Salt-N-Pepa slam UMG as the pioneering rap duo sue the record label for control of their master recordings.
The female MC’s filed a lawsuit against the music giant back in May in which they allege UMG is violating federal copyright law by denying them the copyright to their music after a certain amount of time has elapsed.
In a new interview with Good Morning America, the duo discussed the lawsuit.
Salt said: “When you’re an artist, in the beginning, you sign a contract saying that the copyrights will revert back to you after 35 years. And we’ve done all the things legally to get our copyrights back. But they’re just refusing, so we had to sue them.”
She added: “We didn’t have that leverage. We didn’t have that knowledge. We didn’t have that control in the 80s. And so, to be held to a contract from 1985, and 40 years later, it’s, like, ridiculous.”
Pepa also chimed in: “They wanna keep it. They wanna hold onto it. And they’re tryin’ to fight us. So, obviously, they understand what’s the worth of that.”
UMG have sought to dismiss the lawsuit.
In better news, Salt-N-Pepa are set to receive the Musical Influence Award at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, becoming the first Hip Hop act to be awarded the honor.
Pepa said of the award: “It’s an amazing feeling, because … it’s for your music, not just one hit. It’s about your journey, your legacy, what you have done, you know, the influence that you had … 40 years and we’re still here.”
Salt added: “Authenticity, especially in art, I think, leads to longevity. And I feel like that’s a big part of why people took to Salt-N-Pepa, because we are authentic. And I wanna inspire women, inspire and encourage women to be themselves, to go for it, you know? And to not be afraid to knock down barriers in the workplace, in the world, whatever you’re doing. Just be strong.”
Salt-N-Pepa are not the only artists currently suing UMG with Drake initiating legal action against his longtime record label, accusing them of defamation over the release of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”.
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