Mark Gray

7/11/2019

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Salt-N-Pepa's former DJ, Spinderella, is suing the duo for fraud and breach of contract, claiming the famous twosome has been scamming her out of millions of dollars for decades.

TMZ obtained the lawsuit in which the DJ says she's been getting financially shafted for 20 years.

Spin claims she started being financially phased out in 1999 when the legendary group released its "Best Of" album. She said she was promised a third of the royalties from the album, but never got it, despise getting a phone calling indicating she was getting $125,000.

She also alleges that she was excluded from Salt-N-Pepa's VH1 TV show that was based on the group's history. She claims she was promised one third of the group's fee for the show, but got way less than that.

The pile on continued, as the disgruntled DJ added that she got no compensation for her appearance with the duo at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards.

Further, TMZ said Spin was shocked to find out that the twosome had been paid more than $600,000 in royalties over the past decade. Spin says she hasn't received any royalty money.

In addition to breach of contract, Spin is suing for trademark infringement, alleging that Salt-N-Pepa continue to use her to promote performances

Spinderella's fallout with the group has been ugly.

In May, she revealed that she's been kicked out of the group via email earlier in the year.

"I'm deeply saddened to share with all the #SaltnPepa and #Spinderella fans that I will not be performing on the #NKOTB Mixtape Tour," she wrote on Instagram. "Despite my participation in promoting the tour and being highly publicized as one of the acts, in January 2019 I received a 'termination' email from #SaltnPepa excluding me from performances with the group."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/salt-n-pepas-longtime-dj-spinderella-sues-group-for-fraud/ar-AAEbITj?ocid=ientp

Those poor corsets regardless it is kinda fuct up of them to phase out Spin, she's even name checked at the start of one of their biggest hits. Its interesting that although she is the DJ she isn't a producer which is different from other DJs in popular rap groups like Ali Shaheed or Prince Paul.

.

I'm reading her wiki page they say her gig was once offered to freakin' Wendy Williams can u imagine?

I remember in the late 90s,the ladies signed a new record deal which paid them an $11 million advance.The money was split up like this: Salt would take $5 million,Pepa would take $5 million and Spinderella would get $1 million.Needless to say,Spinderella wasn't happy about it.I read an interview where she was pissed.

..

[Edited 7/18/19 13:21pm]

Didn't Salt and Pepa have another female DJ before Spinderella (back in the day?)

SoulAlive said:

Could the problem be that the ladies never really clarified Spinderella’s role in the group and never considered her to be an equal member? I know she has contributed lyrics and even has her own little rap on their major hit “Whatta Man”.

That's probably it. I remember watching the reality show that brought Salt n Pepa back together, and Spindarella then came on later and that was one of the things that was brought up.

SoulAlive said:

Could the problem be that the ladies never really clarified Spinderella’s role in the group and never considered her to be an equal member? I know she has contributed lyrics and even has her own little rap on their major hit “Whatta Man”.

The way they see it is Salt-N-Pepa is a partnership and they generously gave her shine to feature her on songs and now Spinderella wants to say she stepped up to every challenge and isn't getting paid.


I understand both sides!

OldFriends4Sale said:

SoulAlive said:

Could the problem be that the ladies never really clarified Spinderella’s role in the group and never considered her to be an equal member? I know she has contributed lyrics and even has her own little rap on their major hit “Whatta Man”.

That's probably it. I remember watching the reality show that brought Salt n Pepa back together, and Spindarella then came on later and that was one of the things that was brought up.

It has been ongoing and I thought they were just rehashing the 2007 VH1 Salt N Pepa show.

I wonder... what will happen with Queen Latifah's produced biopic/documentary about Salt-N-Pepa?

SPYZFAN1 said:

Didn't Salt and Pepa have another female DJ before Spinderella (back in the day?)

This is how Hurby Luv Bug kept them all in line. Replaced Spinderella from the 1986 album cover of Hot, Cool & Vicious without even changing the name. Even told Pepa "we can replace you".

Cinny said:

SPYZFAN1 said:

Didn't Salt and Pepa have another female DJ before Spinderella (back in the day?)

This is how Hurby Luv Bug kept them all in line. Replaced Spinderella from the 1986 album cover of Hot, Cool & Vicious without even changing the name. Even told Pepa "we can replace you".

Well... Latoya Hanson was the DJ before Spin, when they were still called Super Nature. She remained in the group until 1987. Hanson was on Hot, Cool & Vicious. Yet, in the liner notes Spin is in there. So it feels more like a muddy crossover moment between the two. BUT I've no doubt a heavy-handed producer would say that to anyone in a girl group to intimidate them.

It's disappointing to hear about the riff w/ Spin, and how little they've given her for her contributions.

[Edited 7/19/19 9:34am]

SoulAlive said:

Could the problem be that the ladies never really clarified Spinderella’s role in the group and never considered her to be an equal member? I know she has contributed lyrics and even has her own little rap on their major hit “Whatta Man”.

