Released: December 8, 1986

Songwriter: Herby “Luvbug” Azor

Producer: Herby “Luvbug” Azor

Salt and Pepa's back, and we came to out rap you
So get out my face before I smack you
Ho, don't you know? Can't you understand?
If you mess with me I'll take you man

Well I'll take your man right out the box
And put him under my padlocks
So when you see us together chillin' in the place
Cold walkin' and sportin' him in your face
Go ahead roll your eyes, suck your teeth
Keep huffin' and puffin' like a dog in heat
You can call me a crook, a robber, a thief
But I'll be your butcher if you got beef
You know what's up - I ain't no poo-putt
Cuz Pepa kick butts off dumb, young bucks like you
And the rest of your crew
If moms want static I'll dis her, too
So scram you know who I am
Damn, chick, don't play me, punk cuz I'll take your man

I'll take your man whenever I feel like it
This ain't a threat or a bet, it's a damn promise
From me to you, your sex life's through
If you get another lover, I'll take him, too
All I have to do is say a rhyme or two
And he'll hop and leave you like a kangaroo
I'll make him heel for me even steal for me
His mother and father he'd kill for me
That's what you get for trying to play smart
Now take a hike with that slayed-up heart
Girl, you don't know if you're comin' or goin'
Look at your face - your jealousy's growin' and showin'
Don't get mad - you don't have the right
I throw below solo but ladylike on the mic
Psyche is where I win my battles
I'll handle you like a baby with a rattle
Don't make me prove to you that I can
Either give him up or get slammed - I'll take your man

I'll take your man, that's right but just for spite
Because you tried to dis me when I was on the mic
But I really don't want him, the guy ain't fly, shoot
He can't afford to buy a Fila suit
Runs the same old gear, never has fresh wear
What he whispered in my ear I can't repeat here
I don't wanna seem to be so damn mean
But you're the hippiest critter I ever seen
Before I got on the stage you wished me good luck
Turned around and told your friends I suck
Well look at you now - you ain't got nobody
Searching for love in a fifth of Bicardi
You look bad, girl, you look like you're dying
Ain't no use in crying - I'll take your man

Yo, Cher, school this fool!
I'll take your man, your fiancee, your husband
You ain't Alice, this ain't Wonderland
And when I say I will you know I can
Don't mess with me cuz I'll take your man

I'll take your man anytime, at the drop of a dime
Cuz he's rappin' and strappin' so hard on mine
Everywhere I turn, everywhere I look
The brother's eyein' me down, he's staring down my throat
But he's a ducker sucker, soft-hearted punk
Goin' skiing for skeezers, stunts for blunt
So that's why y'all have so many things in common
Him for just robbin', you for lap slobbin'
I never ever went out my way to get played
Keeping guys like yours held down at bay
You know I can, I got the upper-hand
Tramp, you don't stand a chance cuz I'll take your man

Most girls have guys that's good to go
But yours is slow - he's a freakin' a-hole
The fact still stands, there's no change in plans
"Yo, Pepa, your wish is my command!"
Now you know, you know I'll take your...man

Check him out, you see what I mean?
He's leading the pack as the fellas scream
"Go, Sandy! Get busy! Go, Sandy! Get busy!"
It's so easy to make 'em fall for me, Heather
No man can resist Salt and Pepa
Because we're perfect from head to toe
It's not speculation - your man says so
Revenge is sweet but payback's a trip
Girlfriend, you won't know which is which
But I'll tell you this: Don't try to answer this jam
Because if you do then I'll take your...
And I'll take your...
And we'll take your man

Salt-N-Pepa

Salt-N-Pepa is arguably the most successful female rap group of all time. The group began with Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton meeting while studying to be nurses. James got Denton a job at a Sears department store, where her boyfriend Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor also worked. Azor was studying music production and he asked them to help on a school project, an answer record to Doug E. Fresh’s “The Show” they named “The Showstopper” – recorded in 1985 under the name Supernature.

After the legendary Queens DJ Marley Marl played “The Showstopper” on his radio show, the group began getting booked for shows. One lyric in “The Showstopper” was ‘We the salt and pepper’, and people kept requesting ‘that salt and pepper song’, so they changed their name to Salt-N-Pepa. Deejay Deidra “Spinderella” Ropa was added soon after.

SNP’s debut album Hot, Cool, & Vicious originally spawned a minor hit in the UK with “My Mike Sounds Nice” in early 1987. But it was the re-release of a remix of “Push It”, originally a quickly-thrown together b-side for their fall ‘87 single “Tramp”, that shot the group into international stardom. The song reached the top 10 in eleven countries around the world in 1988.