NO SALT

Salt-N-Pepa’s brief but arresting cameo appearance on the debut installment of the new “Vibe” TV show last week should have been a well-timed bit of promotion. The hip-hop trio was scheduled to release its “Brand New” album--the follow-up to the group’s 1993 multi-platinum collection “Very Necessary”--on Tuesday.

But instead of sending its fans record shopping, the group is unexpectedly shopping itself--for a new label. Sources close to the trio say the new album is in limbo due to the shaky financial situation of Red Ant, the start-up record company funded last year by Alliance Entertainment, which just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Salt-N-Pepa reportedly was persuaded to leave MCA Records by that company’s former chairman, Al Teller, when he launched Red Ant. In addition to a big signing bonus, Teller reportedly offered a distribution deal for Salt-N-Pepa’s own label.

All that’s on hold now, though, with Red Ant up for sale as Alliance tries to straighten out its financial affairs.

“I suspect that the group will probably stay with MCA and its album will come out this fall,” said a source. Salt N’ Pepa’s management and representatives of Red Ant and MCA Records had no comment.