Well, a group named after 2 of it's 3 members should give anyone, including that third member, a clue that the third member isn't equal to the other two and considered replaceable.

PatrickS77 said:

SoulAlive said:

Could the problem be that the ladies never really clarified Spinderella’s role in the group and never considered her to be an equal member? I know she has contributed lyrics and even has her own little rap on their major hit “Whatta Man”.

Well, a group named after 2 of it's 3 members should give anyone, including that third member, a clue that the third member isn't equal to the other two and considered replaceable.

And who were the Thompson Twins?

TrivialPursuit said:

PatrickS77 said:

Well, a group named after 2 of it's 3 members should give anyone, including that third member, a clue that the third member isn't equal to the other two and considered replaceable.

And who were the Thompson Twins?

I have no idea. Who were/are they?

PatrickS77 said:

Well, a group named after 2 of it's 3 members should give anyone, including that third member, a clue that the third member isn't equal to the other two and considered replaceable.

When Jam Master Jay was killed Run DMC said there is no group without him and broke up. They did reunite years later, but only to do concerts. They've never recorded anything else together. They've each recorded solo songs & DMC put out a comic book.

PatrickS77 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

And who were the Thompson Twins?

I have no idea. Who were/are they?

An 80s group of three people, none of whom were blood related, and were duality named. A la Salt n' Pepa.

TrivialPursuit said:

PatrickS77 said:

I have no idea. Who were/are they?

An 80s group of three people, none of whom were blood related, and were duality named. A la Salt n' Pepa.

How does this relate since non of them were twins and apparently no one was called Thompson?

MickyDolenz said:

PatrickS77 said:

Well, a group named after 2 of it's 3 members should give anyone, including that third member, a clue that the third member isn't equal to the other two and considered replaceable.

When Jam Master Jay was killed Run DMC said there is no group without him and broke up. They did reunite years later, but only to do concerts. They've never recorded anything else together. They've each recorded solo songs & DMC put out a comic book.

Well, then he was lucky.

PatrickS77 said:

Well, then he was lucky.

How is that? Jam Master Jay came up with their entire image & look and he also played instruments on some songs as well as scratching. The hats they wore was Jay's idea. Jay produced other acts like Onyx.

Salt n Pepa was so mean & cold to Spin on their recent reality show that ended a few weeks with RnB group SWV. That anyone that didn't know who they were would have sworn Spin was a member of SWV. The tension between them U can cut like a knife. I saw SaltnPepa live a few years ago with Spin when they hit the stage their chemistry is undeniable. They were sexy,energetic and can dance their asses off. They really give U a good show live. It's sad but this a current theme of most rnb groups.

[Edited 7/22/19 14:26pm]

Someone mentioned Jam Master Jay.He was actually an equal member in Run DMC.Any money they made was split equally between the three of them.

MickyDolenz said:

PatrickS77 said:

Well, then he was lucky.

How is that? Jam Master Jay came up with their entire image & look and he also played instruments on some songs as well as scratching. The hats they wore was Jay's idea. Jay produced other acts like Onyx.

Geez. Why are we talking about Run DMC when their situation obviously doesn't apply, as it was supposedly Jam Master Jay's idea to name the band after the other two?? That is one in a million though. Usually the person not named in the band name is the one fucked, ask Spinderella or Van Halen's Michael Anthony or David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar. And don't come in with another example, which isn't quite the same, where that wasn't the case. Three people, 2 make up the name of the band and the third one is the odd man (or woman) out.

TrivialPursuit said:

Cinny said:

This is how Hurby Luv Bug kept them all in line. Replaced Spinderella from the 1986 album cover of Hot, Cool & Vicious without even changing the name. Even told Pepa "we can replace you".

Well... Latoya Hanson was the DJ before Spin, when they were still called Super Nature. She remained in the group until 1987. Hanson was on Hot, Cool & Vicious. Yet, in the liner notes Spin is in there. So it feels more like a muddy crossover moment between the two. BUT I've no doubt a heavy-handed producer would say that to anyone in a girl group to intimidate them.

It's disappointing to hear about the riff w/ Spin, and how little they've given her for her contributions.

[Edited 7/19/19 9:34am]

Have Salt or Pepa given any reason for this?

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2019/07/12/talk-suits-dallas-dj-spinderella-takes-salt-n-pepa-bandmates-federal-court

Let's talk about suits: Dallas DJ Spinderella takes her Salt-N-Pepa bandmates to federal courtFiled under Commentary at Jul 12

Written by

Robert Wilonsky, City Columnist Connect with Robert Wilonsky

Whatta mess, whatta mess, whatta mess.

The woman known as Spinderella is suing her Salt-N-Pepa bandmates and their manager James Maynes in Dallas federal court. The Dallas DJ claimed she has been wrongly kicked out of the Grammy-winning hip-hop trio that produced such long-ago hits as "Whatta Man" and "Let's Talk About Sex" and "Push It," one of Rolling Stone's 50 greatest hip-hop tracks.

