DJ Spinderella
Encyclopedia
Deidra Muriel Roper known as DJ Spinderella, is an American
DJ
and rapper who was a member of the hip-hop
group, Salt-N-Pepa
. Her name is a reference to the classic fairy tale
Cinderella
.
, held auditions to find a new DJ. Then unknown radio and TV personality Wendy Williams
was one of the women auditioning for the DJ role. Roper was selected as the group's DJ, taking the name Spinderella, around the time the group's first album was being released. Since she was sixteen at the time of joining, the group needed her parent's permission for Roper to travel around the country; which her parents gave. The trio would go on to become the most successful selling female hip-hop act, and one of the most successful hip-hop groups, male or female. They released five studio albums and saw several platinum and gold singles. Spinderella has also produced several songs on the group's albums. The group disbanded in 2002.
Spinderella worked as a radio
personality on the now-defunct KKBT 100.3
in Los Angeles
, California
, cohosting "The BackSpin", a nationally syndicated weekly radio show featuring old school hip-hop. She also appeared on several episodes of the VH1
reality series
The Salt N Pepa Show. Roper now works in Dallas, TX for Radio-One Inc. - KSOC 94.5 K-Soul.
She appeared briefly on VH1
's first annual Hip Hop Honors in November 2004, with her group members, but they did not perform. All three members did perform on the second Hip Hop Honors on September 22, 2005. This was their first performance as Salt-N-Pepa since 1999. In 2007, she acted as DJ for The Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav. On October 23, 2008, the group performed their hit singles "Shoop", "Push It"
, and "Whatta Man
" at the 2008 BET
Hip Hop Awards.
basketball player Kenny Anderson
. In 1996, she appeared in the film Kazaam
which starred Shaquille O'Neal
. She opened her own beauty salon
on October 21, 1997, the same year that the group released their final album Brand New
. After this album, she was to have released a solo album but this never materialized as Salt-N-Pepa's record label, Red Ant, ceased operations. Her daughter Christy later appeared in an episode of My Super Sweet 16
, throwing herself a party which included skaters and dancers.
Spinderella occasionally DJs at various club events around the United States.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and rapper who was a member of the hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group, Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop trio from Queens and Brooklyn, New York, that was formed in 1985. The group, consisting of Cheryl "Salt" Renee James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, and Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper, was one of the first all-female rap crews....
. Her name is a reference to the classic fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
.
Career
Roper replaced DJ Latoya Hanson as Spinderella after Hanson missed several rehearsals and group appearances. The group's producer, Herbie "LuvBug" AzorHurby Azor
Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor, or "Fingerprints" as he was also known, is a hip hop music producer, best known for discovering the successful female hip-hop trio Salt-n-Pepa and the also successful hip-hop duo Kid 'n Play....
, held auditions to find a new DJ. Then unknown radio and TV personality Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams may refer to:* Wendy O. Williams, former Plasmatics singer* Wendy Williams , British actress* Wendy Williams , American radio and television personality...
was one of the women auditioning for the DJ role. Roper was selected as the group's DJ, taking the name Spinderella, around the time the group's first album was being released. Since she was sixteen at the time of joining, the group needed her parent's permission for Roper to travel around the country; which her parents gave. The trio would go on to become the most successful selling female hip-hop act, and one of the most successful hip-hop groups, male or female. They released five studio albums and saw several platinum and gold singles. Spinderella has also produced several songs on the group's albums. The group disbanded in 2002.
Spinderella worked as a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
personality on the now-defunct KKBT 100.3
KKBT
KSWD is a Bonneville International-owned radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, USA. The station currently broadcasts a wide-ranging classic rock format...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, cohosting "The BackSpin", a nationally syndicated weekly radio show featuring old school hip-hop. She also appeared on several episodes of the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
reality series
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
The Salt N Pepa Show. Roper now works in Dallas, TX for Radio-One Inc. - KSOC 94.5 K-Soul.
She appeared briefly on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's first annual Hip Hop Honors in November 2004, with her group members, but they did not perform. All three members did perform on the second Hip Hop Honors on September 22, 2005. This was their first performance as Salt-N-Pepa since 1999. In 2007, she acted as DJ for The Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav. On October 23, 2008, the group performed their hit singles "Shoop", "Push It"
Push It (Salt-N-Pepa song)
"Push It" is a song by the group Salt-N-Pepa, released as a single in 1986. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987 and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA...
, and "Whatta Man
Whatta Man
"Whatta Man" is a 1994 single by Salt-n-Pepa and En Vogue from Salt-N-Pepa's 1993 album Very Necessary. It was issued by Next Plateau/London Records and produced by Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor. It also appears on En Vogue's Runaway Love EP...
" at the 2008 BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
Hip Hop Awards.
Personal
In 1992, Spinderella appeared in the film Stay Tuned. That same year, she also had her first and only child, a daughter named Christy, with NBANational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
basketball player Kenny Anderson
Kenny Anderson
Kenneth "Kenny" Anderson is a retired American basketball player. After a college career at Georgia Institute of Technology, he played point guard professionally from 1991 to 2006, mostly in the National Basketball Association....
. In 1996, she appeared in the film Kazaam
Kazaam
Kazaam is a 1996 comedy film directed by Paul M. Glaser and stars Shaquille O'Neal as the title character Kazaam, a genie who appears from a magic boombox to grant a boy three wishes.-Plot:...
which starred Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
. She opened her own beauty salon
Beauty salon
A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women...
on October 21, 1997, the same year that the group released their final album Brand New
Brand New (Salt-n-Pepa album)
Brand New is the fifth and final studio album by rap trio Salt-n-Pepa. It was released on October 21, 1997 by Red Ant Entertainment. Red Ant filed bankruptcy before the album was officially released. Salt-n-Pepa toured to support the album, despite the fact the album had no other promotion whatsoever...
. After this album, she was to have released a solo album but this never materialized as Salt-N-Pepa's record label, Red Ant, ceased operations. Her daughter Christy later appeared in an episode of My Super Sweet 16
My Super Sweet 16
My Super Sweet 16 is an MTV reality series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States, Canada and UK, who usually have wealthy parents that throw huge coming of age celebrations. Parties include the quinceañera , the sweet 16, and other birthdays including a My Super Sweet 21 ...
, throwing herself a party which included skaters and dancers.
Spinderella occasionally DJs at various club events around the United States.