Posted: Wed 24 Oct 2007 13:15 Post subject: entertainer Cheryl James aka Salt
Cheryl "Salt" James (born April 8, 1964 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American R&B / hip-hop singer, and a member of the female rap trio Salt-N-Pepa. She formed the group with Sandy Denton and Latoya Hanson (later replaced by Dee Dee Roper) in 1985. They released several albums under this name, including Hot, Cool and Vicious, A Salt with a Deadly Pepa, Blacks' Magic, Very Necessary and Brand New.
She appeared briefly on VH1's "Hip Hop Honors" in November 2004 along with Denton, although they did not perform. James performed with Denton and Roper on another episode of "Hip Hop Honors" on September 22, 2005. This was their first performance since 1999.
Salt-N-Pepa disbanded in 2002 because she grew tired of the music business after a seventeen-year run. Salt later became a born-again Christian.
She currently lives in Long Island with her husband and their two children and now goes by the name Cheryl Wray.
Currently, Cheryl "Salt" James will be on a Reality TV show focusing on re-grouping Salt n' Pepa with her former bandmate Pepa. She also admitted suffering from bulimia while in the group.
Salt-n-Pepa is an American hip hop trio that came onto the music scene in 1986 and went on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide. The lineup consists of: Cheryl James (now known as Cheryl Wray), Sandra Denton ("Salt" and "Pepa", respectively), and Deidra "Dee Dee" Roper (DJ Spinderella).
History
Originally called Supernature, the group debuted in 1985 on Pop Art Records with "The Show Stopper", an answer record to Doug E
Hot, Cool & Vicious
Salt 'N Pepa
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CrazySexyCool
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A Salt With a Deadly Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa
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Blacks' Magic
Salt-N-Pepa
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FanMail
TLC
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Funky Divas
En Vogue
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. Fresh's "The Show". It sampled a famous scene from the 1985 hit movie "Revenge of the Nerds." It was an underground hit and Salt-n-Pepa signed to Next Plateau. Their 1986 debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious, was by Salt's then-boyfriend, Hurby Azor (also the group's manager); he also received songwriting credit for the album that was later disputed. It also featured DJ Latoya Hanson as the original Spinderella. Though she does not appear in the album's credits, her face is on the album cover.
Hot, Cool & Vicious received some airplay on R&B stations thanks to the songs "My Mic Sound Nice" and "Tramp". But when San Francisco DJ and producer Cameron Paul created a remix of "Push It", the b-side to "Tramp", it gave the group their first major hit single. Cameron Paul's "Push It" remix was added to subsequent pressings of Hot, Cool & Vicious and was released as a single, quickly becoming a platinum Top 20 pop hit, receiving a Grammy nomination, and helping the album reach Platinum album status. At this time, Latoya Hanson left the group to get married, and teenage DJ Deidra "Dee Dee" Roper was recruited to take over as Spinderella (keeping the same name Hanson had used).
Despite their record label's (Next Plateau) reports of generating massive album sales following the 'Mandela' concert appearance, their second album, 1988's A Salt With a Deadly Pepa, attained gold status upon its release. It contained a moderate hit in "Shake Your Thang" (featuring the go-go band E.U.) and a minor hit with "Everybody Get Up." Another single, "Twist And Shout" was a hit in the UK and Africa.
Their third album, ''Blacks' Magic'', was released in March 1990, and became a breakthrough moment for the group, on personal terms. Azor—often late or a no show to their sessions—agreed to let the women work with other producers to finish the album. James and Denton took on their first producing assignments themselves and worked with Invincible's Producer Dana "Dum" Mozie and others. The result was hit singles: "Expression" (produced by James), "Do You Want Me", and "Let's Talk About Sex." The album became a best seller.
Salt-n-Pepa's fourth album Very Necessary, released in September 1993 (see 1993 in music) was their most successful album to date. Breaking further away from Azor, whom the group accused of not paying them fair royalties, the album featured production by James, Denton, and this time Roper as well, and performed extremely well on the charts. Buoyed by the singles "Shoop" (their first U.S. Top Ten), "Whatta Man" (with En Vogue and also a Top Ten hit) and "None of Your Business", the album eventually went four times platinum in the U.S. at its time of release. The group toured and Salt went on to co-star in the motion picture ''Who's the Man?, and Pepa co-starred in the movie Joe's Apartment. The trio also won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1995 for "None Of Your Business", making them the first female rap Grammy winners.
Having completely broken away from Azor, they signed with Red Ant Entertainment for their next release, and undertook production duties again. Their fifth album, "Brand New" (1997), hit stores a few months later and received good reviews upon its release. Red Ant filed for bankruptcy soon afterwards, halting promotion on the album before it really began. Salt-n-Pepa toured in support of the album, but without promotion from the bankrupt label, only scored minor hits such as "R U Ready" and "Gitty Up".
In March 1999, Salt-n-Pepa embarked on their final live tour. Pepa (Sandy Denton) married Treach of Naughty By Nature on July 27 1999. Salt-n-Pepa's greatest-hits album, entitled Salt-n-Pepa: The Best Of was released on January 25 2000. Treach and Pepa were divorced on July 31 2001. The group officially disbanded in 2002. Upon disbanding, Salt claimed she had enough of the music industry and would no longer be involved in it. However, all that changed when Cheryl announced that she would be releasing her first solo CD "Salt of the Earth" which later changed to "Salt Unrapped". Cheryl has also been featured on the remix version of the Salt City Six's "Shine", on the album Holy South: World Wide, a compilation of Chrisitian rap and Christian R&P (Rhythm & Praise) songs. The album was executive produced by ex-Three 6 Mafia member turned Christian rapper, Mr. Del.
Cheryl James and Sandy Denton appeared on VH1's Hip Hop Honors in November 2004. Although Salt-n-Pepa were honorees, James and Denton did not perform. Deidre Roper (DJ Spinderella) did not attend. Salt-n-Pepa (and Spinderella) reunited the following year for the next Hip Hop Honors program, singing Whatta Man with En Vogue—their first performance in six years. Spinderella was a radio personality on KKBT 100.3 in Los Angeles. As of mid-2006, she is still on the radio, hosting (with DJ Mo'Dav.) The Backspin, a nationally-syndicated weekly radio show featuring old school hip hop.
Pepa apeared on the fifth season of VH-1's The Surreal Life (2005) and placed third in The Surreal Life: Fame Games (2007).
The Salt-n-Pepa Show, which premiered on October 14, 2007 on VH1, is a reality show documenting the day-to-day life of Salt and Pepa as they try to reunite. Two themes emerged in the first episode: Pepa's lingering bitterness from how Salt abruptly departed the group years ago, which Salt attempted to sooth with an apology; and a cultural conflict between the ladies, as Salt's strong religious commitment has led her to renounce the duo's raunchy lyrics and dance moves from their former performing days, whereas Pepa still appears to want to perform like in the old days.
Discography
Awards and nominations
American Music Awards
1995: Favorite Hip-Hop Artist (nominated)
1995: Favorite R&B/Soul Duo or Group, (nominated)
Grammy Awards
1996: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group "Champagne" (nominated)
1995: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group "None of Your Business"-winner
1995: Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: "Whatta Man" (nominated)
1992: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group "Let's Talk About Sex" (nominated)
1989: Best Rap Performance "Push It" (nominated)
MTV Video Music Awards
1995: Best Dance Video "None of Your Business" (nominated)
1994: Best Dance Video "Whatta Man"-winner
1994: Best R&B Video "Whatta Man"-winner
2nd Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors Honoree
Cheryl “Salt” James Speaks To Christian Youth About Her Life As a Rap Star
By: Alexis Jeffries
POSTED: 14:39 EST, September 28, 2006
Cheryl “Salt” James, former member of the noted female rap group Salt-N-Pepa, will be a guest speaker at the C3 Youth Ministry Service to speak about her past experiences as a hip hop artist and the role spirituality plays in her music.