And she alleges she has been cut out of a fortune's worth of royalties — upwards of $600,000 alone from SoundExchange — made from album sales, concert tours and television appearances.

This federal lawsuit is in our backyard because Spinderella, whose real name is Deidra "Dee Dee" Roper, has lived here since 2010. Maybe you've seen her around town, spinning records on the Statler's rooftop or at D Magazine best-of parties and local-celeb shindigs and "silent discos" in the Arts District; or mentoring at Girls Rock Dallas, a music camp for kids. Or perhaps you dialed her up when Spin served as midday host on the old K-Soul that sat at 94.5 on Your FM Dial. Her daughter with former NBA player Kenny Anderson, DJ Christy Ray, also lives here.

Roper, who is from Brooklyn, joined in 1987, when she was 16, after the release of the group's first record. At which point Salt-N-Pepa became the "First Ladies of Rap," as The Source magazine once called them, each member as integral as the other. Spin made her on-record debut 31 years ago, on A Salt with a Deadly Pepa — even got her own song, "Spinderella's Not a Fella (But a Girl DJ)."

But the band gave her the boot this year. Roper made it public on Instagram in May, just before the kick-off of a reunion tour: "In January 2019 I received a 'termination' email from #SaltnPepa excluding me from performances with the group."

I called Roper on Thursday and got a full voicemail; her local PR rep never replied, either. James Maynes also never returned emails; Salt-N-Pepa's manager on Thursday did tell the New York Daily News that he had "no comment at this time."

Paul Stafford, a former Dallas and Denton county prosecutor now representing Roper, said he and his client tried — "for years" — to resolve the matter. To collect the money she says she's owed. To get her image removed from promotional materials now that she's no longer in the group. To end this "amicably, to the extent possible."

But when nothing came of those negotiations, Stafford said, to the federal courthouse they went.

"It's not easy to file legal action against two of your groupmates when you've been through so much together over so many decades," he said. "But we have rights that should be respected. And Ms. Roper's ability to get additional performances and her reputation could be hampered by this ambiguity and the misappropriation of her brand, image and work. So we can't just ignore the continuing harm."

Salt-N-Pepa took what they like to call a hiatus in the late '90s, and the group had little reunions here and there, usually at hip-hop awards shows. But the lawsuit said the beginning of the end came in 2007, when James and Denton hooked up for The Salt-N-Pepa reality show on VH1 sans Spinderella.

"Roper was invited to appear — only as a guest — on several episodes of the Salt N Pepa television show for minimal compensation," says the suit. "Roper surmised that she had been duped by Defendants James and Denton, and thereafter elected to refrain from regular involvement and activities with said Defendants due to their failure to honor and fulfill their assurances to Roper of payment of an equal share of SNP income and earnings."

But the break-up didn't take. Only five years ago, Roper told the Dallas Observer, "We got the matching jackets redone and everything. When we put those on and do 'Push It,' it feels like '88 again."

And they would perform together, frequently and even recently. In a Geico commercial in 2014. On the "I Love the '90s Tour" beginning in 2016, alongside Vanilla Ice and Coolio and Young MC. At the Billboard Music Awards only last year, alongside En Vogue, performing "Whatta Man." And most recently during a residency at Caesar's Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, which was abruptly canceled in December.

Maybe it wasn't '88 again. But the commodified nostalgia circuit offers no shortage of dollars; plenty of 40- and 50-somethings, and their kids, would gladly "Shoop" and "Push It" for an hour at some outdoor concert shed or state fair somewhere. No band really breaks up anymore, not when whole aisles at Target sell phony-faded concert shirts and expensive vinyl reissues of yesterday's bargain-bin product.

But the final straw, the suit alleges, came when Salt-N-Pepa and Maynes asked Roper to "accept a lesser amount than was previously agreed upon" for the Vegas shows. Which she agreed to do, according to the suit, but only if she got a bigger cut from the group's reunion tour with New Kids On The Block and other '80s and '90s throwbacks, which hit the American Airlines Center in May.

According to the court document, within days of Roper agreeing to a so-called deferred compensation agreement, she was fired.

The lawsuit is cut from the same template as so many similar cases, the legal version of how-could-you? From essential to expendable — that's the deepest cut of all.

Her 42 pages of complaints pack frequent allegations of betrayal, copyright law violations, "multiple breaches of contract" and fraud. And "misappropriation of identity and income." And "civil conspiracy." And on and on.

"There's a lot here," said Spinderella's attorney Stafford.

Maybe enough for another Lifetime miniseries.

so sad when stuff like this happens

btw,I saw Salt N' Pepa several years ago at one of those Old School funk/R&B/freestyle shows....the bill also featured artists like Lisa Lisa,Shannon,Grandmaster Flash and others.Salt N' Pepa did a good performance and they had Spinderella with her.