Salt-N-Pepa's "Black's Magic" is the fourth studio album by the iconic hip-hop trio. Released in 1990, the album showcased the group's evolution and musical versatility. With their signature blend of rap, pop, and R&B, Salt-N-Pepa solidified their status as pioneers in the genre. The album's lead single, "Expression," immediately caught the attention of listeners with its infectious beat and empowering lyrics. It became a chart-topping hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. The song's success paved the way for the album's overall commercial success.
And in case you fear this is some progressive mumbo-jumbo, the book also explores how to seek out an enchantment that is able to challenge you to grow and get better rather than just reassure you that all your opinions and actions are perfect.
These are the questions we have to ask when we seek to discern the spirits, when we want to determine if the voice we are hearing is from God or from our own egos. When the Christian experience shifts away from the mystical toward being a good person, the foundation of faith is relocated and placed in a very vulnerable location, like a cup set dangerously close to the edge of the table or a rock pushed to the edge of a cliff.
The song's success paved the way for the album's overall commercial success. "Black's Magic" continued to showcase Salt-N-Pepa's feminist and socially-conscious themes throughout the album. Tracks like "Do You Want Me" and "You Showed Me" explored themes of self-love, female empowerment, and independence.
Hunting magic Deels
I recently finished reading Richard Beck’s latest book, Hunting Magic Eels. It was a fantastic read and a book I’d recommend to anyone. The subtitle explains his premise well: “Recovering an Enchanted Faith in a Skeptical Age.”
I was initially drawn to this book as this topic seems to be an underlying premise of so many of our conversations on the Forest and Trees podcast (see: podcast page). In addition, I still think about things Beck wrote in his book Unclean many years after I read that one. Beck writes deeply about the Christian experience from the perspective of psychology (he’s a professor).
One of the themes throughout the book is that we need to be mindful of what gets our attention. And if we want to experience more of God, we need to find ways to aim our attention in that direction.
Faith is a matter of perception. Faith isn’t forcing yourself to believe in unbelievable things; faith is overcoming attentional blindness. Phrased differently, faith is about enchantment or, rather, a re-enchantment: the intentional recovery of a holy capacity to see and experience God in the world.
After his flight from Egypt, Moses is tending his father-in-law’s sheep in the middle of the desert near Mount Horeb. There, in the middle of nowhere, he catches sight of a bush that’s caught fire. Strangely, the bush isn’t being burnt up. Intrigued and fascinated, Moses says, “I must turn aside and see this strange sight.” I must turn aside. This is the key point. Encountering God’s presence requires a shift of attention. Moses must intentionally direct his attention to behold the strange sight.
When faith is a matter of attention, we need visual cues to capture and captivate our hearts and minds.
One of the most profound ideas in the book is how we’ve reduced Christianity to something that has inherently moved us away from experiencing God. Beck says it this way:
When the Christian experience shifts away from the mystical toward “being a good person,” the foundation of faith is relocated and placed in a very vulnerable location, like a cup set dangerously close to the edge of the table or a rock pushed to the edge of a cliff. Why? Because you don’t have to believe in God to be a good person. There are many people who don’t believe in God who are amazing, generous, and loving people. And once you make that observation, that you don’t need God to be good, the whole reason many of us have for believing in God simply evaporates. The glass falls off the table and shatters, and the rock tips over into the abyss.
He also does a great job—as a skeptic himself—showing how we need to challenge our own skepticism.
We still believe in the soul, even in this skeptical age. And we’d be horrified if anyone claimed otherwise. More and more people might doubt the existence of God, but God still haunts us. We crave the magic. We resist reducing our lives to biology. We are convinced that we are “more” than the sum total of our organs, bones, and tissues.
As Dostoevsky once said, “Beauty will save the world.” Music, art, poetry, and architecture, along with the wonders of the natural world, are much better equipped to capture and communicate the ineffable nature of spiritual insights and truths.
If you’re struggling with disenchantment, odds are you’re thinking rather than paying attention.
And in case you fear this is some progressive mumbo-jumbo, the book also explores how to seek out an enchantment that is able to challenge you to grow and get better rather than just reassure you that all your opinions and actions are perfect.
The critical issue, then, for both the religious and the spiritual alike, is this: Can your enchantment judge, criticize, and unsettle you? Can your enchantment point out your selfishness and self-indulgence? Can your enchantment, be it burning sage for your spell or singing “God Bless America” in your pew, hold a mirror up to your hypocrisy? Can your enchantment weigh your nation or political party on the scales and find it wanting? Does your enchantment create sacrificial obligations and duties in your life that you cannot avoid or ignore? Does your enchantment call you to extend grace to people you’d prefer to hate? Does your enchantment bust up your cozy self-satisfaction and dogmatic self-righteousness? These are questions that won’t be asked by an enchantment bought on Amazon. This fierce and honest moral examination can only be conducted by an enchantment that is “over and above” us, an enchantment that can judge us and hold our feet to the fire, an enchantment that cannot be avoided or blown off like the latest fad. These are the questions we have to ask when we seek to “discern the spirits,” when we want to determine if the voice we are hearing is from God or from our own egos.
This is a book that gave me lots to chew on while also nudging me closer to experiencing Jesus in new ways. What a gift to find both in one book.
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The group's confident and bold delivery resonated with audiences, particularly women who found strength and inspiration in their music. One of the standout tracks on the album is "Let's Talk About Sex." This song became a cultural phenomenon, sparking conversations about sexual health and empowerment. Salt-N-Pepa's unapologetic and honest approach to discussing sex challenged societal norms and helped break down taboos surrounding the topic. In addition to their thought-provoking lyrics, Salt-N-Pepa's musicality and talent shine through in "Black's Magic." The album incorporates various musical elements, including funky beats, catchy hooks, and melodic choruses. Salt-N-Pepa's seamless flow and dynamic chemistry are evident in every track, making it a standout album in their discography. Overall, "Black's Magic" solidified Salt-N-Pepa's position as influential artists and helped shape the future of hip-hop. Their groundbreaking approach to tackling social issues, combined with their musical prowess, set them apart from their peers. Through their empowering and relatable music, Salt-N-Pepa left a lasting impact on the music industry and continue to be celebrated as trailblazers in the genre..
Reviews for "Unveiling the Hidden Gems on Salt-N-Pepa's 'Black's Magic' Album"
1. Adam - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Salt n Pepa's Black Magic" album. I've been a fan of their previous work, but this one just fell flat for me. The production felt uninspired and lacked the edginess that I loved in their previous albums. The lyrics also felt repetitive and didn't have the same impact as their earlier hits. Overall, it felt like a forgettable album that didn't live up to their previous success.
2. Emily - 1/5 - I found "Salt n Pepa's Black Magic" to be extremely generic and unoriginal. It felt like they were trying to capitalize on current trends in hip-hop rather than staying true to their own unique style. The songs lacked depth and creativity, and it felt like they were just going through the motions. As a longtime fan, I was really disappointed with this album and hope they can return to their roots in future releases.
3. John - 2/5 - I have always enjoyed Salt n Pepa's music, but "Black Magic" left me underwhelmed. The album lacked the energy and infectiousness that I had come to expect from them. The production felt lackluster and there was a lack of memorable hooks or standout tracks. It felt like they were trying too hard to appeal to a mainstream audience instead of staying true to their own sound. Overall, it was a forgettable album that didn't leave a lasting impression.