Lana Michele Moorer, better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is a Grammy–nominated American rapper, DJ, actress and entrepreneur. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock. She released a total of 8 solo studio albums and an EP with Almost September.
Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip-hop girl group formed in 1985. Group members included Salt, Pepa, and DJ Spinderella. They were signed to Next Plateau Records and released their single "Push It" in 1987, which hit number one in three countries and became a top 10 or top 20 hit in various countries. Their debut album Hot, Cool & Vicious sold more than 1 million copies worldwide, making them the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum-status. Their fourth album Very Necessary sold over 7 million copies worldwide, making it the highest-selling album by a female rap act in history.
Shawntae Harris, better known by her stage name Da Brat, is an American rapper and actress. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she began her career in 1992, the year she signed with So So Def Records. Her debut album Funkdafied (1994) sold one million copies, making her the first female solo rap act to receive a platinum certification, and the second overall female rap act after Salt-N-Pepa. Brat has received two Grammy Award nominations. Some of her most successful songs/features include, "I Think They Like Me", "Funkdafied" and "Loverboy".
SWV is an American R&B vocal trio from New York City, New York whose members are Cheryl (Coko) Gamble, Tamara (Taj) Johnson and Leanne (Lelee) Lyons. Formed in 1988 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here ", "I'm So into You", and "You're the One". The group disbanded in 1998 to pursue solo projects and reunited in 2005. SWV has sold more than 25 million records worldwide.
Armand van Helden is an American DJ, record producer, remixer and songwriter from Boston. He is considered one of house music's most revered figures spanning three decades. Van Helden's most well-known singles are "You Don't Know Me", "I Want Your Soul", "My My My" featuring Tara McDonald, as well as "Bonkers" featuring Dizzee Rascal, all of which became #1 on the UK Dance Chart and reached as high as #2 on the Billboard Dance Chart.
A megamix is a remix containing multiple songs in rapid succession. It often features various artists, unlike a medley, which features one artist each. There may be only one verse or even just a brief chorus of each song used, sometimes in addition to samples of the same or other songs. It is common to use different samples to maintain and sometimes even ridicule the original. To unify the songs together smoothly, a single backing beat may be added as background throughout the megamix, although this is not a must. This backing beat is kept basic so as to simplify mixing and to not compete with the music. These mixes are usually several minutes long at minimum, going up to a half-hour or an hour, or even more sometimes.
"Push It" is a song by the hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa. It was released as the B-side of the "Tramp" single in 1987, and as its own single in 1988. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1988 and, after initially peaking at number 41 in the UK, it re-entered the charts after the group performed the track at Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday concert, eventually peaking at number two that summer. The song has also been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The song is ranked number 446 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was ranked number nine on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
"What a Man" is a song written by Dave Crawford, and originally recorded for Stax Records' Volt imprint by Linda Lyndell, whose recording reached number 50 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1968. The song was sampled and reinterpreted as "Whatta Man" in 1993 by Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue; this version became a commercial success, reaching the top ten in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 2011, German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut covered the song while retaining the original title and lyrics.
Hot, Cool, & Vicious is the debut studio album by American hip hop girl group Salt-N-Pepa. Released by Next Plateau Records on December 8, 1986, it was one of the first albums to be released by an all-female rap group. Hot, Cool, & Vicious also became the first album by a female rap group act to attain gold and platinum status in the United States.
Blacks' Magic is the third studio album by American hip hop girl group Salt-N-Pepa. It was released on March 19, 1990, by Next Plateau Records and London Records. A critical and commercial success, the album peaked at number 38 on the Billboard 200 and number 15 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned four commercially successful singles, three of which reached the top 10 of the Hot Rap Singles chart; "Let's Talk About Sex", "Expression", "Do You Want Me", and "You Showed Me".
Queen Latifah is an American rapper, jazz/blues singer, and actress. Born Dana Owens, as a recording artist she has released eight studio albums, six of which were rap/hip-hop influenced albums and two that were all-singing jazz influenced albums. She has a total of twenty-three singles released as well. She has been given the title the " Queen of Jazz-Rap.
"Shoop" is the lead single released from Salt-N-Pepa's fourth studio album, Very Necessary. It was produced by Mark Sparks and group member Salt. The song features an uncredited verse by rapper Big Twan. Released late in 1993, the song became one of the group's most successful singles, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Hot Rap Singles chart at number one. Two months after its release, "Shoop" was certified gold by the RIAA; it went on to sell 1,200,000 copies. The success of both this single and the follow-up single, "Whatta Man" propelled Very Necessary to sell over five million copies in the US, becoming the group's best-selling album.
"Holding You Down " is a song by American singer Jazmine Sullivan. It was written by Sullivan, Cainon Lamb, and Missy Elliott for her second album, Love Me Back (2010), while production was helmed by Elliott, with Lamb credited as co-producer. The song was released as the album's leads single in July 2010. It reached number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.
"None of Your Business" is the third single released from Salt-n-Pepa's fourth studio album, Very Necessary. It was written and produced by Hurby Azor and earned the group its first Grammy Award.
"Expression" is the lead single released from Salt-n-Pepa's third album, Blacks' Magic. The song was both written and produced by member Cheryl "Salt" James.
Robin Alexander Schulz is a German musician, DJ and record producer. Most of his songs use manual guitar riffs. On 4 February 2014, he released the first single from his debut album, a remix of "Waves" by Dutch hip hop artist Mr Probz. This remix later received a nomination for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.
"Gitty Up" is a song by American hip hop girl group Salt-N-Pepa from their fifth studio album, Brand New (1997). It was released as the album's second and final single. The song samples the bass line and the lyric "Say what?" from Give It To Me Baby by Rick James.
The Best of Salt 'n Pepa is a greatest hits album by American hip hop trio Salt-n-Pepa. It was released in November 1999. The album featured tracks from their five studio albums, Hot, Cool & Vicious, A Salt with a Deadly Pepa, Blacks' Magic, Very Necessary and Brand New. A remixed version of their 1998 song "Gitty Up" was released as a single now titled "The Brick Track Versus Gitty Up" which charted in the top 20 in Australia and New Zealand in 2000.
The Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album by American hip hop group Salt-n-Pepa. It was released on October 7, 1991, by FFRR Records and Next Plateau Entertainment. The album was certified Platinum in the United Kingdom.
"A Blitz of Salt-N-Pepa Hits: The Hits Remixed" is the first compilation album by American hip hop trio Salt-n-Pepa. It includes re-mixed versions of songs taken from their three studio albums, Hot, Cool & Vicious, A Salt with a Deadly Pepa and Blacks' Magic.The album was certified platinum in Canada.
