Salt-N-Pepa are icons, synonymous with groundbreaking female voices in hip-hop and some of the most infectious party anthems ever created. Among their impressive catalog of Salt N Pepa Songs, one stands out, not just for its catchy beat but for its unlikely journey to global fame: “Push It.” Initially a B-side track, this song defied the group’s own expectations and became a career-defining smash hit. The story behind “Push It” is a testament to serendipity, the power of DJs, and how a song can take on a life of its own, far beyond the artists’ original intentions.
From B-Side to Studio Magic: The Genesis of “Push It”
As Salt recounts, “Push It” wasn’t initially intended to be a major track. It was conceived as a B-side, a common practice in the music industry to offer additional content alongside a main single. Their producer, Hurby Azor, however, had a vision. He brought them into the studio with a specific idea, a synthesizer line that would become instantly recognizable. Fresh Gordon, though never officially credited on the record, played a crucial role in laying down that iconic synth riff.
The recording environment itself was far from glamorous. In Fresh Gordon’s Brooklyn vocal studio, which was, humorously described by Salt as “a bathroom, a little tiny bathroom with a microphone,” Salt and Pepa found themselves in a hot and sweaty space, guided by Hurby’s lyrical direction. Interestingly, the lyrics for “Push It” are sparse, a departure from their usual more lyric-heavy tracks. This music-driven approach was new territory for Salt-N-Pepa, and their initial reaction was less than enthusiastic. “We were like, ‘I don’t get it.’ We were like, ‘Ew,'” Salt confesses, highlighting their surprise at the song’s eventual success. Pepa echoed this sentiment, admitting, “Cheryl and I looking like, ‘Do we have to do this?'”
Despite their reservations, they trusted Hurby’s conviction. He was adamant about releasing “Push It,” a decision driven by an instinct that proved to be incredibly accurate.
The DJ’s Touch: Igniting a Global Phenomenon
Salt-N-Pepa were on tour, immersed in the busy schedule of performances, when the unexpected happened. It was a DJ, Cameron Paul from KMEL in San Francisco, who flipped the script, literally and figuratively. He turned over the record and started playing the B-side, “Push It.” This single act of DJ ingenuity changed the trajectory of the song and Salt-N-Pepa’s career.
“We really owe the success of that record to him,” Salt acknowledges. Hurby called the group with the surprising news: “‘Girls, start doing ‘Push It.'” Their initial reaction was disbelief. The realization of “Push It”‘s burgeoning popularity dawned on them when they performed it live. “When we realized ‘Push It’ was a hit, it was because we performed it and the crowd went insane. And we were shocked,” Salt recalls. They were on the Fresh Fest tour, sharing stages with acts like the Fat Boys, completely unaware that their B-side was becoming a “smash hit record.”
Pepa humorously admits their continued bewilderment at the song’s enduring appeal: “Salt and I didn’t get it at that time. And we still don’t get it sometimes. We’d be like, why’s this song so big?”
Spinderella’s Whirlwind Entrance and “Push It”‘s Visual Impact
The “Push It” phenomenon also coincided with a significant moment in Salt-N-Pepa’s lineup: the arrival of Spinderella. Joining the group at just 16 years old, Spinderella was immediately thrown into the whirlwind of “Push It”‘s success. “Two weeks into me being brought into the group, we was shootin’ this video,” she remembers.
The music video for “Push It” became another key element in its widespread appeal. Spinderella, still a teenager and new to the scale of Salt-N-Pepa’s fame, found herself in the midst of a major production. “Now mind you I’m 16 years old, just turning 17, not even outta high school. If you ever see that video … I was up there like, ‘What the hell’s goin’ on?'” she laughs, capturing the surreal experience of her rapid introduction to stardom.
Before Salt-N-Pepa, Spinderella’s DJ experience was primarily in her local scene, learning the craft from her high school boyfriend. She wasn’t actively pursuing a career as a professional DJ or aiming to join a group. “It wasn’t something I was trying to be, it was just something that I picked up,” she explains, highlighting the accidental nature of her path to becoming a part of Salt-N-Pepa and the “Push It” story.
Controversy, Censorship, and Cultural Longevity
“Push It” wasn’t without its controversies. Salt recounts an incident where the suggestive nature of the lyrics led to a near-arrest situation. “We were on stage and our tour manager was told if we sang this song, that we would be arrested.” Authorities misconstrued “push it” for a far more explicit phrase. “They thought we were saying ‘pussy,'” Salt reveals. The group had to literally produce an album to prove the actual lyrics were “push it,” clarifying the misunderstanding and avoiding legal trouble.
Despite the lyrical misinterpretations, or perhaps even fueled by them, “Push It” transcended its initial release. Pepa notes the song’s incredible cultural reach and adaptability: “‘Push It’ has morphed into so many things people use it for. Mothers having babies – push it!” The phrase and the song became a ubiquitous expression of encouragement and energy.
“Push It” became bigger than Salt-N-Pepa themselves. “It started taking a life of its own. ‘Push It’ led us. We didn’t lead ‘Push It,'” Pepa reflects. While the song propelled them to mainstream success, it also, in their view, slightly altered their image. “We totally lost our street credit after that,” Pepa jokes, acknowledging the shift from underground credibility to pop crossover appeal that “Push It” ushered in.
Ultimately, “Push It” remains an iconic track in the salt n pepa songs repertoire and in hip-hop history. Its story is a fascinating example of how a B-side, initially met with lukewarm reception by its creators, can unexpectedly explode into a global phenomenon, shaping careers and leaving an indelible mark on popular culture. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the greatest hits are the ones you least expect.
