Spinderella, born Deidra Muriel Roper, joined Salt-N-Pepa as their DJ while still in high school. She had started DJing in Brooklyn at 14. Her official biography recalls that Hurby Azor brought her in before a 1986 performance after the group's original DJ missed rehearsals.
She performed and recorded with Salt and Pepa during the group's rise. Her turntable work was part of their live shows, and she contributed production to Blacks' Magic and Very Necessary.
Honors
Spinderella shared in Salt-N-Pepa's 1995 Grammy win for "None of Your Business" and their 2021 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Salt-N-Pepa entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025. Spinderella became its first female DJ inductee. In 2026, the NAACP honored her and Salt-N-Pepa with its Image Awards Hall of Fame Award.
Later work
Spinderella continued DJing and worked in radio. She co-hosted the BackSpin old-school hip-hop show from 2003 to 2006 and later taught young DJs through the DJ Spinderella Academy, as described in her official biography.
Filmography
| Film | Year | Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Stay Tuned | 1992 | As part of Salt-N-Pepa |
| Kazaam | 1996 | Spinderella |