Legendary hip hop pioneers Salt-N-Pepa visited Toronto to help celebrate the city’s 18th annual Beer Festival.
The Grammy Award-winning artists have been making music since 1985, and we had the chance to sit down with the pair and learn a little bit about what it takes to stay in the rap game for more than 25 years.
6 Questions with Salt-N-Pepa
1. How do you manage to maintain such loyal fans over the years?
I think when Salt-N-Pepa came out we were really original. We were just three young chicks expressing ourselves and doing our thing. There weren’t any stylists or makeup artists or people giving you an image back then, and we think because we brought fun, femininity and fashion to hip-hop for women, a lot of women identified with us and they remember us as being a part of an important time in their lives.
2. You were the first female rap group to win a Grammy. How do you feel about the female hip-hop artists of today such as Nicki Minaj?
I just feel like there’s room for more because when we were coming up there was Missy (Elliott), (Queen) Latifah, Eve, Lil’ Kim, and so many different women representing different women, so we’re wondering a little where all the other female rappers are today and would just like to see more of them. It’s always been a male dominated field and we always knew that, but there’s definitely room for some more females.
3. Who would you say you admire as a musician?
We’re team Rihanna!
4. What important trends do you see in music right now?
What’s really happening a lot now is collaboration. When we first started you would sometimes see collaborations, but now it’s all about the artists getting together on one track, which becomes a hit song and that’s a good trend that’s nice to see.
5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
Our fans. I know that’s kind of cliche but when we’re on the road for so long sometimes it can get difficult. But when we hit the stage and see how much people love and appreciate us it’s always surprising and exciting.
6. What are your most important hobbies?
A good workout. Pushin’ it real good.
Salt-N-Pepa, Hip Hop Icons (INTERVIEW)
TH Talks with the Duo at the Best Beer Festival in Toronto
Trend Themes
1. Maintaining Loyal Fans - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore new ways to engage and connect with fans over the years, such as leveraging technology platforms and personalized interactions.
2. Female Representation in Hip-hop - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Support and promote the visibility of female hip-hop artists through inclusive collaborations, mentorship programs, and platforms dedicated to showcasing their talent.
3. Collaborative Music Creation - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative platforms and tools that facilitate collaboration among artists, enabling them to create hit songs together.
Industry Implications
1. Music Entertainment - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate virtual reality and immersive experiences into live performances to enhance audience engagement and create unique concert experiences.
2. Fashion Retail - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with female hip-hop artists to create fashion lines that cater to the diverse styles and preferences of their fanbase.
3. Technology Platforms - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build platforms that connect aspiring female hip-hop artists with industry professionals, providing them with the resources and support needed to succeed.