Salt-N-Pepa, the first-ever all-women rap group, is returning to The Fair on August 23 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of hip hop. Their performance will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Opening Day at Chevy Court. This will be their third appearance at The Fair.
Cheryl James, known as "Salt," and Sandy Denton, known as "Pepa," joined forces in the mid-1980s when they were students at Queensborough Community College and colleagues at Sears in Queens. They were asked by Salt's boyfriend at the time to rap on a song he was producing, which became an underground hit called "The Show Stopper" and made it to the national R&B charts. This success led to a record deal and their debut album, "Hot, Cool & Vicious."
Salt-N-Pepa went on to release numerous hits, including "Push It," "Shake Your Thang," "Shoop," and "Whatta Man." With their party anthems, big beats, and pro-feminist lyrics, they broke down barriers for women in hip hop and achieved success in the pop music realm, playing a significant role in mainstream acceptance of rap and hip hop.
The group has received several Grammy awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. In the same year, Lifetime released a biopic chronicling their careers.
The Great New York State Fair is thrilled to welcome Salt-N-Pepa back, as their performance embodies the fun spirit and high-energy of Opening Day. They have paved the way for many artists and women in the music industry, and their contributions to hip hop and the music world are immeasurable. The Fair has another exciting hip hop-related feature planned for fairgoers, which will be announced soon.
Salt-N-Pepa previously performed at The Fair on the first day in 2013 and were featured in a day dedicated to classic rap and hip hop in 2015. This year, they will be part of a star-studded lineup on Opening Day, which includes Chubby Checker, Steven Page, and Lainey Wilson.
The admission tickets to The Fair include access to all acts featured in the Chevrolet Music Series, and the prices are $6 for adults, free for children aged 12 and younger, and free for individuals aged 65 and older.
The Chevrolet Music Series at The Fair features a total of 48 acts spread across 13 days. You can find the complete schedule on The Fair's website, including the lineup for Chevy Court and Suburban Park stages.
The Great New York State Fair, founded in 1841, showcases the best of New York agriculture and offers top-quality entertainment. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently ranked among the top five state fairs in the nation.
Photo Credit: NY State Fair
Categories: New York, Education, Rural Lifestyle