Salt goes against the grain

Groundbreaking rapper Salt, of Salt-N-Pepa fame, isn’t worrying about who’s walking through the door the duo opened in the ’80s with hits such as “Push It,” “Tramp” and “Shake Your Thang.”

Today’s hip-hop might be a bit much for Salt, who is working on gospel music and is more likely to listen to “music that uplifts and keeps me encouraged.”

“I think there’s definitely some good hip-hop out there but, for the most part, I think it’s too negative and misogynistic and violent,” says Salt (aka Cheryl James). “It’s really gone to an extreme.”

She’s trying to help bring more positive messages to music with the Fresh Fest tour, featuring a number of throwback hip-hop acts.

“We’re having a good time on stage, and it’s very nostalgic,” she says. “It’s nice taking people back to when hip-hop was happy and fun.”

Salt-N-Pepa recorded hit after hit such as “Shoop,” “Whatta Man,” “None of Your Business” and, of course, “Let’s Talk About Sex.”

The latter – a plea to have open conversations about sexual relationships – was among the songs that gave the duo a reputation for being socially conscious.

“That’s our responsibility as an artist,” she says. “I pray for other artists to accept that responsibility. The kids need those role models.”

Salt-N-Pepa hopes to be relatable to women with its next CD, its first since 1997’s “Brand New.” One of Salt’s gospel songs is part of the project, and she calls the music “very female-empowering.”

The birthday bunch

Actress Claire Bloom is 79. Actress Jane Seymour is 59. Singer Melissa Manchester is 59. Cartoonist Matt Groening (“The Simpsons”) is 56. Model Janice Dickinson is 55. Actress Renee O’Connor (“Xena: Warrior Princess”) is 39. Singer Brandon Boyd (Incubus) is 34.