“I’m giving my testimony about how I’m embracing my faith and how it has changed my life, my music, my marriage and my whole perspective in everything,” Salt told Vibe.com exclusively. “Once I reached all of my goals, there was still a void inside me, so I had to change my definition of success. I started pursuing the whole pie. I consider myself more successful now.”
The Friday evening service will be held on September 29 at 7pm at the 25,000-member Christian Cultural Center (CCC) in Brooklyn - New York City’s largest church - where Salt is a member.
right
The C3 Youth Ministry services are held on a bi-weekly basis as a way of bringing positive messages to youth citywide. The church is located at 12020 Flatlands Avenue in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn. It is a non-denominational ministry that oversees a number of highly effective and successful outreach programs in the New York City area, including a food pantry that regularly serves the community on Thursdays.
Salt plans to deliver a message to teens that will allow them to stand firm in their faith and not be molded by the images in mass media.
“I want them to embrace their own standard. I think they fall into the trap of letting the media define them, and through embracing their faith, it helps them to learn what God says is within them. I want to encourage them to embrace that. No one should force them to do the right thing for themselves.”
Salt recently completed an album entitled Unwrapped, set to be released March 2007. The album is executive produced by Jason “Kid” Williams of Kid-n-Play, and will be released on Salt’s independent label, GavFam.
“It’s just about my life, where I’ve been, what I’ve learned and what God has meant to me in my life,” Salt says. “I’m not going to put a gospel label on it, because it’s simply about me.”
it's just the time period that those l ladies came up in NY. I bet that all three of them are either immigrants, 1st or 2nd generation children born to Afro-Caribbean/Latino immigrants.
Pepa was born in Jamaica.
Many Puerto Rican immigrants had already established middle class status during the the 60s, and 70s and Salt, born in the 60's came from a middle class family. She has a very Puerto Rican/Cuban look to her. She many even be of Panamanian descent.
Spinderella lived/grew up in the projects, and from what I know of West Indian immigration into that area, it seems that many were in similar economic circumstances during that time. Many who arrived in NYC from the West Indies during the 60's and 70's started out living in social housing during that time. Not to mention, Spinderella has a very West Indies look to her. There's something about her features.
And their accents. It seems to me that people cultured Afro- descendant sub-communities up North have a certain type of New York, or northern, accent. And these ladies seem sort of old school in the way they are/would have come up.
Ok, it's all assumption on my part; but , I bet so.
it's just the time period that those l ladies came up in NY. I bet that all three of them are either immigrants, 1st or 2nd generation children born to Afro-Caribbean/Latino immigrants.
Pepa was born in Jamaica.
Many Puerto Rican immigrants had already established middle class status during the the 60s, and 70s and Salt, born in the 60's came from a middle class family. She has a very Puerto Rican/Cuban look to her. She many even be of Panamanian descent.
Spinderella lived/grew up in the projects, and from what I know of West Indian immigration into that area, it seems that many were in similar economic circumstances during that time. Many who arrived in NYC from the West Indies during the 60's and 70's started out living in social housing during that time. Not to mention, Spinderella has a very West Indies look to her. There's something about her features.
And their accents. It seems to me that people cultured Afro- descendant sub-communities up North have a certain type of New York, or northern, accent. And these ladies seem sort of old school in the way they are/would have come up.
Ok, it's all assumption on my part; but , I bet so.
I've been following them since the 80's and I've never read or heard Salt mention anything about being Hispanic Latin Puerto Rican at all.
it's just the time period that those l ladies came up in NY. I bet that all three of them are either immigrants, 1st or 2nd generation children born to Afro-Caribbean/Latino immigrants.
Pepa was born in Jamaica.
