Five Impactful Records Salt-N-Pepa’s Salt Thinks Every Hip-Hop Fan Should Own
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The post Five Impactful Records Salt-N-Pepa’s Salt Thinks Every Hip-Hop Fan Should Own appeared first on Consequence.
For this special edition of our Crate Digging series, we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop by chatting with Salt of Salt-N-Pepa about the five albums that have most impacted her life. Check it out below, and be sure to see our exclusive merch featuring our Hip-Hop 50 design at the Consequence Shop.
As part of the pioneering group Salt-N-Pepa, Cheryl James (aka Salt) knows exactly what it takes to be a well-rounded artist and all-around entertainer. The concept comes up repeatedly while describing some of her favorite albums with Consequence over Zoom.
“I think artists who really impact entertainment are artists who actually develop their own sound,” Salt says about De La Soul while breaking down their debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising. “They took me on a journey, they just made me feel like they were my friends. I could see where they come from, I could see how they have fun together, I could see that they were really friends through their music.”
The theme applies to all of the artists that Salt names, whether it’s Lauryn Hill’s “deep, spiritual connection” and relatability or Drake’s ability to go in different directions while still putting thought into how he structures his albums. And then there’s Usher, whom Salt met while he was still “a little kid,” but immediately knew was a star.
Meanwhile, Salt-N-Pepa are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking album Very Necessary, which Consequence named one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. While reflecting on their success, Salt remembers how the group brought “fun, fashion, and femininity to hip-hop” while addressing issues that were taboo at the time. “Using your platform to inspire or to help a cause in some kind of way, I think is really important,” she says about rewriting their hit “Let’s Talk About Sex” as an AIDS PSA.
So, let’s celebrate the impact of Salt-N-Pepa by diving into the five albums that have most impacted Salt’s life. In addition, be sure to check out the exclusive Hip-Hop 50 merch available now at the Consequence Shop.
Lauryn Hill — The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
I thought it was super cool that Lauryn Hill could hold her own in this group [Fugees] with two guys and then she split out. She always just had a really special quality, with a deep, spiritual connection and confidence. Just everything about her, from the way she dressed and the music, was deep for me. I just love when people have something to say and it just seems like she had a lot on her heart that she wanted to express as an artist apart from the group.
It’s hard to pick [just one] song. I love “Nothing Even Matters” with D’Angelo. That song is so beautiful and buttery with the way their voices go together. But the song that really impacted me I would have to say is “To Zion.” As a mom, the way she dedicated that song to her son, I could totally relate. When I listen to “To Zion,” I’m like, “Girl, I understand there’s no love like you have for your child.”
Essential Track: “To Zion”
De La Soul — 3 Feet High and Rising
The sound was just different, eclectic. It was very whimsical and it was their own sound. I hate cookie-cutter music and cookie-cutter groups, cookie-cutter beats. I think artists who really impact entertainment are artists who actually develop their own sound. They took me on a journey, they just made me feel like they were my friends. I could see where they come from, I could see how they have fun together, I could see that they were really friends through their music. So that all made an impression on me.
It’s hard to choose, but I’m just gonna say “Potholes in My Lawn” because it’s whimsical, it’s clever. I love the flower child vibes on that album. I love the fact that they were so different, they were so themselves, and they made it fun. When I was on tour, and I was playing that album over and over, it just made me feel relaxed.
Essential Track: “Potholes in My Lawn”
Drake — Views
There was a point where I just really stopped listening to music kind of period. I just was sticking with the oldies and praise and worship music. And my son introduced me to Drake, and I was really blown away with a lot of his songs. Views is one of the most incredible albums I’ve ever heard, from the collaborations to the different vibes it goes through, to the lyricism, the tone, the relatable content.
I appreciate how many different directions that man can go in. You can just hear on his albums how much thought he puts into it, even from his intros. Like the way he always has an intro that sets the tone before he takes you into the story. He’s a great storyteller as well, and then he has that sex appeal, you know, that he can do a sexy song.
I would pick “Still Here” because that song is just so hip-hop to me because it’s so braggadocious. It’s so in your face. It’s so like, “Yeah, y’all thought y’all was gonna stop me,” you know? “Y’all ain’t know I was going to move, I started from the bottom.” It’s taking me on a journey through his rise to being Drake in such a clever way.
Essential Track: “Still Here”
Usher — Confessions
I met Usher when he was a little kid. It was just something about him. I think it was with his manager — or his momager — at the time, and she was introducing him to us. And like, I was like, “That little boy’s a star.” There’s such a big difference between a moment artist and a legacy artist, like a star. Usher’s always been a star. He just razzle dazzles ’em.
It still fascinates me to this day, the way that guy can entertain a crowd like he was born to do it. From dancing to singing to his personality, his looks, his vibe, his music — he’s just that full, complete artist.
I feel like I was listening to that album a lot during a time where, either I was having problems in my relationship, or I was really, really feeling my relationship. I don’t remember which. But I remember being in Jamaica, specifically, and sitting somewhere by the water and just playing Confessions over and over and over again. Just a brilliant, brilliant album.
“Burn” is a great breakup song. Great advice. Let it burn, honey. Don’t let it linger. If it’s over, let’s get it over with, and it’s gonna burn. Just gotta put on your big girl panties and get on with it.
Essential Track: “Burn”
Israel & New Breed — Alive in South Africa
So I’m Christian. I love Jesus, my Lord and Savior. So I listen to a lot of gospel music. Israel Houghton to me is super anointed. I was listening to his Alive in South Africa album yesterday, I was actually having a moment in my car when I was feeling discouraged. You know how when you get in the car, your phone’s Bluetooth connects to the car? “No Limits (Enlarge My Territory)” came on, and that song is basically saying, when you believe in God, then you believe in the God of no limits. It goes, “No limits, no boundaries/ I see increase, all around me.”
And so it was like the perfect song. That’s how God works: the perfect song coming on at the perfect time to prepare me for this meeting that I was going in. But that album, I love because it’s live. I love live music. I love to hear the crowd in that album responding to him as they’re doing praise and worship and as he’s singing. And so, it’s an album that I can throw on at any time. And it just immediately changes my mood. In gospel or Christian music, to me, some people they’re good singers, and some people I feel are anointed for worship, for praise and worship. And I feel that way about Israel and this particular album.
Essential Track: “No Limits (Enlarge My Territory)”
Five Impactful Records Salt-N-Pepa’s Salt Thinks Every Hip-Hop Fan Should Own
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