Very Necessary

Last updated

Very Necessary
Salt-N-Pepa - Very Necessary.png
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 12, 1993 (1993-10-12)
Recorded1992–1993
Studio
Genre
Length58:44
Label
Producer
Salt-N-Pepa chronology
Rapped in Remixes: The Greatest Hits Remixed
(1992)
Very Necessary
(1993)
Brand New
(1997)
Singles from Very Necessary
  1. "Shoop"
    Released: September 21, 1993
  2. "Whatta Man"
    Released: December 2, 1993
  3. "None of Your Business"
    Released: August 30, 1994
  4. "Heaven 'n Hell"
    Released: 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [3]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Pitchfork 8.5/10 [5]

Very Necessary is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, released on October 12, 1993, by Next Plateau Records and London Records. As the group's last album to feature writing and production from their manager and primary producer Hurby Azor, it spawned four singles, including "Shoop" (their first top-five single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number four), "Whatta Man" (featuring En Vogue, their second-highest-peaking single at number three), and "None of Your Business", which would earn the group their first Grammy Award, in the category Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

Contents

Very Necessary peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, and has been certified five-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over five million copies in the United States.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Groove Me" (featuring Styowlz)
Herby "Luvbug" Azor4:21
2."No One Does It Better"
  • H. Azor
  • Williams
H. Azor3:53
3."Somebody's Gettin' on My Nerves"
  • H. Azor
  • Steve Azor
  • Williams
  • H. Azor
  • S. Azor [a]
3:57
4."Whatta Man" (with En Vogue)
Azor5:07
5."None of Your Business"AzorAzor3:32
6."Step"
3:10
7."Shoop"
  • Sparks
  • Cheryl "Salt" James
  • Sandra "Pepa" Denton [a]
4:07
8."Heaven or Hell" (featuring Styowlz (Wink & D'dae))
  • H. Azor
  • S. Azor
  • Michael Oliver
S. Azor4:43
9."Big Shot"
  • H. Azor
  • S. Azor
  • Williams
  • Dana Jr. Mozie
H. Azor3:47
10."Sexy Noises Turn Me On"
  • H. Azor
  • James
  • James
  • Denton [a]
3:54
11."Somma Time Man"
  • James
  • Dave Wynn
  • Darren Callis
DJ Wynn3:25
12."Break of Dawn"
  • H. Azor
  • Michael Love
  • Anthony Martin
  • Sparks
  • James [a]
3:45
13."I've Got AIDS (PSA)"
  • James
  • WEATOC, Inc.
WEATOC, Inc.3:18
International edition bonus tracks [6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Shoop" (Danny D's radio mix)
  • Sparks
  • James
  • Denton
  • Roberts
  • Sparks
  • James
  • Denton [a]
  • Danny D [b]
3:51
15."Start Me Up"
  • H. Azor
  • S. Azor
  • Miguel Guerrero
3:36
Australian edition bonus track [7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
16."Let's Talk About Aids"
  • H. Azor
  • James
3:30
Japanese edition bonus tracks [8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
16."Let's Talk About Aids"
  • H. Azor
  • James
  • H. Azor
  • The Invincibles
  • Liebrand [b] [c]
3:30
17."Emphatically No"
  • M. Sparks
  • W.A. Robinson
  • M. Whittle
  • H. Boswell
  • T. Colbert
  • Sparks
  • James [a]
3:25

Notes

Samples

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Very Necessary
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [27] Platinum70,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [28] 4× Platinum400,000^
United States (RIAA) [29] 5× Platinum3,200,000 [30]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. Tracks 1–10 and 13
  2. Tracks 1–3, 5, 6 and 8–10
  3. Track 5
  4. Tracks 6, 8 and 9
  5. Track 11

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt-N-Pepa</span> American girl group

Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop group formed in New York City in 1985, that comprised Salt, Pepa, and DJ Spinderella. Their debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious (1986), sold more than 1 million copies in the US, making them the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album included the single, "Push It", which was released in 1987 as the B-side to their single "Tramp", and peaked within the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twist and Shout</span> 1961 R&B song

