In Brief: : *** SALT-N-PEPA. “Black’s Magic.” Next Plateau.:<i> Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five stars (a classic.) : </i>

Few other women in rap have a firmer grip on the in-your-face concept of machisma than this spicy three-female unit. They seldom deal in heavyweight social matters but when it comes to voicing a swaggering sense of selfhood, Salt-N-Pepa delivers. “Negro Wit’ An Ego” has strong comedic energy. “Expression,” written/produced by Cheryl (Salt) James with a power-to-the-individual emphasis, is one of the wittiest rap tracks to emerge this year.