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.
Let The Rhythm Run
Salt-N-Pepa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The type of hype that's unbelievable to write
Spinderella's gonna spin from beginning to end
Once again we're gonna let the party begin
You know it Salt I'm ready to work it out
Spinderella are you ready to work it out?
'cause Salt and Pepa is ready to work it out
So let the rhythm run (what?), the rhythm run
Now let the drums run (good), the drums run
So let the rhythm run (huh?), the rhythm run
Yo, Salt... Whassup? Can we get some?
They call me Salt, I'm like a billion bulbs
The rhymes I toss, they're more electric than a lightning bug
On the strength I swore there's no either/or
MCs, we're gonna have a mouth-to-mouth war
Some rappers got soul on the mic, right? (Right)
But others be playin' it like they're all that
And you know what'll happen if I don't like your style of rappin'
Step on stage as soon as I'm on it
Spin drops a beat to warn my opponent
Hurb pumps the bass upon the sound system
We kick a rhyme and claim another victim
People 'round the world, I like to play to 'em
In every club, arena, and stadium
Inside the jam we're known as the party stars
Gimme a mic, and the house is like Mardi Gras
I couldn't do it though without the help from
The melody that we call the rhythm
Yo, Pepa, are you ready to work it out, huh?
Yeah, I been ready to work it out
So let the rhythm run (what?), the rhythm run (who?)
Aw, c'mon Pep, go ahead and bust one
If the Pep you want, that's just what you'll get
As the rhythm runs, sweat's in full effect
I see a crowd, I can't help but get hyped
You gotta be, throw it on and recite
A dope rhmye 'cause I'm a lyrical queen
The Pepa MC's makin' microphones sing
Notes to provoke, they called her a joke
The speaker smoked when I spoke
Boy, you better kill the noise
Let the rhythm run (word), just let it run
Let the drums run (yeah), now let 'em run
Mess around and I'll bet you don't get none
Is it over yet? Never, it gets better
We'll let the rhythm run harder than ever
A bassline is added for some soul
Now the guitar will make ya rock 'n roll
My mic is like a gun, I go nowhere without it
You gotta better one, I'm sorry but I doubt it
My partner's name is Pep, she's not a half-stepper
You think you're kinda def, but I think that she's deffer
Since rappin' is art and I'm a dope artist
If lyrics mean you're smart, then I must be the smartest
My DJ likes to spin, we call her Spinderella
If cuttin' 'em was a book, she'd be a million seller
Salt's kinda short, but she don't ever take none
A sucker try to dis, and she just have to break one
Assume the position, commence the dance session
Loosen up, listen, it's not a dance lesson
Seatbelts fastened, let's have some fun
Brace yourself, hold on, 'cause the rhythm's gonna run
Let the rhythm run, nah, the rhythm's done
Let the drums run, no, the drums are done
In Salt-N-Pepa’s hit song Let The Rhythm Run, they talk about getting the party started with the help of their DJ, Spinderella. They spit rhymes about how their electric lyrics and beats set them apart from other MCs. They boast about their ability to command the crowd and make everyone move to the rhythm. They challenge other rappers who don’t measure up to their standards, warning them of a “mouth-to-mouth war” if they don’t step up to the plate. They encourage everyone to get loose and have fun, letting the rhythm and drums run wild.
The song celebrates the power of music to bring people together and create a contagiously fun atmosphere. Salt and Pepa’s confidence in their abilities as performers and lyricists shines through in every bar, inspiring listeners to let go of their inhibitions and join in the party. The song is known for its catchy beat and memorable lyrics that have become a staple in the hip hop genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Salt and Pepa's on the mic makin' sure you like
Salt and Pepa are on the microphone to give you something enjoyable to listen to.
The type of hype that's unbelievable to write
Their music is so good, it's hard to put into words how great it is.
Spinderella's gonna spin from beginning to end
Their DJ, Spinderella, is going to play music throughout the entire performance.
Once again we're gonna let the party begin
This isn't the first time they've thrown a party, and they're excited to get it started again.
So tell me Pepa are you ready to work it out?
Salt is asking Pepa if she's ready to perform.
You know it Salt I'm ready to work it out
Pepa confirms that she's ready to perform.
Spinderella are you ready to work it out?
Salt is asking their DJ, Spinderella, if she's ready to perform.
'cause Salt and Pepa is ready to work it out
Salt confirms that she and Pepa are ready to perform.
So let the rhythm run (what?), the rhythm run
They want the music to keep playing and keep everyone dancing.
Now let the drums run (good), the drums run
They specifically want the drums to be heard in the music.
Yo, Salt... Whassup? Can we get some?
Salt is asking for more music to be played (likely referring to the drums).
They call me Salt, I'm like a billion bulbs
Salt is referring to herself as being full of energy and brightness.
The rhymes I toss, they're more electric than a lightning bug
She believes her lyrics are powerful and captivating, like electricity.
On the strength I swore there's no either/or
Salt believes in herself and her music, and doesn't want to be limited by anyone or anything.
