In their review from this year, AllMusic had this to say about Blacks’ Magic: The songs have not dated, and I think there is a definite gap in the music market now for a group like Salt-N-Pepa. I have been listening to Blacks’ Magic since it came out but, thirty years since its release, and it still sounds relevant and affecting. It was bold statements like that song and the album as a whole that made Black’s Magic an essential record in hip-hop and pop music history”. Not only did they want to change the negative rhetoric associated with blackness, but they proved that the new decade was the time for change. This was most evident in the tirade of bars on the title track. They clearly recognized who they were and what they wanted to accomplish in their careers. In addition to sex the group had confidence more generally in their womanhood. They may overly sell their sexuality in music videos (that chest reveal wasn’t necessary in the “Expression” music video) but they owned it. While ‘Expression’ had a wonderfully inspirational message of self-confidence ‘You Show Me’ may have been their strongest banger to date. Salt-N-Pepa demonstrated, through their dynamic lyrics, that they had a treasure chest of hidden skills that could and would separate them from their contemporaries. “ While their previous projects had hits, they mostly hung off of the appeal of samples or catchy melodies. In their review, Medium wrote the following: There are a greater number of hits, and most of the non-singles are hugely memorable and varied. Salt-N-Pepa definitely stepped up a gear on their third studio album, and they sound much more confident and committed. Before wrapping up, I want to bring in a couple of reviews for Blacks’ Magic. I love the mixture of the harder-hitting and fun moments on Blacks’ Magic, and the vocal performances throughout the album are incredible. The 1990s was a great time when strong female groups like Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue ruled and were producing these timeless anthems and stunning songs. The record, limited to 750 copies, is available to pre-order now, and is estimated to ship in early November”. “But this record is deeper than that, boasting lots of mic trading and fun, light songs that were Salt-N-Pepa’s well, bread and butter. “Most discussions of the album begin and end with “Let’s Talk About Sex,” arguably one of the most important rap songs with regards to sexual politics,” reads a synopsis for the release. The reissue comes exclusively through Vinyl Me, Please on 2LP candlelight splatter red and yellow coloured vinyl. The group’s third album, best known for the massive hit Let’s Talk About Sex, comprises 12 tracks in total, including singles Expression, Do You Want Me, and You Showed Me. “ Salt ‘N’ Pepa’s brilliant Blacks’ Magic album is getting a stunning vinyl reissue to celebrate its 30th anniversary. This article from Retro Pop provides some more details: In fact, there is a thirty anniversary reissue of the album coming out soon. With huge singles such as Expression, You Showed Me, and Do You Want Me still sounding great today, I think Blacks’ Magic could be introduced to a new generation. I would encourage people to get Blacks’ Magic on vinyl, as it is a terrific album, and one of the very best of the 1990s. A critical and commercial success, the album peaked at number thirty-eight on the Billboard 200 and number-fifteen on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
I think 1990’s Blacks’ Magic was their finest album to that point, and one can hear the confidence they display through Blacks’ Magic on 1993’s Very Necessary. That album had its moments – Shake Your Thang was quite a big hit -, and the 1986 debut, Hot, Cool, & Vicious, boasted the epic Push It. The third studio album from the New York Hip-Hop group, it followed 1988’s A Salt with a Deadly Pepa. charts and, unbeknownst to me, it was taken from the 1990 album, Blacks’ Magic. Written by Hurby ‘Luv Bug’ Azor, also known as Fingerprints, it reached the top-ten in the U.K. That’s quite a risqué song for a child to hear, but I don’t think I was too aware of the lyrical meaning and more hooked on the energy and general sound. I was in middle school, and I think the first song I heard from Salt-N-Pepa was Let’s Talk About Sex.
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