Let's Talk About Pep (Hardcover)

by Sandy Denton (Author), Missy Elliott (Epilogue), Queen Latifah (Introduction)
Key Phrases: whatta man, Tah Tah, Dee Dee, The Surreal Life (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
She's the spiciest ingredient in the legendary rap group Salt-N-Pepa, and the outspoken star of VH1's smash-hit reality show. She's Sandy "Pepa" Denton -- and she's never at a loss for words. Now, in her first tell-all book, Pepa talks about sex, music, life, love, fame, and so much more....

"Most of you know me as Pep, or Pepa, the fun-loving half of Salt-N-Pepa. I am the party girl, the one who is down for whatever. But behind the laughs and the smiles is a whole lot of pain."

Funny, fearless, and full of life, Sandy "Pepa" Denton is a pop culture icon whose remarkable story is every bit as captivating and provocative as her Grammy Award-winning music. This is the real Pepa -- upfront, uncensored, unstoppable -- and these are the memoirs of a true pioneer, fighter, survivor, and inspiration to women everywhere.

For the first time, Pepa talks about:

• Her troubled childhood
• Surviving abuse
• Her first encounters with Cheryl "Salt" James
• Salt-N-Pepa's instant success
• Her failed marriages and her escape from domestic abuse
• Her "breakup" with Salt and their eventual "reunion"
• Her triumphant comeback on the VH1 reality shows The Surreal Life, Fame Games, and The Salt-N-Pepa Show

Filled with surprising insights, outrageous anecdotes, and celebrity cameos -- including Queen Latifah, Martin Lawrence, Janice Dickinson, Omarosa, Missy Elliott, L.L. Cool J, supermodel Caprice, Ron Jeremy, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez, "Spinderella," and many others -- Let's Talk About Pep offers a fascinating glimpse behind the fame, family, failures, and successes of celebrity...and into the faithful heart of a woman who will always value the good friends she found along the way. In the words of Sandy "Pepa" Denton, "there's no walking away from that."

About the Author
Sandy "Pepa" Denton formed Salt-N-Pepa in 1986. The group went on to become one of the most significant rap groups of all time, winning numerous awards and nominations. Denton continued to grow with acting roles in movies, on television, and with her top-rated program The Salt-N-Pepa Show.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: VH1 (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416551417
• ISBN-13: 978-1416551416
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,841 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed reading her journey, August 22, 2008

By	N. Trought (Ft. Drum, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I saw that this book wasn't available until Aug 26th. Well, I pre-ordered it from Amazon and was pleasantly surprised to receive it on the 19th.

This book was a quick read and I finished it in 2 days. Overall, I liked the book. Pepa starts her story from about the age of 5 and it ends with her in the present. In between that time period, Pepa goes through ALOT with the things she has experienced. I don't want to give things away, but I emphasize ALOT based on here relationships with males, particularly her relationship with Treach of Naughty by Nature. When they divorced, I never knew why, but in this book, she reveals what she went through and why their relationship just had to end. As a matter of fact, I had to skip parts of the chapters that dealt with him because it was too much. I am happy she left, for her and her children's good. It is a powerful testimony.

As for the rest of Pepa's story, you learn about her family, childhood, rise to fame, her gifts and curses, her and Cheryl's relationship as Salt N Pepa and as friends. In the end, you learn how Pepa has grown and takes some responsibility for her life experiences and how she knows to make better choices for herself. She has learned her true worth and to not accept less.

I strongly feel that this book could help other girls and women who have had similar experiences. I was pleased with the book and would recommend it. I take off 1 star because there are times in the book where a story would veer off and not bring closure to that story until later. Also, the events didn't seem to be in order at times.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not the usual Blame Game, September 16, 2008

By	Kamah Scott "www.centerstagemag.com" (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

I found this work very interesting. I grew up listening to Salt N Pepa. I was in 5th grade and we were all called into Assembly to discuss what could and could not happen at our talent show. This song could not be performed lol. We could not AAAAAHHHH PUSH IT. I loved this song and although I was not a freshpot, I knew what the song was talking about but the beat was amazing. We had the Juke Box network back then and Salt and Pepa were what's up. Everyone wanted the 8 Ball Jackets, and all the older girls in the hood shaved their hair on the side and had that big curl or stuck a piece of weave up in it to execute that Salt N Peppa look.

Aside from being a fan of the music I remember being a fan of the gossip and walking to the 7 Eleven to get my Word Up Magazine ripping out posters and jacking up the wall of my room.

I remember Naughty By Nature, My first concert that mattered when I was around 15, they appeared at Drexel University. Treach was the ish, his whole persona was like WOW. I still have pictures. I even fell at the bottom of the Police Athletic League trying to execute my Salt N Peppa criss cross, spin and backward dip dance move when I thought my crush would be coming into the party. Yes this book brought back memories.

I remember the rumors about Pep getting beat down etc. I was young but I was always in on the drama listening to my cousin who club hopped and always had a story to tell about clubs in New York, hanging out in Jersey etc. I never beleived those stories because Pepa was a gangsta B*tch. The kind that rapper Apache spoke about. That was true to an extent.

This book changed my perception a great deal, inside that hard exterior was someone that was hurting her whole life, trying to be accepted.

I am glad that Ms. Denton had the courage to share her story, deal with the issues, and deal out the blame. This was not the normal blame game Memoire. She took responsibility, healed relationships and most importantly is healing herself.

I love the message that she gives to women. Her daughter and her son have a mother to be proud of.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let's Talk About Pep, September 1, 2008

By	Delano Sampson "D" (New York,NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was looking around Barns and Nobles on Saturday and came across Pepa's Book. I got my copy and went right up to the register to purchase it. I was amazed that she went through the stuff that she did. I couldn't put the book down!!! I was really surprised about her relationship with her first husband Treach as well as her 2nd marriage. behind the smile and music there was much pain. I am happy that she wrote her story and it taught me to keep that dialogue open with young kids to speak up when they are being molested or going through any kind of hurt and pain. Thanks Pep for sharing your joys and pain with us. Continued success.