Salt reflects on being the ‘first ladies of hip-hop’

Salt-N-Pepa’s Salt chronicles the group’s rise from Queens to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Cheryl “Salt” James, a nursing student from Brooklyn, never imagined she would become one half of hip-hop’s most groundbreaking duo when she first stepped into that Sears lunchroom in Queens. Salt-N-Pepa’s 2025 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a testament to a career that shattered every barrier placed before women in rap.

“We were just two girls with big dreams who happened to meet at the right moment,” James reflected. From their 1986 debut “Hot, Cool & Vicious” becoming the first album by female rappers to achieve gold and platinum status, to their Grammy-winning anthem “None of Your Business” proving that women belonged in hip-hop’s highest echelons, Salt-N-Pepa transformed from college students working retail jobs into the undisputed First Ladies of Rap.

The journey from Brooklyn to selling more than 15 million records worldwide required more than talent—it demanded courage to challenge a male-dominated industry with bold lyrics about female empowerment and sexuality. James credits their success to authenticity and timing, arriving at a moment when hip-hop was ready for feminine voices that refused to be silenced.

“We kicked down doors for women in hip-hop and beyond,” James said, noting how their platinum albums and mainstream crossover hits like “Push It” and “Whatta Man” proved rap wasn’t exclusively male territory. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Musical Influence Award, to be presented on Nov. 8 in Los Angeles, represents validation for a career spent proving that women can dominate in hip-hop while inspiring countless female artists who followed.

What does it mean to you to be featured in “Hip-Hop Was Born Here,” and how does the docuseries capture the essence of hip-hop’s origins that you witnessed firsthand?

I feel honored; it’s miraculous that, after 40 years, we’re still being celebrated in this way. I love that we were included in the documentary because you couldn’t talk about women in hip hop without mentioning Salt-N-Pepa. That was also a huge honor. To be a part of such a detailed documentary, so personal to each of the artists. I love the way he incorporated elements that most people might not be familiar with. He went back to their homes because this generation would easily forget about the pioneers if it weren’t documented, and it was done very well.

The docuseries explores hip-hop’s birthplace and cultural significance. What does hip-hop mean to you personally, beyond just the music?

When I graduated from high school by the skin of my teeth, I was living in Brooklyn, and I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. I was going to Queensboro Community College, that’s where I met Pep. And I wasn’t ready to be there, so I pretended to go to school. I would often like to wait for my parents to leave for work and then come back home and go to bed on many days, because I feel like, ‘Why am I here?’ You do what you’re told, and you know, you’re supposed to go to college, so I, I went, um, but I was wasting time. When I met Herbie and we started working together on music, and I got on the mic for the first time, I was like, ‘I can’t even explain it.’ I don’t know, the sky parted or something. I was like, this is what I’m gonna do, this is what I wanna do. I don’t want to do anything else. This is what I am meant to do. So, Jesus saved my soul, but hip-hop saved my life. Save me from just living a mediocre kind of existence and not really, you know, living out my passion and my dreams. For me, it’s a passion. Music is my passion, creating is my passion, performing, inspiring, and encouraging people through art is my passion and my purpose.

Salt-N-Pepa has remained relevant for more than three decades in an industry known for its rapid turnover. What do you attribute to your group’s longevity and continued cultural impact?

Salt-N-Pepa brought fun, fashion, and femininity to the hip-hop genre. We were very authentic to who we were – just some around-the-way girls having a good time and expressing ourselves. A lot of not just women, but people just related to the authenticity, being original, reinventing yourself over and over. It’s important to be personable, and I think about how your legacy affects other people, inspires and encourages other people, and to take that seriously. I hear some artists saying, ‘I’m not a role model, but you are, whether you want to be or not.’ Pep and I have always taken that role model position into consideration when we create.

You’ve often been called pioneers and the “first ladies of rap.” How do you reflect on carrying that responsibility of being among the first successful women in a male-dominated genre, and what advice would you give to female artists today who still face similar challenges?

Well, it’s a whole other climate that the artists today are living in, but from the creative standpoint, always be authentic to yourself because you might be the hot thing for a moment, but when it comes to that longevity that we all want as artists. To achieve a star on the Walk of Fame, receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, or be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and all the accolades and celebrations that artists desire, is to be authentic and genuinely connect with your core audience. And the ones that really hold you down, like the true fans. Keep your finger on the pulse of your audience, stay connected.

Your hits like “Let’s Talk About Sex” and “Push It” challenged social norms and sparked conversations about female empowerment – which of your songs do you think had the most significant influence on popular culture?

The most significant influence is, of course, the most popular songs. However, as far as the most significant influence, “Push It” and “Shoop” were undoubtedly two of our biggest hits. But I think “Let’s Talk About Sex” had the most significant influence. It was very controversial, which we knew it would be. We challenged the radio to play it, and they did. We knew people would be excited and appalled at the same time. But let’s talk about sex wasn’t a negative song, and it wasn’t a positive song. It was neutral. It was like, why can’t we talk about sex, the good things, and the bad things? It transitioned from a college curriculum to a high school curriculum, which included sex education, and we also created a PSA. We changed the lyrics from let’s talk sex to let’s talk about AIDS. Peter Jennings asked us to be part of his special on HIV and AIDS, so we got to use the song to inform the masses. So culturally, that would be the one I would choose.

Your success opened doors that simply didn’t exist before for women in rap. When you see artists like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and others dominating the charts today, what parallels do you draw to your own journey, and how has the landscape changed since Salt-N-Pepa first broke through?

The parallel is simply being a woman. A woman in corporate America and hip-hop and anything you can name is always going to be a challenge. You’re going to have to fight harder. You’re gonna have to prove yourself. Russell Simmons initially gave us a thumbs down. Russell Simmons is hip-hop, so when I experienced that, I could’ve been discouraged because we had only just done the showstopper at this point, but it was fuel for me. These women are using their power unapologetically, expressing themselves, and taking care of business, which we didn’t do too well for a lot of our career. These women are taking control of their image, their finances, their royalties, their opportunities, and all things we didn’t have back then. Those are the parallels that I see in the differences. You have the old dinosaur model of how you get signed to a record deal and an A&R. That doesn’t exist anymore, so you have to be more business savvy; however, it also gives you more control. Which is a good thing, cause we’re in this UMG fight right now, and you know things have changed since then. We didn’t think we would still be here, 40 years later, fighting with our record company for what rightfully belongs to us, but that’s a whole other conversation.

What does it mean to you personally to be the first female rap group and hip-hop act to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for Musical Influence, and how does this honor validate the barriers you broke down for women in hip-hop?

It feels great, it feels surreal. I have a hard time connecting to these moments sometimes because there is Cheryl and there is Salt, but I will speak for Salt. She’s very excited. I am looking forward to performing, and as I said, it’s mind-blowing because, out of all the people on the planet, for me to have this opportunity is really special, and it means a lot to us. So we can’t wait to hit the stage. This recognition comes from our peers, which means a great deal, especially given that it’s an influencer award. I don’t take that word lightly, and so I appreciate being appreciated for the hard work and the years of dedication we put into entertaining our fans. I enjoy being appreciated for the hard work and dedication we put into entertaining our fans over the years.

When you and Pepa started performing in the 1980s, did you envision that your music would have the lasting cultural impact that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is now recognizing?

I didn’t think all the way to I won a Grammy, I’m inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, I have a star on the Walk of Fame. I didn’t think that, but spiritually, I did know that this was going to be something huge. That’s the vibe. I became incredibly strong, and I was certain because I believed in it, which really fueled me to keep pushing forward and never give up. That’s the power of believing. It really is a powerful energy and a powerful mindset. Although I did not know we would be doing all of this, I did see that we were onto something big and different and something that’s never been done before.

As you reflect on your career, what legacy do you hope Salt-N-Pepa leaves for future generations of artists? Tell us about your new single.

It’s about believing in yourself, pursuing your dreams, refining your craft and purpose, and sharing it with others. Be a blessing and an encouragement to other people, because reciprocity is real. Don’t let this business make you jaded. I always said at the beginning of my career that there were a few things that would never happen to me because I learned from the people who came before me. I’m not going to owe the IRS, not going to start smoking or getting high or drinking before I go on stage, in order to get on stage, because that leads to drug addiction. I’ll never be unapproachable. I consider myself to be a very down-to-earth person because I see many artists actually lose touch with reality when they live in a bubble and believe their own hype. Please don’t believe the hype, because it comes and goes, and you don’t want your emotions, spiritual, and mental health to be affected by the ups and downs of this business. One day, they will love you, and the next, they might hate you. Be ready and be steady. The song is called “Chosen” and it’s a Braggadocious kind of song, but it also talks about us as Pioneers and how we paved the way and how we were chosen. The music is released today, and I’m excited for everyone to hear it.