If you know “Push It” from every bar mitzvah and wedding you’ve ever been to, but don’t really know the full story about the rap group behind it, Lifetime’s got a biopic for that. The three-hour miniseries Salt-N-Pepa tells the inspiring story of nursing students Cheryl “Salt” James (G.G. Townson) and her partner in rhyme, Sandra “Pepa” Denton (Laila Odom) and their rise to fame as a genre-smashing rap group thanks to some beats provided by their pal Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor (Cleveland Berto).
Monique Paul is behind the boards as third member DJ Spinderella, with Jermel Howard scowling his way through as Naughty By Nature’s Treach in the film directed by Mario Van Peebles. The one-minute trailer ticks off the group’s many amazing accomplishments between images of the trio’s rise to fame, including: first platinum-selling female hip-hop act and first Grammy-winning female rap group.
Cued to their indelible 1987 hit (which was actually a b-side), “Push It,” the trailer gives a hint at the sexism the trio had to overcome in order to get their seat at the table, as well as showing off some of the superfly late ’80s/early ’90s outfits that also elevated them to street fashion icon status. Lifetime has not yet announced the air date for the miniseries due later this year.
Watch the trailer below.
