Salt of the pioneering Hip Hop group Salt-N-Pepa recently opened up about feeling pressured to have an abortion by the music industry.
In a clip from the pair’s upcoming interview with Tamron Hall, the pair discussed with the host the misconception that women in the music industry cannot balance motherhood and success. According to the duo, “having it all” is possible, despite industry fears.
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“When they think it can’t, they panic, the labels and people. ‘Oh my god, how are you gonna? The sales! Sales, sales!’ But you know, we did it,” said Pepa (real name Sandra Denton).
Then Salt (real name Cheryl James) chimed in, revealing her own experience as a young mother within the music industry, admitting that she had been pressured to have an abortion by someone in the industry.
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“I won’t say by who — but to your point, yeah, you just have to know that it’s something that you’re capable of handling if you want a kid and you want to have a career. And it’s definitely harder,” she said.
She also noted that besides finding her faith, having her daughter was the “best thing.” “Like, I needed that lil’ baby in my life, you know?” Salt explained.
The pressure could be attributed to why the New York MC took a brief hiatus from the Hip Hop duo in 2001 after nearly 16 years of being together.
The Hip Hop group — comprised of Salt, Pepa, and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper) — formed in New York City in 1985, and have been referred to as the “First Ladies Of Rap.” To date, the group has sold over 15 million records worldwide.
Later on in the conversation, the host emphasized how their decision to push forward and resist critics broke stereotypes about what motherhood could be like. It also proved that with hard work and determination, anything is possible regardless of gender and circumstance, she said.
Using Rihanna’s recent performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show while visibly pregnant as an example, Hall pointed that the stance they took made a difference in the lives of future generations of female performers.
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“I go back to you, these trailblazers in so many ways that a female entertainer can get on the biggest stage and say, ‘here it is,'” Hall said.
The hour-long interview is scheduled to be released on Tuesday (May 9).
