Only DJ Mark the 45 King works an improvement, pulling away a few layers to create a funky update of the first album’s “My Mic Sounds Nice.” Beyond that, Azor’s re-edit of “Shake Your Thang” (the band’s collaboration with go-go kings E.U.) is not different enough from his own original production of it on A Salt With a Deadly Pepa to even include. Moreover, Blacksmith’s ill-conceived update of “Expression” adds nothing to Salt’s own stripped-down original. Why, for example, UK producer Shuv’d felt a need to clutter up such a powerful song as “Push It” with unnecessary techno blips and horn-like sounds - replacing the original version’s simple, brutal percussion, synth bass and keyboard lines with an aimlessly wavering imitation - is a mystery. Although some complained that the group had sold out with the newer, slicker sound, such fans had apparently been paying more attention to chart positions than the artful subtlety in the grooves.Ī Blitz of Hits is a collection of mostly unfortunate remixes. Blacks’ Magic glides from uplifting raps focusing on self-respect (“Expression,” “Independent”) to black- and feminist-themed songs (“Negro Wit’ an Ego,” the title track) and invocations to open discussion (“Let’s Talk About Sex”). DJ Roper (the group’s second Spinderella) co-produced the title track, and James produced three other songs, including the Top 40 hit “Expression.” On the album cover, the three women are surrounded by ghost-like images of such late, great African-American musicians as Jimi Hendrix and Billie Holiday. The women also got more involved in the technical aspects of their music. The added sweetness appealed to a larger audience without sacrificing the edge of Salt’s sassy lead raps, Pepa’s husky responses and the group’s confrontational lyrics. On it, Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandy Denton) and Spinderella (Deidre Roper) spice up the minimalism of such late-’80s singles as “Push It” and “Tramp” (from Hot, Cool & Vicious) with a slicker, more commercial sound, delicious pop hooks, sung refrains and brighter dynamics. Though rarely credited for it among more rockist musical circles, Salt-n-Pepa are the original riot grrrls of rap.Īfter a powerful debut produced by manager Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor and a slight sophomore slump, Salt-n-Pepa hit their stride at the turn of the decade with Blacks’ Magic, a sort-of concept album held together by its recurring theme of self-empowerment-sexual, racial and otherwise. Album DescriptionWho’d have thought Salt-n-Pepa - the groundbreaking female Queens-based hip-hop group responsible for 1988’s sassy club hit “Push It” - would become one of the biggest rap acts of the ’90s? The group entered the decade taking their frank banter about male-female power struggles into the Top 20 with “Let’s Talk About Sex” by 1995, they’d rerecorded the single as “Let’s Talk About AIDS,” produced several button-pushing videos (including one for a compilation single, “Ain’t Nuthin but a She Thing”) and had three platinum albums under their belts. See More Your browser does not support the audio element. Even if there's still a bit of filler here and there, Blacks' Magic successfully remade Salt-N-Pepa as their own women, and pointed the way to the even more commercially successful R&B/pop/hip-hop fusions of Very Necessary. But there was more to the album than just the singles - track for track, Blacks' Magic was the strongest record Salt-N-Pepa ever released. The album's trio of hit singles - "Expression," "Do You Want Me," and the playful safe-sex anthem "Let's Talk About Sex" - summed up this new attitude and got the group plastered all over MTV. More importantly, they displayed a stronger group identity than ever before, projecting a mix of sassy, self-confident feminism and aggressive - but responsible - sexuality. It wasn't that their crossover appeal diminished, but this time they worked from a funkier R&B base that brought them more credibility among hip-hop and urban audiences. But Blacks' Magic was where Salt-N-Pepa came into their own. Most of their singles had been rap remakes of old R&B songs, and they hadn't even rapped all that much on their biggest hit, "Push It," which got by on its catchy synth hook.
Prior to the release of their third album, Blacks' Magic, Salt-N-Pepa were viewed as little more than pop crossover artists.
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