Many Puerto Rican immigrants had already established middle class status during the the 60s, and 70s and Salt, born in the 60's came from a middle class family. She has a very Puerto Rican/Cuban look to her. She many even be of Panamanian descent.
Spinderella lived/grew up in the projects, and from what I know of West Indian immigration into that area, it seems that many were in similar economic circumstances during that time. Many who arrived in NYC from the West Indies during the 60's and 70's started out living in social housing during that time. Not to mention, Spinderella has a very West Indies look to her. There's something about her features.
And their accents. It seems to me that people cultured Afro- descendant sub-communities up North have a certain type of New York, or northern, accent. And these ladies seem sort of old school in the way they are/would have come up.
Ok, it's all assumption on my part; but , I bet so.
I've been following them since the 80's and I've never read or heard Salt mention anything about being Hispanic Latin Puerto Rican at all.
Yep Sandy Denton is from Kingston Jamaica
But that's not Sandy, that's Diedre Roper (Spinderella))
it's just the time period that those l ladies came up in NY. I bet that all three of them are either immigrants, 1st or 2nd generation children born to Afro-Caribbean/Latino immigrants.
Pepa was born in Jamaica.
Many Puerto Rican immigrants had already established middle class status during the the 60s, and 70s and Salt, born in the 60's came from a middle class family. She has a very Puerto Rican/Cuban look to her. She many even be of Panamanian descent.
Spinderella lived/grew up in the projects, and from what I know of West Indian immigration into that area, it seems that many were in similar economic circumstances during that time. Many who arrived in NYC from the West Indies during the 60's and 70's started out living in social housing during that time. Not to mention, Spinderella has a very West Indies look to her. There's something about her features.
And their accents. It seems to me that people cultured Afro- descendant sub-communities up North have a certain type of New York, or northern, accent. And these ladies seem sort of old school in the way they are/would have come up.
Ok, it's all assumption on my part; but , I bet so.
I've been following them since the 80's and I've never read or heard Salt mention anything about being Hispanic Latin Puerto Rican at all.
Yep Sandy Denton is from Kingston Jamaica
I remember when their first song came out. Hofstra University had a radio station and Dr. Dre (the fat one) had a hip hop radio show - this is before he was on MTV with Ed Lover (who was actually a security guard at Andrew Jackson High School in Queens), but I digress.
Anyway I have never heard any talk about being Salt being Puerto Rican and as any New Yorker knows, New York PortoRocks are extremely proud of their heritage. If she was Puerto Rican, it would have come out in the numerous radio interviews or locals shows at some time over the years
it's just the time period that those l ladies came up in NY. I bet that all three of them are either immigrants, 1st or 2nd generation children born to Afro-Caribbean/Latino immigrants.
Pepa was born in Jamaica.
Many Puerto Rican immigrants had already established middle class status during the the 60s, and 70s and Salt, born in the 60's came from a middle class family. She has a very Puerto Rican/Cuban look to her. She many even be of Panamanian descent.
Spinderella lived/grew up in the projects, and from what I know of West Indian immigration into that area, it seems that many were in similar economic circumstances during that time. Many who arrived in NYC from the West Indies during the 60's and 70's started out living in social housing during that time. Not to mention, Spinderella has a very West Indies look to her. There's something about her features.
And their accents. It seems to me that people cultured Afro- descendant sub-communities up North have a certain type of New York, or northern, accent. And these ladies seem sort of old school in the way they are/would have come up.
Ok, it's all assumption on my part; but , I bet so.
I've been following them since the 80's and I've never read or heard Salt mention anything about being Hispanic Latin Puerto Rican at all.
Yep Sandy Denton is from Kingston Jamaica
But that's not Sandy, that's Diedre Roper (Spinderella))
it's just the time period that those l ladies came up in NY. I bet that all three of them are either immigrants, 1st or 2nd generation children born to Afro-Caribbean/Latino immigrants.
Pepa was born in Jamaica.
