Cheryl ‘Salt’ James Releases ‘Kings & Queens’ Video
GRAMMY AWARD-WINNER CHERYL ‘SALT’ JAMES RELEASES EMPOWERING NEW SINGLE “KINGS & QUEENS” AHEAD OF DEBUT SOLO ALBUM “SALTY & LIT”
SALT-N-PEPA BECOMES FIRST FEMALE HIP HOP GROUP
INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
Hip Hop Icon Continues Historic Run with New Music & Album
Dropping Later This Year
(Los Angeles, CA – January 2, 2026) Grammy Award-winning hip-hop pioneerCheryl ‘Salt’ James steps boldly into her solo era with the release of “Kings & Queens,” the second single from her highly anticipated debut solo album, Salty N Lit, due Spring/Summer 2026. A declaration of self-worth, legacy, and empowerment, “Kings & Queens” finds Salt doing what she has always done best…speaking truth, uplifting community, and honoring the culture that shaped her. “Kings & Queens” is the follow-up to her debut single “Chosen,” which received significant fan support. The single follows her debut solo release and further cements this next chapter as both personal and purposeful.
The accompanying music video was filmed at The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx. This symbolic and powerful setting underscores Salt’s lifelong commitment to preserving and celebrating hip-hop history.
In the spirit of giving back, fans are encouraged to support The Hip Hop Museum through its “$1 Dollar, 1 Mic, 1 Movement” campaign, a grassroots initiative designed to help build and sustain the first-ever global museum dedicated to hip-hop culture.
This release arrives during a historic moment in Salt’s career. In 2025, Salt-N-Pepa became the first female group of any genre to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, receiving the prestigious Influence Award for their immeasurable impact on music, culture, and generations of artists. Last year, Salt-N-Pepa celebrated the 35th anniversary of their groundbreaking album Blacks’ Magic. The 1990 release included five hit singles: “Expression,”“Let’s Talk About Sex,”“Independent,”“Do You Want Me,” and “You Showed Me,” and solidified the group’s legacy as voices for female empowerment and cultural change. Notably, Salt became the first female hip-hop producer to release her own platinum single, “Expression,” and the fan-favorite “Independent.” Cheryl’s powerful, history-making induction speech stood as a defining moment honoring the past while boldly affirming the future of women in hip-hop. Please read and view her speech and performance below.
“Salt-N-Pepa have never been afraid of a fight. This is the “Influence Award.” We have to keep using our influence until the industry honors creativity the way the audience does with love, respect, and fairness, that includes streaming platforms.
Hip-hop gave us a voice, and we’ll keep using it…”
Cheryl ‘Salt’ James continues to evolve without ever losing her foundation. Salty N Lit promises to be a fearless, faith-filled, and forward-thinking body of work rooted in legacy, yet unapologetically her own.
With “Kings & Queens,” Salt isn’t just releasing music; she’s issuing a reminder: the culture is royal, the people are influential, and the legacy lives on.
