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Salt-N-Pepa are gearing up to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, but the celebration isn’t sitting right with everybody. Their original DJ, Latoya Hanson — the first Spinderella — says she hasn’t been invited to the party.
TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Hanson, who was part of the crew through their 1986 debut Hot, Cool & Vicious. She told the outlet she never got a call about the induction and blames it on Salt. “It’s the type of sneakiness from Cheryl ‘Salt’ James that got me booted from the group,” she said.
According to Hanson, Salt was the one who pushed her out back in the day. “What caused the split was a lot of internal, personal, female, catty jealousy,” she explained, comparing it to The Supremes’ drama. “Pepper and I were always cool… but Salt didn’t want me shining.”
Even though it’s been years since she’s spoken with Salt or Pepa, Hanson says producer Hurby Azor told her she’ll always be part of their history. “Hurby said, no matter what they do, you can’t be negated. You’re right there on the album. They can’t say it’s not you. Then they go around talking about women empowerment — but you’re not showing any empowerment.”
Hanson also threw shade at Salt-N-Pepa for their current lawsuit against Universal Music Group over unpaid royalties, questioning how they could even make the claim. “You didn’t write the lyrics, you didn’t write the music. Half the publishing doesn’t even belong to you,” she argued.
Still, Hanson says she’s not looking to stay bitter. She just wants closure — and if the Hall of Fame reached out, she’d be down to attend. “If they made things right, I’d still sit next to them.”
