Cheryl “Salt” James is one of the most popular female rappers of all-time because her of work in the group Salt N Pepa. She has performed on the same stage as legendary hip hop stars going back to the late 80’s.
Tupac Shakur was and is one of the most popular rap stars ever and Salt is keeping close to her heart a poem he penned for her. Over the years, there have been many people with relics from the iconic rapper that ended up on the auctioning block such as Madonna‘s letter to him in prison.
Salt shared stories of her time with the late rapper with Rock The Bells. Salt revealed that while Tupac was incarcerated, he kept in contact with her regularly. One of Pac’s letters was a poem titled “4 What It’z Worth” and it displays his mindset at the time of being hopeful for his future.
“He felt like the whole world was turning against him and he was unjustly in prison,” Salt said. She remained one of the few people who Tupac trusted and communicated with while behind bars. Salt added that she made it her mission to help him. “I told him that he could turn away from negativity and turn away from sin. He could have this new relationship directly with God.” Tupac was only 25-yers-old when he was shot and killed in Las Vegas one year after he penned this poem.
“[Eye] am not much 4 pretty wordz and such
Cuz these days my pain is deep
But there is alwayz pleasure 2 be found
In timez of struggle and grief
If a tree can grow through New York concrete
The a thugg can change his heart
If I can survive 5 deadly shotz
We can discover light within the dark
I’m sure u have has timez of misery
All of us experience hurt
But only the strong in spirit survive this wicked world
4 all it’z worth
“Until the End of Time, One Love.” was how Tupac ended the poem.
There was also an explanation on why Tupac was not seen completely in the music video for “Whatta Man”. Pac’s face isn’t seen during the video, which was filmed in the midst of the rapper’s sexual assault charges. Pac was also charged with shooting two Atlanta police officers, but those charges were later dropped, according to MTV News.
“[His reputation] was the whole reason,” Salt says about why Pac was cut out of the music video. “I hate that when I watch the video, it really bothers me.”
“The record company panicked and only kept shots where you can’t see him,” Pepa says. “There were some great Tupac shots. And Salt always kicks herself. You can’t fight the record company.”
“Being around him, that guy had charisma,” Salt continues. “He was the most amazing person that walked in the room. When he walked into a room, it was truly all eyes on him.”
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