The pioneering trio that defined an era of hip-hop is finally mending fences as Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper confirmed she is in a “good space” with Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton.
The announcement comes as the group prepares to reunite for the upcoming It’s Iconic Tour, marking their first time sharing a stage for a full tour since a contentious legal and professional split in 2019. The reunion serves as a landmark moment for the group, which helped bring female voices to the forefront of mainstream rap in the late 1980s.
Roper, who joined the group in 1987, expressed optimism about the current state of their relationship while acknowledging the complexities of their long history. She described the bond between the three women as a sisterhood that has endured both triumphs and significant hardships. “We’re in a good space today. I said today,” Roper said in an interview with People. “It’s a sisterhood, and sometimes it’s good, and sometimes it’s not so good.”
The road to reconciliation was paved with years of public friction. The relationship fractured in January 2019 when Roper revealed she had received a termination email informing her she would no longer be performing with the group on the New Kids on the Block Mixtape Tour.
The dismissal led to a lawsuit involving allegations of unpaid royalties and fraud, which eventually resulted in a confidential settlement. Tensions were further exacerbated by the 2021 release of a Lifetime biopic about the group. Roper publicly criticized the project at the time, arguing that her contributions and legacy were sidelined in the film’s narrative. Despite these hurdles, Roper said the trio is now “on the same page” as they receive formal industry recognition, including a recent induction into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.
The It’s Iconic Tour will feature Salt-N-Pepa co-headlining alongside fellow R&B legends TLC, with En Vogue appearing as special guests.
Roper noted that while the members have been pursuing independent projects for years, the decision to come back together is a significant milestone. “They’ve been doing shows. I’ve been doing my own thing, but us coming together, this is a really big moment,” Roper said. She characterized the journey of the group as one defined by “blood, sweat, and tears,” emphasizing that the current reunion is a positive step forward for their collective legacy.