How Cheryl “Salt” James Is Rewriting Her Legacy On Her Own Terms
- Salt fights to own the masters of her iconic hits, leveraging AI to reclaim her intellectual property.
- Salt openly discusses her personal mental health journey, urging the community to destigmatize seeking help.
- As an independent artist, Salt encourages fans to support artists directly, moving past exploitative industry practices.
When you think of the architects of Hip Hop, the queens who laid the foundation for every female emcee dominating the charts today, the name Cheryl “Salt” James is etched in stone. As one-half of the legendary duo Salt-N-Pepa, she gave us anthems that celebrated women, autonomy, and joy. But in a recent, deeply personal sit-down, Salt revealed that her most important work isn’t just about the music—it’s about ownership, mental wellness, and the power of community.
The conversation wasn’t just a trip down memory lane; it was a rallying cry. Salt opened up about the stark reality of the music business, specifically the battle for her masters—the original recordings of her iconic hits. It’s a story we hear too often in our community: Black artists creating the culture, while corporate entities reap the generational wealth.
“We are pissed. We are mad,” the interviewer noted, echoing the frustration of fans who realized the duo doesn’t own the hits that play at every cookout and wedding. Salt didn’t shy away from the hard truth of “capitalism at its finest,” describing how industry executives have been “eating off” their legacy for decades.
But Salt isn’t just complaining; she’s innovating. In a fascinating turn, she discussed the potential of re-recording their classic catalog, similar to Taylor Swift’s strategy, but with a modern twist: using Artificial Intelligence. “To make them sound more authentic, we could possibly use AI… so it’ll be closer to the original,” she mused. It’s a brilliant example of how veteran artists can leverage new technology to reclaim their intellectual property.
Beyond the business, Salt got vulnerable about the heavy toll life can take. Discussing her book Mental Health Matters, she shared the painful journey of her brother, who suffered from schizophrenia and spent much of his life institutionalized. This wasn’t just a story about him, but a mirror for our community’s often silent struggle with mental health.
Salt also turned the lens on herself, detailing a dark period during her divorce where she felt she was losing her identity. She recalled looking at her nightstand, covered in wine, aspirin, and pills, and realizing she had to rescue herself. “I went to therapy. I set boundaries. I did a whole lot of things that I wouldn’t normally do in order to just pull myself up out of that situation,” she shared. Her message is clear: it is okay to not be okay, and more importantly, it is okay to seek help. “We got to get rid of the stigma,” she urged.
Today, Salt is channeling that same energy into a new chapter as an independent artist and content creator. She’s moved past the major labels (“Spotify is the worst,” she laughed) and is embracing platforms like Bandcamp that allow fans to support artists directly. She encourages us to be intentional with our dollars, to stop feeding the machines that don’t feed us, and to seek out independent talent.
“Check me out on Da Only Salt on IG… I’m doing this independently. I’m putting out my own money to put out my own music,” she declared. It’s a call to action for us to buy into “artist to consumer ownership.”
Her upcoming projects, including the singles “Kings and Queens” and “Diamonds in the Light,” and an album slated for spring, are a celebration of this new freedom. “Kings and Queens” is described as a song to play “with intention” for our children—a reminder of who they are in a world that often tries to tell them otherwise.
Cheryl “Salt” James is more than a legend; she is a blueprint for survival and evolution. Whether she’s in the gym inspiring us to get healthy, in the studio reclaiming her voice, or advocating for mental health, she reminds us that our stories, our health, and our ownership are non-negotiable. As she so perfectly put it, “When you tell your story, you helping somebody else tell theirs.”
It is time we give her—and all our legends—their flowers, not just with words, but with our support, our intentional spending, and our unwavering respect.
See Full Interview Below
