About this episode
This week, host Peter Csathy welcomes Salt-N-Pepa's Cheryl "Salt" James to The Story Behind the Song to break down their groundbreaking 1990 track "Let's Talk About Sex." Discover the song's provocative origins, designed with producer Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor to challenge radio censorship. Salt reveals how the track, meant to spark a necessary dialogue, was later transformed at the request of news anchor Peter Jennings into the powerful PSA "Let's Talk About AIDS." The conversation also explores Salt-N-Pepa's trailblazing journey, from working at Sears with other future stars to their meteoric rise to fame. Salt recounts becoming the first female rap act to go platinum and earning their title as the "First Ladies of Rap" while navigating the shock of global stardom. Looking forward, Salt shares her decision to step back from the road for her well-being but hints at a major tour in the near future. She reflects on the full-circle feeling of seeing their legacy celebrated with accolades like their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Listen to Cheryl "Salt" James talk about “Let's Talk About Sex” and more. Then, make sure to follow The Story Behind the Song , and rate and review on Apple Podcasts . Fans can also check out the new TSBTS merch -- including a killer poster and jigsaw puzzle -- available now at the Consequence Shop or via the buy now buttons below! You can keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media . Support The Story Behind the Song by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/mVRZyZV Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy