On October 12, 1993, Salt-N-Pepa released Very Necessary, the album that turned the Queens-bred trio of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton and DJ Spinderella into full-blown pop and hip hop superstars. Thirty-three years later, it’s still the biggest-selling album of their career.
What It Was
Released through Next Plateau and London Records, Very Necessary was the last Salt-N-Pepa album with writing and production from longtime manager and primary producer Hurby Azor. It was also an album where the women behind the music had their hands on the boards, with Salt, Pepa and Spinderella all credited as producers alongside Azor and others.
The Hits
This album was wall-to-wall radio. “Shoop” climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, the group’s first top-five single. “Whatta Man,” their collaboration with En Vogue, went even higher, peaking at No. 3. Then “None of Your Business” earned Salt-N-Pepa their first Grammy, for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. “Heaven ‘n Hell” rounded out the singles.
By the Numbers
Very Necessary peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 6 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The RIAA certified it 5x Platinum, and it also went 4x Platinum in Canada and Platinum in Australia, where it reached No. 5.
Why It Still Matters
Before Very Necessary, a lot of the industry treated women in rap as a novelty. Salt-N-Pepa flipped that by being openly confident, grown and in charge of their own image, talking about desire and independence on their own terms. “Shoop” and “Whatta Man” celebrated men without ever making the women second fiddle, and “None of Your Business” told critics exactly where to go. You can draw a line from this album to every woman in rap who’s run her own narrative since.
Same Date, Different Lane
October 12 also belongs to Mos Def. On this day in 1999, he released his solo debut Black on Both Sides on Rawkus and Priority. With production from names like DJ Premier, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and 88-Keys, it hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums, No. 3 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 25 on the Billboard 200, and went Gold in February 2000. “Umi Says,” “Ms. Fat Booty,” “Mathematics” and the three-part “Brooklyn” are still essential listening.
Which one are you running back today? Tell us your favorite track.
More from The Archive: On This Day: Lloyd Banks Drops ‘Rotten Apple’.
Sources: Wikipedia: Very Necessary, uDiscover Music, Wikipedia: Black on Both Sides