"Twist and Shout" is a 1961 song written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns. It was originally recorded by The Top Notes, but it did not become a hit in the record charts until it was reworked by the Isley Brothers in 1962. The song has been covered by several artists, including the Beatles, Salt-N-Pepa, and Chaka Demus & Pliers, who experienced chart success with their versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exhale (Shoop Shoop)</span> 1995 single by Whitney Houston

"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" is a song by American recording artist and actress Whitney Houston, featured on the soundtrack for the film Waiting to Exhale. It was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on November 6, 1995, by Arista Records. The song was written and produced by Babyface. A mid-tempo R&B and soul ballad, composed in the key of D-flat major, the song's lyrics speak about growing up and learning to let go. The song garnered mostly positive reviews from critics, many of whom noted Houston's vocal maturity in the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1966)

Cheryl Renee James, better known by her stage name Salt, is an American rapper. She is best known as a member of the female rap trio Salt-N-Pepa, which also includes Pepa and Spinderella. James starred in The Salt-N-Pepa Show, a reality TV series focusing on reforming the group; which aired on the VH1 network in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What a Man (song)</span> 1968 single by Linda Lyndell

"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 the trio Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue, which 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt-N-Pepa discography</span> Band discography

This is the discography of Salt-n-Pepa, an American hip hop trio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C'mon and Get My Love</span> 1989 single by D Mob and Cathy Dennis

"C'mon and Get My Love" is a song by British dance producer D Mob from his only studio album, A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That (1989). It features British singer Cathy Dennis, credited as "introducing" her. The song established Dennis as a major chart presence during the late 1980s to early 1990s and was later included in her debut solo album, Move to This, in 1990.

<i>Hot, Cool & Vicious</i> 1986 studio album by Salt-N-Pepa

Hot, Cool, & Vicious is the debut studio album by American hip hop trio Salt-N-Pepa. Released by Next Plateau Records on December 8, 1986, it was the first rap album by a female rap act to attain gold and platinum status in the US.

<i>Runaway Love</i> (EP) 1993 EP by En Vogue

Runaway Love is an EP by American recording group En Vogue. It was released by East West Records on September 21, 1993, in the United States. The EP followed their multi-platinum hit album Funky Divas in 1992. The EP contains the title track, "Runaway Love" featuring FMob, known as Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster.

<i>A Salt with a Deadly Pepa</i> 1988 studio album by Salt-N-Pepa

A Salt with a Deadly Pepa is the second studio album by American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, released on August 2, 1988, by London Records and Next Plateau Records. The album reached number 38 on the Billboard 200 and number eight on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. On December 1, 1988, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned three singles, the top-10 R&B entry "Shake Your Thang"; the top-20 R&B entry "Get Up Everybody "; and "Twist and Shout", which peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart. The album's title is a play on "assault with a deadly weapon".

<i>Blacks Magic</i> 1990 studio album by Salt-N-Pepa

Blacks' Magic is the third studio album by American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, 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 US 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), denoting shipments in excess of one million copies in the United States. 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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just a Step from Heaven</span> 1994 single by Eternal

"Just a Step from Heaven" is a song by British girl group Eternal, released as the third single from their debut album, Always & Forever (1993). Released on 18 April 1994 by EMI and 1st Avenue, the single was well received by music critics, entering at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart on 24 April. It climbed to its peak of number eight three weeks later and spent a total of 11 weeks on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top 30 in Ireland and New Zealand and experienced minimal success in North America. The song was written by Wayne Cohen and Sheppard Solomon, and produced by Dennis Charles and Ronnie Wilson. Its accompanying music video was directed by Matthew Rolston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stone Temple Pilots discography</span>

The discography of Stone Temple Pilots, an American rock band, consists of 8 studio albums, 3 compilation albums, 2 live albums, 1 extended play, 34 singles and 22 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoop (song)</span> 1993 single by Salt-n-Pepa

"Shoop" is the lead single released from American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa's fourth studio album, Very Necessary (1993). The song was produced by group members Sandra "Pepa" Denton and Cheryl "Salt" James with Mark Sparks. It features an uncredited verse by rapper Otwane "Big Twan Lov-Her" Roberts. Released in September 1993 by Next Plateau, the song became one of the group's more successful singles, reaching number four on the US 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 1.2 million copies. Its accompanying music video was directed by Scott Kalvert. The success of both this single and the follow-up single "Whatta Man" propelled Very Necessary to sell over 5 million copies in the US, becoming the group's best-selling album.

