Hip-Hop legends Salt ‘N Pepa’s seminal album Hot, Cool and Vicious turned 30 years old this week (Dec. 8, 1986). Hot, Cool and Vicious featured the neighborhood anthems, “The Showstopper,” “My Mic Sounds Nice,” “I’ll Take Your Man,” and “Tramp.” The album was re-released in 1987 and the all-girl collective crossed over with their hit single “Push It,” propelling the album to platinum status. Ironically, the group was nominated for a Grammy for best rap single by an artist or duo in 1989, two years after the song had been an international success and three years after the album had become a Hip-Hop classic. Nonetheless, Hot, Cool and Vicious helped cement the group’s status as Hip-Hop legends when they became the first American female rap group to go gold and then platinum.
The original group was composed of Cheryl James (Salt), Sandra Denton (Pepa) and Latoya Hanson, who was replaced by Deidra Roper (Spinderella). The trio went on to make five albums before disbanding in 1999, winning a 1995 Grammy award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “None of Your Business,” from their 1995 album Very Necessary. The group got back together in 2005, were part of a reality show and went out on the Legends of Hip-Hop national tour in 2011.
Check out some of their hits from their seminal album Hot, Cool and Vicious and five albums below:
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
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