Salt-N-Pepa speak out about copyright lawsuit

August 5, 2025 – Radio 854 Music News

Salt-N-Pepa Speak Out About Copyright Lawsuit

Legendary hip-hop duo Salt-N-Pepa are speaking out for the first time about the copyright lawsuit filed against them, defending their legacy and artistic integrity.

Earlier this year, the group — best known for hits like “Push It”, “Shoop”, and “Whatta Man” — was hit with a lawsuit alleging that they unlawfully sampled music without proper clearance in several of their iconic tracks.

The plaintiffs, a production team from the early ’80s, claim Salt-N-Pepa used portions of their instrumental work without compensation or permission. The lawsuit specifically names a sample allegedly used in the group’s 1993 album Very Necessary, which helped catapult the duo to mainstream fame.

In a new interview, Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton responded to the allegations, stating:

“We’ve always respected the culture, and that includes the artists who came before us. If anything slipped through the cracks, it was never intentional.”

They added that they are working closely with their legal team to resolve the matter, emphasizing that their decades-long career has been built on creativity, collaboration, and love for hip-hop.

The duo also expressed disappointment that the situation is playing out in public, but acknowledged that it opens up an important conversation about music sampling, ownership, and evolving copyright standards in the industry.

Salt-N-Pepa, who paved the way for countless women in rap, remain committed to celebrating the music that shaped them — while standing firm in the face of legal challenges.

Stay tuned to Radio 854 for updates as the story develops.