MCs, we're gonna have a mouth-to-mouth war
Salt is ready to compete with other rappers and show off her skills.
Some rappers got soul on the mic, right? (Right)
Salt acknowledges that some rappers have a lot of talent.
But others be playin' it like they're all that
Salt is annoyed by rappers who act like they're better than everyone else.
And you know what'll happen if I don't like your style of rappin'
Salt is warning other rappers that she won't hesitate to criticize them if she doesn't like their style of rap.
Step on stage as soon as I'm on it
She's confident and ready to take the stage anytime.
Spin drops a beat to warn my opponent
Spinderella will play music to signal for rappers to start performing against her.
Hurb pumps the bass upon the sound system
Their sound engineer is increasing the bass in the music.
We kick a rhyme and claim another victim
Salt and Pepa are confident in their rap skills and believe they can beat anyone who tries to compete with them.
People 'round the world, I like to play to 'em
They love performing for people all over the world.
In every club, arena, and stadium
They've performed in all types of venues, from small clubs to large arenas.
Inside the jam we're known as the party stars
They know how to keep a party going and make everyone dance.
Gimme a mic, and the house is like Mardi Gras
When Salt is on the mic, the party is just as exciting as Mardi Gras.
I couldn't do it though without the help from
Salt acknowledges that she wouldn't be where she is without the help of others (such as Spinderella and their sound engineer).
The melody that we call the rhythm
The rhythm of the music is like a melody to them.
If the Pep you want, that's just what you'll get
Pepa will give the audience whatever they want from her performance.
As the rhythm runs, sweat's in full effect
The music is making everyone dance so hard that they're sweating a lot.
I see a crowd, I can't help but get hyped
Seeing the crowd gets Pepa excited about performing and putting on a great show.
You gotta be, throw it on and recite
Pepa wants the audience to dance and sing along with her.
A dope rhmye 'cause I'm a lyrical queen
Pepa is confident in her rapping abilities and considers herself a 'lyrical queen'.
The Pepa MC's makin' microphones sing
Pepa makes her music equipment sound so good that they seem to be 'singing'.
Notes to provoke, they called her a joke
Some people used to make fun of Pepa's music, but now they can't deny how good it is.
The speaker smoked when I spoke
Her music is so powerful that even the artists can't handle it.
Boy, you better kill the noise
Pepa is asking for everyone to quiet down and listen to her performing.
Is it over yet? Never, it gets better
The show will only get better, and they'll keep performing for as long as possible.
A bassline is added for some soul
Their music engineer is adding more bass to give the music more soul.
Now the guitar will make ya rock 'n roll
They're adding a guitar sound to their music to get everyone excited and dancing.
My mic is like a gun, I go nowhere without it
Salt needs her microphone to perform, and feels like it's just as important as a gun is to a soldier.
You gotta better one, I'm sorry but I doubt it
Salt doesn't believe anyone has a better microphone than hers.
My partner's name is Pep, she's not a half-stepper
Pepa is a great performer who doesn't hold back.
You think you're kinda def, but I think that she's deffer
Salt thinks Pepa is an even better performer than people realize.
Since rappin' is art and I'm a dope artist
Salt believes that rap is an art form and she's great at it.
If lyrics mean you're smart, then I must be the smartest
She's confident that her lyrics are smart and well-crafted.
My DJ likes to spin, we call her Spinderella
Spinderella is their DJ who loves to play music for them.
If cuttin' 'em was a book, she'd be a million seller
If perfecting her DJ skills was a book, Spinderella would sell millions of copies.
Salt's kinda short, but she don't ever take none
Salt is short in height but doesn't let that stop her from performing well.
A sucker try to dis, and she just have to break one
Salt won't tolerate anyone disrespecting her, and will 'break' their ego.
Assume the position, commence the dance session
They want everyone to start dancing once they take the stage.
Loosen up, listen, it's not a dance lesson
They're not trying to teach people how to dance, they just want everyone to relax and have fun.
Seatbelts fastened, let's have some fun
They're getting ready to perform and want everyone to be ready for the ride.
Brace yourself, hold on, 'cause the rhythm's gonna run
The music is going to get everyone excited and pumped up.
Let the rhythm run, nah, the rhythm's done
They're ending their performance and the music is fading out.
Let the drums run, no, the drums are done
The drums are no longer part of the music and the performance is over.
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JO H N STALLWORTH
on Whatta Man
ALL THESE SONGS FOR THE LISTENERS TO GIVE IN TO THEIR SEX DESIRES AND HAVE ABORTIONS AND AIDS
YOU WILL REGRET NOT WAITING TO GET MARRIED
GOD LOVES YOU. GOD CREATED OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU.. MARRIAGE IS FROM GOD. GOD KNOWS BEST. GOD CREATED YOU AS HIS MOST LOVED CREATION. ACCEPT JESUS AND YOU WILL LEARN MORE AND MORE AND EXPERIENCE MORE AND MORE OF GODS' WONDERFUL LOVE FOR YOU.
TURN FROM SIN AND TURN TO GOD.