Every week on The Salt-N-Pepa Show, two MCs from the late Eighties try to prove they don’t hate each other (and the rap game), while our Rock Reality Show Recaps attempt to prove we don’t resent VH1 for exploiting the heroes of our youth. Here’s our take on the sixth episode:

Thirty Minutes in Two Sentences: Salt educates Pep about the Jena 6 controversy, and the two head down to small-town Louisiana to join tens of thousands of protesters in their fight to get the six students freed from prison. Taking their kids on the trip to educate them about racism and activism, Salt and Pepa meet with residents of the town, learn about modern segregation and reinvigorate their affinity for using their band name to bring attention to good causes.

Disowning the Shoop: During the trip Salt and Pep meet with the parents of the Jena 6 students to talk about the challenges they were facing in their refusal to lie down and “hand [their] kids over to the system.” When the church meeting was coming to a close, one of the fathers requested “Push It” just once. The duo doesn’t give in right away, but later on the bus ride home they recrafted the lyrics with the help of their children, nieces and nephews into a hip-hop hybrid protest song for the Jena 6. Granted, the lyrics “Get justice” in place of “Get up on this” and “Justice feels good” instead of “push it real good” is a bit of a stretch, but at least the two were creating again.

Whatta Band: In a break from focusing on the group to focus on their families, the two mothers have a serious talk with their youngest children about racism, convincing them that there’s no such thing as a “white tree” or a “black tree.” Salt’s son Chappelle is worried about attack dogs like the ones let loose on Martin Luther King’s followers, and Pep has to convince her daughter Egypt that they will not be going to jail (with Pep explaining, “You think I’m going to jail? You know what happens when you go to jail. I can’t wear makeup and I have to take my hair out. I’m not doing none of that stuff so don’t worry about that”).

Pushin’ It Forward: United by a tragedy bigger than Pep’s wardrobe, the MCs barely clash heads this episode. Pepa’s whining and chronic tardiness only made Salt laugh, because it paled in comparison to when the Jena 6 parents pointed out the black side and the white side of the high school yard. Salt seems to accept causes as an excuse to do a “Salt-N-Pepa” thing, and Pep will take any excuse to get Salt on board.

[Photo: Getty]