Salt-N-Pepa Enter Rock Hall; Spinderella Makes History

The iconic female rap group Salt-N-Pepa has officially been inducted into the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, marking a monumental achievement not only for the group but also for DJ Spinderella, who made history as the first female DJ ever to receive this honor.

A Foundation for Hip-Hop

Missy Elliott, herself a Rock Hall inductee, presented the award, emphasizing Salt-N-Pepa’s foundational role in hip-hop. She passionately stated, ‘The reason that you even know Missy Elliott’s name is because of Salt, Pepa, and Spinderella… These three women are the bricklayers to the foundation that holds hip-hop together.’

Cheryl ‘Salt’ James and Sandra ‘Pepa’ Denton accepted the ‘Musical Influence Award’ alongside DJ Spinderella, acknowledging their collective journey and impact on the genre. Spinderella’s induction as the first female DJ in the Hall of Fame is a significant milestone, recognizing her crucial role in shaping hip-hop’s sound.

Addressing the Fight for Masters

During their acceptance speech, Salt-N-Pepa used their platform to publicly address their ongoing legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG) over their master recordings. The group filed a lawsuit in May 2025, alleging that UMG violated the Copyright Act by refusing to return rights to their catalog after more than 35 years.

James passionately called out the industry’s unfair practices, noting, ‘As we celebrate this moment, fans can’t even stream our music. It’s been taken down from all streaming platforms because the industry still doesn’t want to play fair.’ She stressed the importance of using their influence to advocate for artist compensation, streaming access, and cultural preservation, especially for historically undervalued women in hip-hop.

A Night of Performances and Collaborations

The celebration included a dynamic performance medley of Salt-N-Pepa’s greatest hits, starting with ‘My Mic Sounds Nice,’ moving into ‘Shoop,’ and ‘Let’s Talk About Sex.’ DJ Spinderella showcased her scratching skills, and En Vogue joined them for their collaboration ‘What Man.’ The original producer Hurby ‘Luv Bug’ Azor also joined for ‘Push It,’ with Cyndi Lauper and Avril Lavigne also making appearances.

• Salt-N-Pepa inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
• DJ Spinderella becomes the first female DJ inducted.
• Missy Elliott presented the award, highlighting their foundational role in hip-hop.
• The group publicly addressed their legal fight with Universal Music Group over master recordings.
• A star-studded performance celebrated their iconic hits.

Salt-N-Pepa’s induction is a powerful recognition of their enduring influence and a significant moment for female artists and DJs in the music industry. Their continued fight for fair treatment underscores the ongoing challenges artists face.