{"id":11385,"date":"2025-11-11T03:31:54","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T03:31:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/?p=11385"},"modified":"2025-11-11T03:32:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T03:32:25","slug":"they-paved-the-way-for-me-missy-elliotts-emotional-35-year-connection-to-salt-n-pepa-revealed-on-stage-paving-the-way-for-the-first-female-dj-in-rock-hall-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/?p=11385","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThey paved the way for me\u201d Missy Elliott\u2019s emotional 35-year connection to Salt-N-Pepa revealed on stage, paving the way for the first female DJ in Rock Hall history"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held on November 9 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, became a landmark night for hip-hop, headlined by a heartfelt tribute from one legend to another. Superstar rapper and producer Missy Elliott<\/b>, herself a 2023 Rock Hall inductee, took the stage to induct the groundbreaking trio Salt-N-Pepa<\/b> (Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton,<\/b> and DJ Spinderella<\/b>) with the prestigious Musical Influence Award<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Elliott\u2019s emotional induction speech revealed her deep, decades-long connection to the group, which served as a blueprint for her own career. She credited them as “the brick layers\u2014the foundation that hip-hop stands on,” adding, “The female rappers had to step to the mic and show that they could go toe to toe with the guys. And Salt, Pepa and Spinderella did it.”<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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A Trailblazing Legacy and a Historic First<\/span><\/h3>\n

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The induction of Salt-N-Pepa<\/b> marks a series of historic firsts: they became the first all-female rap group to be installed in the Rock Hall. Crucially, their entrance made DJ Spinderella<\/b> (Deidra Muriel Roper) the first female DJ<\/b> ever inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Spinderella, who noted she would be celebrating 40 years as a DJ next year, proudly accepted the honor, stating, “I carry every female DJ who ever dared to dream. Every woman who touched a turntable and said, ‘I can do that, too.’ This is ours. Respect the DJ!”<\/span><\/p>\n

The trio followed the induction with an electrifying performance medley, wearing their iconic multicolored leather jackets from their breakthrough video. Their set included the hits “Shoop,”<\/b> the controversial and honest “Let\u2019s Talk About Sex,”<\/b> and their collaboration “What a Man,”<\/b> for which they were joined on stage by R&B legends En Vogue<\/b>. They closed the electrifying set with the track that started it all, “Push It.”<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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Data and The Ongoing Battle for Ownership<\/span><\/h3>\n

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The group’s 1987 breakthrough song<\/b>, “Push It,”<\/b> was a cultural phenomenon. Data confirms its commercial power, as it peaked at No. 19 on the US Billboard<\/i> Hot 100 chart<\/b> and reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart<\/b> in 1988, cementing them as global superstars and the first female rap act to earn gold and platinum status for an album (Hot, Cool & Vicious<\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Salt-N-Pepa<\/b> used their momentous acceptance speech not just for celebration, but for a rallying cry. Salt<\/b> dedicated the honor to “every woman who picked up a mic when they told her she couldn\u2019t,” but also called out the music industry’s persistent lack of fairness. She brought up their ongoing legal battle to reclaim their master recordings from Universal Music Group<\/b>, an effort to exercise their copyright termination rights after 35 years<\/b>. Salt told the audience: “After 40 years, as we celebrate this moment, fans can’t even stream our music. It\u2019s been taken down from all streaming platforms because the industry still doesn’t want to play fair.”<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

This act of advocacy, using the Rock Hall stage to fight for artists’ ownership rights, underscored the group’s legacy of empowerment, proving they are still unafraid to lead the fight after forty years in the business.<\/span><\/p>\n

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@rockhall<\/a> <\/p>\n

From one hip-hop icon to another: @missyelliott takes the stage to induct the legendary @saltnpepamusic. \ud83d\udcfa Tune in NOW on @disneyplus to watch the 2025 Rock & Roll of Fame Induction Ceremony. #RockHall2025<\/a> #MissyElliott<\/a> #SaltNPepa<\/a> #HipHop<\/a><\/p>\n

\u266c original sound – Rock Hall – Rock Hall<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n