Will Smith reminisces his 'one and only' date with 'special girl' Salt-N-Pepa whom he 'always had a thing for'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Will Smith, the acclaimed actor and rapper, reminisced about his 'one and only date' with Sandra 'Pepa' Denton of the legendary hip-hop duo Salt-N-Pepa.
Smith, now 55, shared the charming details of this '80s encounter on his 'Class of 88'' podcast, presented by Audible and Wondery.
Will Smith's throwback date night with Salt-N-Pepa
The podcast episode, released earlier this fall, featured Smith and Pepa reflecting on their respective journeys to rap superstardom in the '80s. The highlight of the conversation was undoubtedly Smith's recollection of the memorable date he shared with Pepa.
According to Smith, the date took place sometime in early '88 when he finally decided to make a move on Pepa, whom he had admired for quite some time.“I always had a thing for Sandy, but she was always dating somebody else,” the Grammy winner shared. “Now she was single. We were both going to be in L.A. at the same time, so Imma shoot my shot.”
To make a lasting impression, Smith went all out in planning the date. Describing Pepa as a 'special girl', he rented a white Mercedes convertible to take her on a scenic tour around Hollywood Hills. The plan included a drive up Mulholland to watch the sunset, creating a romantic ambiance for the budding connection.
“This girl was special and I wanted to impress her, so I rented a white Mercedes convertible just because I needed to floss a little bit,” he revealed. “My plan was then to take her around Hollywood Hills, drive up Mulholland and all that, watch the sunset.”
During their outing, Smith's genuine and kind-hearted nature shone through. Pepa recalled a heartwarming moment when they encountered a homeless person, and Smith spontaneously gave them $100. The rapper expressed her appreciation for this unexpected act of generosity, making it a standout memory from the date.
“I know exactly what happened,” she interjected. “We were out and we saw a homeless person and you gave the homeless person $100.” The 'Push It!' rapper continued, “I was like OK and it was so nice. And then we went to the Hollywood sign.”
Will Smith's vulnerable confession and Salt-N-Pepa's enduring impact on Hip-Hop
In a candid revelation on his Class of ‘88 podcast, Will Smith opened up about the inner turmoil he experienced during his '80s date with Sandra "Pepa" Denton of Salt-N-Pepa. Despite the external charm he exuded, Smith confessed that his mind was preoccupied with fear during the date, expressing concern about personal safety.
The King Richard star admitted, “My concern was that I was going to get killed.” Smith revealed that, despite his attempts to impress Pepa, he felt unequipped and lacked confidence in his 'game'. He acknowledged that he often portrayed himself as having more confidence than he truly felt, and this date with Pepa marked one of the most terrifying moments he had experienced while trying to connect romantically.
While their brief fling didn't evolve into a lasting romance, Smith highlighted the positive aspect of their connection. He emphasized that he, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Salt-N-Pepa "always really got along," reflecting on the enduring camaraderie and friendship that persisted beyond the short-lived romantic endeavor.
As Salt-N-Pepa celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the iconic duo spoke to PEOPLE about their extraordinary career and the evolution of the genre. Pepa, known for the hit "Shoop," expressed amazement at their continued success, stating, “For me being in this genre and so successful for so many years, it is still mind blown emoji because we are booked and busy.” The rapper highlighted the testament to the enduring power of hip-hop culture and the love it continues to receive.
