Salt-n-Pepa's unshakable conviction

Interview, Oct, 1995 by Mary Wilson

CJ: Well, we're on top because of people like you that were here before us.

MW: There's always somebody who helps pave the way. We had people like Lena Horne, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dorothy Dandridge, and Ethel Waters. There were many who had it really, really rough and broke down barriers for us. Then we came up and we broke down some barriers. Now you've come along and you're breaking down more barriers. But sometimes when you're in the kind of position that you guys are in now, people kiss your butt, your feet, your toes, your corns, your eyelashes, your false eyelashes - whatever you've got, because you're on top and you're making those people money. I know you guys have your heads on straight. But having been in the same position, and knowing what the ups and downs can be like - because, believe me, I've certainly been through my share of ups and downs - I just wanted to ask you how you feel about where you are now.

CJ: I've seen so many people go up and come down just as fast, and you never know when you're not going to be doing so good. So we've never let it go to our heads. Pepa looks in the mirror every day and goes, "Wow, I'm Pepa. People all over the world know me. How did I get chosen to be this famous?" [laughs]

On the business end, what Salt-N-Pepa is trying to do now is get behind the scenes, because, you know, it doesn't last forever. There's going to come a point in my life where I'm probably not going to want to make records anymore. And I'm going to want to have an option. We have our own record label [Jireh Records]. We're concentrating on the publishing and the writing and the producing and putting out other groups and stuff like that. So that one day I can say, "I quit," if I want to. Because it's hard, especially when you have kids. And I want to have more kids. I want to be able to chill at home and not have to travel all the time.

MW: Yes. You don't want to do so much now, and then later in your life have to need to work. Because if you reach my age, fifty-one, and you have to go back on the road and you really don't want to, you'll be pissed. [laughs] This is hard for me to say, and I'll say it now, since I've finally got a record deal. But for years I could not get a record deal. No one wanted to sign me. In certain people's eyes, I guess I was like a has-been. I don't know why, because I'm a star in my mind and always have been.

CJ: Go, girl.

MW: But I found that once the Supremes disbanded and I went out on my own, people did not want to listen. You know, I thought the Supremes were going to go on forever. When Diane left the group, it took me a while to realize that she had to go and do her own thing. After I got over the hurt, I also realized, Heck, now I can work on me. I don't have to worry about -

CJ: - being part of somebody else.

MW: Yes.

SD: Are you and Diane still friends?

MW: Well, that's a good question, because it brings up something I wanted to discuss with you guys, which is what it takes to stay together. The first time I met Diane, it was like seeing the other part of me, the inside of me that no one knew. I know that on the inside Diane is very sincere and vulnerable, although on the outside she seems very aggressive. So we kind of flip-flop. Like what you were saying earlier about your lives being crossed. Diane and I probably love each other equally, but the business got in the way. There were a lot of things I didn't understand. What happened wasn't her fault, and it wasn't my fault. One day, hopefully, we'll be able to get together. It is seemingly doubtful, but I don't think there's anybody who can love her more than I do.