DJ Spinderella Says Salt-N-Pepa Was Warned They’d Be Arrested for Performing This Hit Song

Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It” is a fan-favorite across the globe, but DJ Spinderella recalls how the “Let’s Talk About Sex” crew was nearly arrested for performing the top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit in certain venues.

Spinderella recently joined Drink Champs for an episode, during which she claimed that venue executives threatened to arrest Salt-N-Pepa if they performed “Push It,” and it’s due to what they perceived were sexually explicit lyrics.

“It was not a sexual song,” she said. “We were literally talking about dancing on the dance floor. And people took that and took it the other way, and it actually worked for us.”

The former Salt-N-Pepa member continued: “Being on stage and being told that, ‘If you play that song here, you can get arrested.’ So, there were times where that was almost the case. And somehow, we got to a point where we just had to convince everybody that this is not about what you think it’s about. And that is the truth.”

Sandra “Pepa” Denton detailed similar sentiments when explaining the controversy surrounding “Push It” to Page Six in 2021. “We were saying ‘push it,’; they thought we were saying, ‘Pussy, real good.’ So the police were waiting for us,” she recalled to the publication.

It’s not the first time an artist has run into trouble with venues when it comes to performing certain records. N.W.A. experienced this with their brash “F–k Tha Police” protest anthem at their summer of 1989 concert in Detroit and saw the Compton crew arrested.

“Push It” was released as part of Salt-N-Pepa’s Hot, Cool & Vicious album in 1986. The track was made a single in 1987 and peaked at No. 19 on the Hot 100 in ’88. Hot, Cool & Vicious is the first female album to earn gold and platinum certifications from the RIAA.

Elsewhere in the interview, DJ Spinderella provided some context behind her split from the group in 2019, which was due to not feeling respected. “You just grow up. You just get to a point where things will not be tolerated. And respect should be mutual. And when respect is mutual, we can move and do whatever,” she added. “But when respect is not mutual, then what are you here for? The bag. That don’t last because I can get a bag without it.”

Watch DJ Spinderella’s Drink Champs episode below.