Hot, Cool & Vicious received little attention until a San Francisco DJ named Cameron Paul created a remix of "Push It" (The b-side to "Tramp"). Mr. Paul's remix of "Push It", rereleased as a single, quickly became a national hit and was nominated for a Grammy, pushing both the single and LP to Platinum album status.
They released A Salt With a Deadly Pepa, which was only a minor hit, though it featured "Shake Your Thang". Their third original LP, Blacks Magic, which received generally positive reviews and expanded Salt-N-Pepa's fanbase among hip hop fans using more R&B. It included "Let's Talk About Sex", one of their biggest songs.
Salt-N-Pepa left Next Plateau and the influence of Azor released "Very Necessary", a largely self-produced album in 1993 (see 1993 in music), and it performed very well on the charts, buoyed by "Shoop" and "Whatta Man" (with En Vogue). In 1994, they appeared in the motion picture "Who's The Man?".
The less commercially successful single "None of Your Business," won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1995. Since Very Necessary, both Salt and Pepa have focused primarily on their acting careers. They released their final album "Brand New" in 1997.
Despite their girl group beginnings, Salt-N-Pepa insist that they wrote many of the lyrics on their first album, and by Blacks Magic they displayed a sex positive, and responsible, feminism, and are often seen as innovators or role models.
In March 1999, Salt-N-Pepa embarked on their final live tour. Pepa (Sandy Denton) married Treach of Naughty By Nature on July 27, 1999. Salt-N-Pepa's greatest-hits album, entitled Salt-N-Pepa: The Best Of was released on January 25, 2000. Treach and Pepa were divorced on July 31, 2001. The group officially disbanded in 2002. Upon disbanding, Salt (Cheryl James) claimed she had become a born-again Christian, and would no longer be involved in hip-hop. However, all that changed when Cheryl announced that she would be releasing her first solo cd "Salt of the Earth" which later changed to "Salt Unrapped".
Cheryl James and Sandy Denton appeared on VH1's Hip Hop Honors in November 2004 without Spinderella. They did not perform.
In March 2005, it was announced that Sandy Denton would join Jose Canseco, Bronson Pinchot, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, Caprice Bourret, Janice Dickinson, and Carey Hart on the 5th season of the VH1 series The Surreal Life.
Salt-N-Pepa reunited on September 22, 2005, and gave their first performance in six years. They sang Whatta Man, along with En Vogue, as a part of VH1's Hip Hop Honors program.
Heaven Or Hell
Salt-N-Pepa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Children play women produce
Kids killing kids just for the juice
Now Africa is looking for the truth
But it's gonna take a while to enlighten the youth
In this edition of the story no need to bore me
It can't do nothin' for me even Denzel Washington couldn't find any glory
In the overcrowded streets of the city
I know it's shitty but I can do without the pity
(Baby never lived in the ghetto)...or the projects
But I wear my Tim boots and Hi-Tecs, and I wrecks havoc
And if you try to play me I won't have it
Trix are for kids, this kid is not a silly rabbit
(Well) He's standin' on a corner with his system pumpin' loud
Next him goin' off, scream in the crowd
A whole lot of screams, a lot of broken glass
Brothers like to wear their pants fallin' off their ass
Girls today don't wear no bras
Little John Doe got a ho turnin' tricks in the bars
Grandma carries a can of mace
And she'll stick a .45 in your face
So come and meet my man Brett (Yo, what up, Brett?)
He's smokin', but it's not a cigarette (Speak on it, Pep)
I wonder how the hell a brother lets himself
Get into somethin' he can't out of? (Uh-huh, uh-huh)
A lot of my friends are sick and tired (Sick of who?)
The police (Word!) rollin' on 'em, pickin' on, holdin' on 'em
Hopin' that they got one of 'em
It was a drug bust, but something's weird
(Well, what's the matter, Spinderella?)
The way half a million disappeared
CHORUS
Heaven and hell is on earth
Heaven and hell is on earth
Who gives a damn about me?
(Huh?) Me (what?), me, yeah, little old me
Me, myself, and I
Live or die, laugh or cry
I'm all that I got, Pops, and that's a lot, Hops
I'd rather rot in jail before I ho-hop
Go 'head, me, tell 'em
They may be hard of hearing
So keep yellin' at the top of your lungs
Now everybody's got guns
They want to be hard rocks and not be a fool
That buys a history book
Not me, I'll need a clock, not rock to my hits
And that two-fifth click to my tits
And Playgirl's gonna rip, and I'm-a have to rip shit
Ah, go for yours 'cause you gotta
In the ghetto you don't get a medal if you settle for the drama
She's a gangster and the other terminal cancer
Ask too many questions and my Smith and Wesson will answer
Heaven and hell is on earth
Heaven and hell is on earth
Well everybody be damned, her father's in jail
Sister's on the corner screamin', "Booty for sale"
Mom spends the night gettin' drunk with her uncle
Her brother's sellin' radios and toasters by the trunkful
See, every man she ever messed would wind up dead
Some might fall in jail, others runnin' from the Feds
(The only thing she ever loved was a piece of lead)
And that's a double-barrelled pump underneath the bed
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs and looney tunes
And some got sad songs, mad songs, and moody blues
There's good news and bad news, military coups
A rebel with no cause in a pack of fools
I never lived in the slum, never shot a gun
But I'll use one, don't make me use one
CHORUS
Heaven and hell is on earth
Heaven and hell is on earth
CHORUS (repeat/fade)
"Heaven or Hell" by Salt-N-Pepa is a compelling commentary on the state of the world. The song is delivered in Salt-N-Pepa's signature style of hip-hop, with lyrics that paint a vivid picture of the world we live in today. The song's central theme is the contrast between good and evil in the world, and how these opposing forces are constantly at war with one another. The lyrics describe a world where children play while women produce, yet at the same time, there are kids killing other kids for no good reason. The song suggests that African nations are looking for the truth, but it will take a while to enlighten the youth.
The song then examines life in the city, with overcrowded streets and people struggling to make ends meet. The lyrics suggest that many people in this environment are sick and tired of being picked on by the police or held down by their circumstances. The song reflects on the high levels of crime and violence in urban areas, with many young people turning to gangs and drugs to escape poverty and despair. Yet still, there is hope and a sense of pride in the narrative, with Pep saying that she wears her Tim boots and Hi-Tecs and wreaks havoc when the occasion calls for it.
In conclusion, "Heaven or Hell" by Salt-N-Pepa is a powerful song that captures the spirit of life in the city, and the struggle that many people face in a world that is often harsh and unforgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
Children play women produce
Children are innocent and play while women are the ones who give birth and shape the future generations.
Kids killing kids just for the juice
Young children indulging in violence just for temporary pleasures, which shows that they lack proper guidance or parental care.
Now Africa is looking for the truth
Africa is in search of the truth, especially the areas that are still developing and need enlightenment.
But it's gonna take a while to enlighten the youth
It's going to take some time to educate and instill moral values in the youth of underdeveloped nations.
It can't do nothin' for me even Denzel Washington couldn't find any glory
The current situation or story they are discussing is not helping them or providing any value. Even celebrities like Denzel Washington won't be able to derive any worth from it.
I know it's shitty but I can do without the pity
They realize the current situation is terrible, but they don't want any sympathy or pity from others. They want to portray themselves as strong, independent individuals.
But I wear my Tim boots and Hi-Tecs, and I wrecks havoc
They are proud of what they wear and understand the impact it has on those around them, demonstrating their confidence and boldness.
Trix are for kids, this kid is not a silly rabbit
They are saying that they are not foolish and can't be fooled, unlike children who are easily tricked as seen in the Trix cereal commercials.
Girls today don't wear no bras
Girls these days are very liberal and don't conform to the societal norms of wearing bras
I wonder how the hell a brother lets himself
It is a rhetorical question, asking how someone can let himself get dragged into something they can't get out of.
The police (Word!) rollin' on 'em, pickin' on, holdin' on 'em
The police seem to be victimizing innocent people and detaining them without proper justification or valid reasons.
Go 'head, me, tell 'em
This is a statement of bravado and pride, indicating that they are confident in what they have to say and are willing to speak their mind without hesitation.
She's a gangster and the other terminal cancer
The lyrics are discussing a woman who is both dangerous and powerful, like a gangster. The line 'terminal cancer' reinforces her deadly and ruthless nature.
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs and looney tunes
This line points out the vast differences between people's preferences. Some people are into love songs and comedy, while others are more serious.
And some got sad songs, mad songs, and moody blues
Different people have different emotions, and this line is recognizing that people embrace a wide range of feelings when listening to music.
I never lived in the slum, never shot a gun
This lyric conveys that they have not experienced living in rough areas or have not felt the need to use a gun.
Heaven and hell is on earth
This is a recurring line, highlighting the multitude of struggles one faces in their everyday lives.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE AZOR, HERB AZOR, M. OLIVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dice.graffiti
Oh Yes! Not heard this in a long long time... I remember taping Yo MTV Raps and replaying this track so much the tape broke in the machine! Hearing Salts voice again gives me cold chills 😘🥇💰💯⚡️💥⚡️☮️🎲
@mrcommunity992
The queens of hiphop delivering a powerful message!!!
@DebbieHund
I lost track of S&P after Push It. Too busy struggling to survive with 2 kids of my own to keep up with music. I'm catching up now and I have so much respect for them. Their music was so socially conscious with a message that was positive. Especially teaching younger women to value themselves. Props to them. Remarkable ladies.
@greggprice3609
This songs talks about
1.Black on black crime
2.Police brutality
3.Sex trafficking
4.and so much more relative situations....still so relevent 25+ years later...big ups to SNP for always being so versatile!
@NYCJoeBlack
SALT-N-PEPA have always been forward thinking. Their other song IMAGINE featuring Sheryl Crow should have it’s official video cleaned up and (re-)released, since we are actively in pursuit of freedom, respect, & accountability.
@mrcommunity992
True indeed
@tonyd4264
This jam was a sleeper hit
@MarkTotoyi
The strangest thing is that after not hearing this song for nearly 30 years... the chorus was ringing in my head the entire day... Thank heavens for the internet
@terrycraig28
All these years this song is still in my head. I still know when this song first came out.
@KarinaLicursi
I can't stress enough how much I love this song! It is an important theme for today, request on radio stations.