Legendary Rap Artists SALT-N-PEPA Will Perform at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards

Dick Clark productions and NBC announced today that the legendary female rap trio Salt-N-Pepa will shoop onto the stage to perform several of their monster hits at the "2018 Billboard Music Awards!" Joining them for this one-of-a-kind special performance will be the highly celebrated female vocal group En Vogue. Salt-N-Pepa's "2018 Billboard Music Awards" performance marks the 30thanniversary of them becoming the first female rappers to crack the Top 20 on Billboard Hot 100. The renowned group burst onto the hip-hop scene in 1987 with their debut Billboard chart hit "My Mike Sounds Nice," and then notched their first crossover pop smash with "Push It" the following year.

"Thirty years later, we're still Pushing It all over the world and we're still loved and celebrated by fans we grew up with as well as new fans," said Salt-N-Pepa. "Looking back at all the barriers we've broken as women in this very male dominated genre of music, being the first two female rappers to break the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 is right up there as one of the best moments of our amazing career. We are blessed."

Members Cheryl James (Salt), Sandra Denton (Pepa) and Deidra Roper (DJ Spinderella), with En Vogue, will join previously announced performers BTS, Camila Cabello, Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, John Legend, Dua Lipa, Jennifer Lopez, Shawn Mendes and Christina Aguilera featuring Demi Lovato, on a night filled with music's biggest names. It was also announced earlier this week that global superstar Janet Jackson will receive this year's ICON Award and will take the stage for a highly anticipated performance of her greatest hits, marking her first performance on television in nine years.

Hosted by "The Voice" coach Kelly Clarkson, the "2018 Billboard Music Awards" will broadcast live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC. The three-hour telecast will feature performances from this year's hottest musical acts, unexpected collaborations and buzzworthy moments that celebrate 60 years of the Billboard Hot 100.

Talent Billboard Chart Facts:

Salt-N-Pepa made its Billboard chart debut in 1987 and the following year, the group scored its first pop hit with the iconic "Push It." The track was the first rap song by a female act to hit the Top 40 (and Top 20) of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 19. After "Push It," the trio of Cheryl (Salt) James, Sandra (Pepa) Denton and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper) exploded into the pop mainstream in the 1990s. The Grammy- winning act landed a string of Top 40-charting hits on the Hot 100 that decade with songs like "Let's Talk About Sex," "Do You Want Me," "None of Your Business," "Expression," "Shoop" and "Whatta Man," featuring En Vogue. The latter three cuts also reached No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart - and in 2014, Billboard ranked "Expression" as the No. 5 biggest Hot Rap Songs hit ever. The group jumped back onto the charts in 2016 after "Shoop" was used in the hit film "Deadpool." Following the movie's premiere, the song reached the Top 20 on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and Rap Digital Song Sales charts.

The Billboard Music Award-winning group En Vogue stormed Billboard's charts in 1990 and 1991 as the act become the first - and still so-far only - female group to send its first three singles to No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ("Hold On," "Lies" and "You Don't Have to Worry"). In the 1990s, En Vogue earned six No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart - the most chart-toppers of any all-female group that decade. In 2017, Billboard ranked the act as one of the top 10 girl groups of all time. This year, En Vogue returned to the charts with their first studio album in 14 years, "Electric Café." The album hit the Top 20 of the Independent Albums chart and the set's lead single, "Rocket," shot to the Top 10 of the Adult R&B Songs airplay chart.

About Salt-N-Pepa
With truck gold ropes around their necks and a fire in their hearts to entertain, inspire, and slay the competition- three feminine figures emerged from the shadows and kicked in the door of the male dominated Hip-Hop industry. The legend of Salt-N-Pepa was born. Long before the days of high profile social media platforms, Salt-N-Pepa commanded the attention of millions of followers with their airtight rhyme flow, mass pop appeal, fashion, fun, and unapologetic femininity. They are the first female rap group to attain platinum status. They have sold more than 12 million albums. Their brand of girl power and strong feminine artistry changed the Hip-Hop landscape and blazed a trail for numerous female artists and groups in pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop genres. Included in their catalog of hits from five studio albums are such classics as Push It, Shoop, Whatta Man, Let's Talk About Sex, Expression, Independent, and the Grammy Award winning hit None of Your Business.

In recent years Salt-N-Pepa has reunited for several successful tours in the United States and abroad. In 2018, in the aftermath of a successful 30th Anniversary of the influential group, the ladies are still headlining the "I Love the 90's Tour" and prepping for their Las Vegas residency. Salt-N-Pepa's residency is not only a first for them it is also the first Hip-Hop residency in Las Vegas. With the success of N.W.A biopic, Straight Outta Compton, interest has resurfaced from Hollywood executives in telling the epic story of Salt-N-Pepa. There will be a Salt-N-Pepa movie, and a documentary with both deals in development. And what is sure to be sweet music to the ears of old and new fans alike, they are finally back in the studio working on new music.

Also, in 2018, C.E.O James" Jimmy" Maynes and Chief Operations officer, Tommaso Giuseppe have partnered with the legendary ladies of hip hop, Salt-N-Pepa on Eastwind Media Group (EMG!). Jimmy Maynes is a Grammy award winning music producer with a 30+ year history as an A/R executive hailing from the iconic record companies, Uptown Records, Def Jam, Jive Records and others. Tommaso Giuseppe is a former NY Nightlife promoter turned right hand to Jimmy Maynes. Powered by Salt-N-Pepa, EMG! not only manages the careers and brands of iconic pop/ hip hop & R&B artists such as Naughty By Nature, Kid N Play, ALL4ONE, Blackstreet & Case; EMG! also co-produces the hugely successful worldwide "I Love The 90s Tour" that is currently in its third year with no signs of slowing down.

About En Vogue
En Vogue, currently consisting of Cindy Heron-Braggs, Terry Ellis and Rhona Bennett, has sold over 20 million albums and effortlessly transitioned into the digital age, amassing over 30 million streams and over 26 million Youtube views on their top six hit singles alone: the R&B and Pop smashes "Hold On," "Free Your Mind," "Never Gonna Get It," "Giving Him Something He Can Feel," "Don't Let Go," and "Whatta Man" feat. Salt N Pepa). The group has won seven MTV Video Music Awards, three SOUL TRAIN Awards, two American Music Awards, and received seven Grammy nominations. After 14 years En Vogue is back with their first studio album "Electric Café" that spawn the Top 10 Adult R&B Songs hit single "Rocket."

Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue's BBMA Giphy stickers are now available! These stickers can be found within Instagram Stories by clicking the GIF button and searching for "BBMAs."
Nominations for the "2018 Billboard Music Awards" were announced last month on NBC's "Today" and on a livestream from Billboard's New York office. Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars and Ed SHeeran tie for the most nominations this year with 15 each.

Voting for the two fan voted categories - Billboard Chart Achievement Award and Top Social Artist - will open on Monday, May 14 and additional details will be available soon.

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