Many Puerto Rican immigrants had already established middle class status during the the 60s, and 70s and Salt, born in the 60's came from a middle class family. She has a very Puerto Rican/Cuban look to her. She many even be of Panamanian descent.
Spinderella lived/grew up in the projects, and from what I know of West Indian immigration into that area, it seems that many were in similar economic circumstances during that time. Many who arrived in NYC from the West Indies during the 60's and 70's started out living in social housing during that time. Not to mention, Spinderella has a very West Indies look to her. There's something about her features.
And their accents. It seems to me that people cultured Afro- descendant sub-communities up North have a certain type of New York, or northern, accent. And these ladies seem sort of old school in the way they are/would have come up.
Ok, it's all assumption on my part; but , I bet so.
I've been following them since the 80's and I've never read or heard Salt mention anything about being Hispanic Latin Puerto Rican at all.
Yep Sandy Denton is from Kingston Jamaica
I remember when their first song came out. Hofstra University had a radio station and Dr. Dre (the fat one) had a hip hop radio show - this is before he was on MTV with Ed Lover (who was actually a security guard at Andrew Jackson High School in Queens), but I digress.
Anyway I have never heard any talk about being Salt being Puerto Rican and as any New Yorker knows, New York PortoRocks are extremely proud of their heritage. If she was Puerto Rican, it would have come out in the numerous radio interviews or locals shows at some time over the years
And their accents. It seems to me that people cultured Afro- descendant sub-communities up North have a certain type of New York, or northern, accent. And these ladies seem sort of old school in the way they are/would have come up.
Ok, it's all assumption on my part; but , I bet so.
Their accents are 100% Brooklyn, black Brooklyn anyway.
There is something that does look vaguely Puerto Rican about Salt. Her sister Kim guested on the Salt-N-Pepa show a couple of weeks ago, and darned if she didn't look just like Rosie Perez!
Now, one thing few people discuss is Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes' heritage, which includes numerous people with Spanish surnames. But Left Eye was Black self-identified as well, and looked to most peopel "American Black", so it's never questioned, despite her obvious surname.
I love salt and pepa they where always the most gorgeous female rappers in the 80's and 90's. god i missed those days. when rap music was about dancing in the streets going to parties and having fun not being a gangsta, a pimp or a stripper oh the days!
In the episode of the Salt and Pepa Show on VH1, (the one where she, Pepa, and her family go down to Jena, Louisiana to support the Jena Six) she clearly states that she is a Black woman.
No, Cheryl "Salt" is a self-identified Black person.
there are many self-identified Blacks of Puerto Rican or Latino/Hispanic descent, who also were born into non-Hispanic surnames.
I agree with that, but I've never heard her mention or talk about being of Latin heritage especially PR and that would have been no problem for her to acknowledge. Especially from NYC
Now, one thing few people discuss is Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes' heritage, which includes numerous people with Spanish surnames. But Left Eye was Black self-identified as well, and looked to most peopel "American Black", so it's never questioned, despite her obvious surname.
Based on some of what I've seen her background is Cape Verdean, at least partly. The last name Lopes (with an "s" at the end as opposed to a "z") is Portuguese. I'd assume many Cape Verdean Americans-especially the ones whose families have been in the U.S. since the early 20th Century-consider themselves black people.
Additionally, there's been intermingling between Cape Verdeans and African Americans for some time.
Lopes may be of mixed AA and Cape Verdean background.
There is something that does look vaguely Puerto Rican about Salt. Her sister Kim guested on the Salt-N-Pepa show a couple of weeks ago, and darned if she didn't look just like Rosie Perez!
She looked way better than Rosie Perez, and maybe Rosie looked like the sister, Rosie does have more ssA facial features
Now, one thing few people discuss is Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes' heritage, which includes numerous people with Spanish surnames. But Left Eye was Black self-identified as well, and looked to most peopel "American Black", so it's never questioned, despite her obvious surname.
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