Antoinette Lovell Patterson, known simply by the mononym Antoinette, is an American rapper from Bronx, New York, who released two albums, during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koochy</span> 2000 single by Armand Van Helden

"Koochy" is a song by American DJ Armand Van Helden. It was released on May 8, 2000, as the lead single from his fourth studio album, Killing Puritans (2000). It heavily samples Gary Numan's 1979 single "Cars". Although the lyric seems to comprise sexual references, the title actually points back to Numan's song, as the word "kocsi" means "car" in Hungarian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">None of Your Business</span> 1994 single by Salt-n-Pepa

"None of Your Business" is the third single from American hip hop group Salt-n-Pepa's fourth studio album, Very Necessary (1994), released in August 1994 by Next Plateau. Written and produced by Hurby Azor, the song earned the group its first Grammy Award. It is included on the 1996 Barb Wire and 2000 Miss Congeniality soundtracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven 'n Hell</span> 1994 single by Salt-n-Pepa

"Heaven 'N Hell" is the fourth and final single released from Salt-n-Pepa's fourth studio album, Very Necessary. In the United States, it was released alongside "None of Your Business" as a double-A sided single. The song samples "Think About It" by Odell Brown & the Organ-izers, "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss and "Heaven and Hell is on Earth" by 20th Century Steel Band. "Heaven 'N Hell" became a top-30 hit in Australia and New Zealand.

<i>The Best of Salt-N-Pepa</i> 1999 greatest hits album by Salt-N-Pepa

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 titled "The Brick Track Versus Gitty Up", which charted in the top 20 in Australia and New Zealand in 2000.

<i>The Greatest Hits</i> (Salt-n-Pepa album) 1991 greatest hits album by Salt-N-Pepa

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.

References

  1. Considine, J. D. (November 19, 1993). "Salt-N-Pepa shows there's more to rap than violence and sexism @". The Baltimore Sun . Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  2. Birchmeier, Jason. "Very Necessary – Salt-N-Pepa". AllMusic . Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  3. Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG Book '90s: S". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s . Macmillan. ISBN   0312245602 . Retrieved March 30, 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  4. Hunt, Dennis (October 24, 1994). "Record Rack". Los Angeles Times .
  5. Lobenfeld, Claire (June 11, 2017). "Salt-N-Pepa: Very Necessary". Pitchfork . Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  6. Very Necessary (liner notes). Salt-N-Pepa. United Kingdom: FFRR Records. 1993. 828 454-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. Very Necessary (liner notes). Salt-N-Pepa. Australia: FFRR Records. 1993. 828543-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Very Necessary (liner notes). Salt-N-Pepa. Japan: FFRR Records. 1993. POCD-1121.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Whatta Man (US CD maxi single). Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue. Next Plateau Records. 1993. 857 391-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Shoop (US CD maxi single). Salt-N-Pepa. Next Plateau Records. 1993. 857 315-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Heaven 'n Hell (Australian CD single). Salt-N-Pepa. London Records. 1993. 857 391-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. "Australiancharts.com – Salt 'N' Pepa – Very Necessary". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  13. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2400". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  14. "Dutchcharts.nl – Salt 'N' Pepa – Very Necessary" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  15. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 19. May 7, 1994. p. 12. OCLC   29800226 via World Radio History.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Salt 'N' Pepa – Very Necessary" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  17. "Charts.nz – Salt 'N' Pepa – Very Necessary". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  18. "Norwegiancharts.com – Salt 'N' Pepa – Very Necessary". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  19. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  20. "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  21. "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  22. "ARIA Top 50 Albums for 1994". Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  23. "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1994". RPM. Vol. 60, no. 21. December 12, 1994. p. 19. ISSN   0033-7064 via Library and Archives Canada.
  24. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 12, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  25. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  26. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  27. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1994 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  28. "Canadian album certifications – Salt 'N Pepa – Very Necessary". Music Canada. September 30, 1997. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  29. "American album certifications – Salt 'N Pepa – Very Necessary". Recording Industry Association of America. September 11, 1995.
  30. Crosley, Hillary (January 22, 2008). "Lil' Kim Parts Ways With Atlantic". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2014.