Q & A With Cheryl “Salt” Wray of Salt N Pepa
Are you enjoying your VH-1 reality show, “The Salt N Pepa Show”?
Yes. People have very passionate discussions over what goes on in the show, which is very amusing to me. But it’s good. I guess that’s what makes people watch. I guess there is a Salt and a Pepa in every relationship or friendship.
I did not know back in the day that you guys were such exact opposites.
That was the attraction when we became friends. I always thought she was outrageously fabulous and I wanted to get to know her. And she was intrigued by my conservative and quiet ways. She always cracked me up like nobody could. When we got together it was an interesting combination.
I don’t think many people knew how young Spinderella was when she joined the group.
Spin was a baby when she started with us. She was 16. My daughter is 16 now. I could not imagine allowing her to go off on the road or leaving high school.
What’s the most difficult thing about being back in the spotlight?
The most difficult thing of all is people feeling like they know you from a few minutes of television. People come up to me and say things all the time. I cannot go out by myself anymore the way that I used to. I am used to being incognito. Now, since I am so visible I can’t. I can’t go anywhere alone anymore like I used to.
Since you left the group, you joined a church and are very open about your relationship with God. Do people try to say you are hypocritical at times for being an entertainer and trying to live as a Christian?
There was an episode recently when Pepa and I were writing together. I was just trying to be open. I was trying to incorporate my point of view and Pepa’s point of view and let everyone in on our process. I said something about “sexy, tight jeans” and “they gave it up to the Queens from Queens”. I also said, “Pepa went from a C to two Double Ds,” then we start laughing about and asking ourselves what are we talking about. We knew that this was nothing we would use or I would even say, but during those writing sessions you have to be open to exploring different things. People said, “I thought Salt was a Christian and she talking about Pepa having Double Ds and you can’t be Christian quoting Biggie. She sold her soul to the Devil.” You cannot win. If you are too tight and conservative, then you get dust. When you loosen up, you have sold your soul. That makes it difficult.
Why did you leave the group?
It started to get really hard. We were really young when we started and we did not get a chance to grow up outside of the industry. There are so many outside influences and there were too many people involved. I felt as if I did not have any control over my life.
You have talked before about your struggle with bulimia, was that one of the factors that caused you to leave as well?
I was suffering from severe depression and bulimia. I had been dealing with that since I was a teenager and I just took it into the industry with me. I had not taken a minute to deal with any of my own stuff. Being in an industry, the pressure to be thin and all of the above, just made it worse. I just could not handle it anymore. I needed out.
Pepa has said that she resents the way that you left. She says you left her abruptly with no warning.
The way that I left was not right. I was not able to articulate it at the time. I just knew that [she and I] were not getting along at the time and I was just fed up. I needed to figure out who I [was] apart from the image that I created. You can get lost in it. Her perspective was that I just told her out of no where and she had no clue that anything was wrong. I did call her and we were talking and we got into again and I just kind of blurted it out: “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
So, how are your kids handling the new fame?
Chappelle is 8 and Corrine is 16. She loves it. Her friends are enjoying it. Since that show [where she had a party], she has been on a couple of dates. She is a really grounded and she is a leader amongst her friends. And she is the one they call for advice.
Are you and Pepa gonna make another album?
Yes, that is the intention and it’s starting to come to that. What I wanted to get straight is our relationship. I felt that we could not go back into business together until our paths were healed and our cards were on the table. I just wanted to make sure that we were really friends aside from this business.
What do you think about hip-hop right now?
I think it’s great that people are able to put their own businesses in their own hands. But, lyrically and image wise, it’s out of balance. I think it’s materialistic and glorifies violence. I think there is more room for more kinds of innovative music. More Kanye Wests and Commons.
Who are you listening to?
I like Alicia Keys and my daughter is killing Chris Brown in the car!
Do you want to venture to Hollywood?
Salt N Pepa could so do a sitcom that would be hysterical. I would love to do a movie with Pepa or on my own. And the obvious things that are available to artists now, like putting out a fragrance or a clothing line.
Are you guys going to tour again?
Everyone wants us to tour. That’s the obvious thing. There are so many tours available and we have had so many offers and Pepa wants to go. I am not there yet. Touring is a huge commitment; maybe in the near future.
Who are you voting for this year?
I am voting for Michelle Obama! The woman behind the man!
Interview by Isoul H. Harris, an entertainment journalist based in Atlanta, GA. (WriteBoy08@gmail.com)