Super Bowl LVI touched down in Los Angeles, California this past weekend, and as always it arrived in iconic Super Bowl fashion with a star-studded halftime performance and a boatload of humorous, clever commercials.
One of the many companies included in this year’s line-up was Frito-Lay, who used their in-game spot to not only promote their “Flamin Hot” lines of Doritos and Cheetos, but to also pay homage to the Grammy award-winning female hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, and their 1987 breakout single, “Push It.”
21Ninety caught up with the iconic duo who discussed how it felt for “Push It” to be celebrated on such a national platform, Megan Thee Stallion’s contribution to the commercial project, how it feels to be fashion icons, and what else we can expect from the group this year.
Jadriena Solomon: Your iconic single “Push It” was released in 1987, and has now been reimagined by Frito-Lay for their commercial spot during the 2022 Super Bowl. Salt, how does it make you guys feel for that song to be recognized on such a national platform, national event, thirty five years later?
Salt: It’s exciting, it’s always surprising because when we started in ‘85 we didn’t expect to be celebrated in this way so many years later. It’s actually the second time that Salt-N-Pepa has been viewed in the Super Bowl – in 2014, the GEICO commercial aired on Super Bowl Sunday – and we’re just grateful because the goal of every artist, I think, is to have longevity, to make timeless music and we’ve been able to do that so we’re very appreciative… always. Anytime a licensing situation comes up we’re like ‘YES!’
JS: A really interesting fun fact is that the voices in the commercial are actually, Megan Thee Stallion and Charlie Puth. If that wasn’t enough, Megan also pays homage to you both with the release of her newest single “Flamin Hottie.” Pepa, what are some things that you guys love the most about Megan and her music?
Pepa: I just think that what she stands for is a lot of what Salt-N-Pepa stands for – loving yourself, knowing your worth, empowering women, staying true to yourself – these are things that are very important to Salt-N-Pepa and what we have been advocating for since the 80’s until this day. So having “Push It” be a part of the commercial then teaming up with the “Flamin’ Hot Hottie” and bridging the gap between “Push It” and the new generation with Megan Thee Stallion – it was the perfect fit and it was dope!
JS: We are right in the middle of Black History Month and here at 21Ninety we’ve chosen to highlight Black Women as undeniable pioneers of pop culture and fashion. Of course we had to include Salt-N-Pepa for bringing staples like the bamboo earring and chunky, gold jewelry to the forefront. Salt, how does it feel for you both to still be celebrated for your iconic style decades later?
Salt: We never thought about it when we were back in the day, shopping at the same shops that everybody else shopped at. You know, doing videos and doing our own hair and our own makeup – there was no glam team, no stylists – it was us making it up as we went along. Which created this title of “fashion icon” which we fully love. I would say the defining moment of fashion for Salt-N-Pepa was that “Push It” 8 Ball jacket – that picture where we have on the jackets, the spandex, the Kente hat – and we just kind of put that all together. Play from Kid ‘n Play actually made the jacket and designed it. Dapper Dan constructed it. We wore it in the “Push It” video and Janette Beckman took the picture. So it’s a visual that has a lot of history and made a great impact on Hip Hop fashion so we appreciate that that’s recognized, because it's not always recognized.
JS: We definitely recognize it. I don’t know if you guys heard but Mary J. Blige just did an interview with Elle and she credited you guys for inspiring her platinum blonde hair.
Pepa: I was just about to say that – I’m glad you said that there. Yes – that iconic, asymmetrical haircut that Salt-N-Pepa were rocking, we were the first to platinum cut and dye our hair, so definitely yes.
Salt: We always say that we brought fun, fashion and femininity to Hip Hop. We didn’t feel like we had to be hard. We didn’t feel like we had to dress in baggy clothes. We were just literally being ourselves.
Pepa: And one more interesting thing is that Salt-N-Pepa introduced the cut-up jeans. When we did the “Shake Your Thang (It’s Your Thang)” [music] video, that was the first time you ever saw cut-up jeans… Yes! And then it went on to be a hit!
JS: Wow, that’s definitely something new that I’m learning. I love cut-up jeans so to know that that came from you all… perfect! So we know that you guys are preparing to go out on tour. Pepa, are there any other additional projects that you guys are working on that we should look forward to this year?
Pepa: Yes, besides the New Kids On The Block Tour that we’re going on.
Salt: May 10th, it starts off in Cincinnati by the way.
Pepa: I would say music is definitely what we’re working on now, Salt and I. You know, it’s been a long time – you know we’ve done a dab here and there – but to actually put together an album, I’m very excited about that. Amongst some television stuff that we are working on together – you know, we’re the original Laverne & Shirley.
JS: Wow, that’s really cool. Are there any features on your album that you can tell us about, from any old school to new school artists, or do we just have to wait?
Salt: You have to wait, we haven’t locked them all in yet so you’ll have to wait [and see].