Lifetime has set a premiere date for the upcoming Salt-N-Pepa biopic and the interview special that will follow it.

On Jan. 23, 2021, the biopic will air at 8 p.m. and the interview special will air at 11 p.m.

The cast includes G.G. Townson as Cheryl “Salt” James and Laila Odom as Sandra “Pepa” Denton. Monique Paul will play the group’s DJ, Deidra Roper aka DJ Spinderella. Other cast members include Jermel Howard as rapper Treach, who married Pepa in 1999. The two divorced in 2001. Cleveland Berto portrays music producer Hurby Azor.

The biopic will chronicle the group’s rise in the hip hop industry as part of a revolution that challenged how women rappers were seen in the industry. The series will also look at their friendship and how the relationship was put to the test by their careers.

Here’s the official description of the biopic: The miniseries Salt-N-Pepa follows the story of Queensborough Community College students Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton as they fall into the world of rap and hip hop, after recording for a song for their friend Hurby Azor. Salt-N-Pepa made a huge impact in hip hop by being one of the first all-female rap groups, changing the look of hip hop and unafraid to talk about sex and share their thoughts on men. Salt-N-Pepa became the first female rap act to go platinum and experienced ground-breaking success with multiple awards, including a Grammy, paving the way for all female rappers to follow. The miniseries will also feature their greatest hits like Let’s Talk About Sex, What a Man, Shoop and Push It, among others.

The project produced by Sony Pictures Television and directed by Mario Van Peebles. Abdul Williams (The Bobby Brown Story, The New Edition Story) is the scriptwriter. Robert Teitel from Slate Street Productions is an executive producer. The biopic is also executive produced by Cheryl James, Sandra Denton, Shakim Compere, Queen Latifah and is co-executive produced by James “Jimmy” Maynes and Hurby Azor.

The logline for the interview special reads, After 35 years, the reigning Queens of Hip Hop are still going strong. Salt-n-Pepa sit down for a fun and intimate discussion about what makes their iconic partnership work, how these two very different personalities find the delicate balance to keep it going, and how their pioneering style continues to influence the music world today. Hosted by Loni Love, the special is packed with never-before-heard stories about their lives and careers and share exclusive BTS footage, with a few surprises and special guests along the way!”

 

Photo: Lifetime