Hot of the success of their album Hot Cool &Viscious, Salt ‘N’ Pepa released their follow up Salt With A Deadly Pepa, hoping to recapture the magic of their unforgettable debut. What made Salt ‘N’ Pepa so fresh and unique was the fact they were a complete female rap crew that represented the female voice in Hip Hop with an iron fist.
Track Listing
- Intro Jam
- A Salt With A Deadly Pepa
- I Like It Like That
- Solo Power (Let’s Get Paid)
- Shake Your Thang
- I Gotcha
- Let the Rhythm Run (Remix)
- Get Up Everybody (Get Up)
- Spinderella’s Not a Fella (But a Girl D.J.)
- Solo Power (Syncopated Soul)
- Twist and Shout
- Hyped on the Mic
Their second album was not to far from the premise of their debut. The album was full of tracks that infused pop, go-go and house that made it a well-rounded project. Their mentor and manager Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor seized majority of the creative control on the album by constructing the S-N-P sound that followed them throughout their careers.
The most recognizable song on the album was the party track, “Shake Your Thang.” Using a sped up version of the Isley Brothers hit “It’s Your Thing,” created a fun groove that could rock any spot. And adding E.U. to this track when go-go was at its peak made it that much better. Salt ‘N’ Pepa addressed issues of women being held to different standard then men in a very subtle tone. The girls dealt with being characterized as “nasty and dirty” due to their attire and the way they danced. Because of the high-energy beat, most may not have caught the message that said b-girls could be sexy but should not be labeled or harassed for having a good time.
The Isley Brothers were definitely on the minds of the artistic powers behind this album. The girls also added a rendition of “Twist and Shout” and combined Toni Basil’s cheerleading anthem “Mickey” and Joe Tex’s “I Gotcha” making the track full of hidden jewels. Although the song had a great mix of muse’s to go off, it failed to equate to a fresh track.
Even though S-N-P were known for their carefree lyrics, they were able to display a brash, confident side that would contest fellow emcees on wax. On “Get Up Everybody (Get Up),” the girls showed a confrontational side over an equally brazen beat that complimented the lyrics well.
Some of the albums offerings had the S-N-P quality but weren’t as good as others. “I Like It Like That” could have been left out the equation because of the weak and immature energy that made for a bad rip off of “Push It.” “I Gotcha” seemed more like a track that Run-DMC passed on due to the heavy guitar rift that forced anyone who rocked over it to scream at the top of their lungs leaving listeners with a headache.
“Solo Power (Let’s Get Paid)” showcased Salt’s ability to carry an entire track all on her own. Her aggressive, poised lyrics proved that she was the stronger of the two emcees. Following Salt’s solo effort, Pepa had her turn with “Solo Power (Syncopated Soul)” which did not have the same charm as her group mate but still served as a dope tune.
To discredit Salt With A Deadly Pepa and hold it in the same regard as their debut is not only unfair but an obtuse way of looking at an album that tried to keep with the liveliness of its predecessor. Rather this album will go down in history as a classic remains an enigma but Salt ‘N’ Pepa’s legacy will not be compromised considering the album achieved gold status. So like it or love it, Salt With A Deadly Pepa still had components that gave us a respectable album that remained true to that definitive era.
