‘Hot, Cool & Vicious’: Salt-N-Pepa’s Platinum Debut Album
Featuring their hit song ‘Push It,’ the doors that this album opened are immeasurable.
Cheryl James and Sandy Denton were students attending Queens Community College when a chance meeting in a lunchroom brought them into each other’s respective orbits. James was passing out fliers when she met Denton, and the two struck up a friendship. Eventually, the chemistry between the two girls led to James’ boyfriend – aspiring rapper/producer Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor – to put the duo together as a new rap group called “Supernature.”
Their first single release was “The Show Stoppa (Iz Stupid Fresh)” an answer record to Doug E. Fresh and The Get Fresh Crew’s hit “The Show.” By the time the track started to generate buzz, the ladies had been rechristened “Salt-N-Pepa.” “The Show Stoppa” became enough of a club fixture in New York City that Salt-N-Pepa landed a record deal with Next Plateau. Seeking to fashion Salt-N-Pepa after Run-D.M.C., Azor recruited Latoya “DJ Spinderella” Hanson and the now-trio released “I’ll Take Your Man” in late 1985.
Listen to Salt-N-Pepa’s Hot, Cool & Vicious now.
From the very beginning, Azor showcased a knack for infectious, radio-friendly production, and throughout 1986, Azor and the girls crafted Salt-N-Pepa’s debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious, around deft samples and Hurby’s love for go-go sounds. Songs like the anthemic “My Mic Sounds Nice” and Carla Thomas-referencing “Tramp” became R&B hits and put Salt-N-Pepa squarely on the national stage. “Chick On the Side” continued the group’s affinity for referencing classics from the 60s and 70s (this time the Pointer Sisters’ hit of the same name.)
Despite their career suddenly heating up, Salt-N-Pepa were in conflict with Hanson, and she was fired before a show in 1987. 17-year old DeeDee Roper was recruited to be the new DJ Spinderella just as Salt-N-Pepa was about to score a major breakthrough with “Push It.” The track was the result of Hurby and the girls touring rap venues in the South, where Miami bass was becoming all the rage. After a show in New Orleans, Dana Dane and Play of Kid ‘n Play challenged Hurby to craft a song that could get the kind of reaction the bass songs were getting. “Push It” was a big departure from Hurby’s go-go affectations, but after a remixed version was released in December 1987, the song would hit the Top 20.
The platinum-selling remix single was added to subsequent pressings of Hot, Cool & Vicious, pushing the album to the platinum mark. (The first platinum-selling album by a female rap act.) More importantly, the album announced Salt-N-Pepa and Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor as major players in the industry. The doors that it opened for women are immeasurable. It was the first act in a legendary career.
