
Related topics	Discography The Salt-N-Pepa Show Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor