salt-n-pepa's back

If you couldn't tell from the chunky History of Girl Groups spread in issue 61, we like ourselves a little bit of Salt-N-Pepa now and then. Awesomely nostalgic tunes like "Shoop", "Whatta Man" and "Push It" never fail to get hips wiggling and toes tapping at frankie HQ, so when the hip-hop icons were announced on the I Love the '90s Tour bill, we thought we'd revisit our little chinwag with Cheryl 'Salt' James.

FIRST TIMES, LAST TIMES WITH CHERYL "SALT" JAMES

First time you performed in front of a crowd? The first time we were shaking in our boots - literally, we were shaking. We missed cues, and we still managed to get through it without getting booed, and we were wondering the whole time why we were up there and what this was about. But the most memorable time was at a club in Harlem. It was the quintessential 'if you win them over here, you're good to go for the rest of your career'. We were so nervous, and we started off bad and the crowd was actually booing us a little bit at first, then we went into this whole routine that was very risque and very brassy for young girls and won the crowd over. That was like... you win a Grammy, you win an American Music Award, you sell millions of copies of an album, but I swear to you - for me, for my career, this club in Harlem, this one night was THE night for me. When we won this hardcore crowd over. That's when I knew we were gonna do the damn thing.

Last time you pulled out your old stage clothes? I go through my closet and it kind of makes me a little teary-eyed when I think about it now; when I go past some things that probably could go on eBay for a lot of money. Like the bathing suit I wore in the "Shoop" video - every once in a while I come across that. The shorts and top that I wore in the "Shoop" video, too. The Salt-N-Pepa jackets were stolen when we were on the road a long time ago in London, but we've just gotten them remade. So I still have a lot of stuff that I could probably put in a museum or something, but I haven't really put them aside or put them away and taken good care of them - or my records either, to tell you the truth. That's how nonchalant I am about this whole icon, pave the way, pioneer status that I have! I look at them like I look at pictures – it's just a part of my life, you know. It was a good time.

Last time you danced like a maniac? Pepa's daughter Egypt, who is the love child of Treach from Naughty by Nature and Pepa, she just had her sweet 16 party and it was outrageous. I danced like a maniac at that party. She is the product of Pepa and Treach, and I call her Trepa. It was an amazing 16th birthday, and Pepa was the life of the party!

First time you knew there needed to be a female voice in hip hop? I don't think there was a first time, I don't have that kind of moment. All I can do is speak from my own personal experience. I didn't know what I was doing with my life, where I was going. I was still in college, I barely got through high school, and when I started rapping I knew that I wanted to do this. It was a reason for me to wake up in the morning, it was my life-saving experience. And I knew that I had a voice that was needed in hip-hop.

I never identified a voice that was needed, I just knew that I had a voice that was missing. I was always enthusiastic about representing women. I thought that women in hip-hop were very masculine, and it was missing some femininity. Salt-N-Pepa brought fun, which girls love to have; femininity, which girls embrace; and fashion, which girls love! That's what was missing to me, and that's what we naturally, organically brought.

Last time you did something creative that wasn't music? It's been a long time. I've been so preoccupied with travelling, with adult life, with kids. My daughter graduated from college and she's working and has so many things going on that I have to walk her through. My son's just turned 15 and he's in high school and he has a girlfriend. Let me just tell you the really real reality of these artists that everybody looks up to: real life is what it's all about. 99% of the day it's about your kids, your family, your home, your business.

So creativity has definitely taken a step back for me, and it's something that I'm missing. I'm starting to long for it. As my son has a girlfriend, he doesn't really need me unless he needs a credit card for pizza, and my daughter is working, and my husband is doing whatever he does. It's starting to feel like an urge. So good question! It's been a long time, it's been too long, and I'm starting to feel the urge to create again. Don't have kids unless you're ready to give your life to them!

First time you met one of your idols? You know why that's a hard question for me? Because I don't really idolise people. I can tell you the first time I saw someone in concert that I was in awe of. Let's go there! It was my first date with Hurby Azor, who is the one who produced most of the Salt-N-Pepa records. We were boyfriend and girlfriend before being musicians. He took me on a date, but we didn't really know each other that well. He was interested in me, I wasn't interested in him, and he showed up to pick me up in a Michael Jackson jacket – the red one from Thriller, which I thought was very corny and turned me off immediately.

But it turned out - surprise! - that he was taking me to a Prince concert. The Purple Rain concert. And when I saw Prince live I was floored, changed for life. It was my first experience of a real concert. I'll never forget that, it was magical, and I gave him the most passionate kiss that night when he dropped me off. I was impressed. I wasn't impressed that he was wearing a Michael Jackson jacket on the train, in public, in New York City, but I was impressed that he took me to a Prince concert.

Last time you felt really proud of something you'd achieved? Wow, that's deep. I mean, it's easy to say the Grammy, the this, the that, but that was so many years ago. See that's sad, because I'm like 'what have I achieved lately?' I've achieved so much in my life, but when you say 'lately', my life is so much about everybody else... You're giving me therapy right now!

You know what I've achieved lately? I'm achieved getting over the past, and coming to a place where I feel okay about my decisions, my choices, right or wrong, and where I am right now. I've achieved being at peace with my past. I've achieved saying 'Cheryl, you're okay. You did the best you could and today's a new day. It's time to embrace the next chapter in your life.' But if I have to say something really commercial that the people would love, Spinderella's back with Salt-N-Pepa. We finally got back together! And she'll be in Australia with us again, and the crowd is going to love that.

TOUR DATES: 

Wednesday June 7th – Hisense Arena, Melbourne
Friday June 9th – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
Saturday June 10th – Eatons Hill Hotel (Outdoor), Brisbane
Tuesday June 13th – Perth Arena, Perth

Illustration by the always-excellent Sara Hingle.