The UB Interview: GG Townson Talks ‘Salt-N-Pepa’

For Los Angeles native GG Townson, entertainment is the family business. Her grandfather, Ronald Townson, was a founding member of the iconic 1960’s vocal group The 5th Dimension.

The group is known for their classic hit songs such as “Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” and “Up, Up and Away” among many others. Their success earned them a prestigious star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sensing that GG was destined to follow in his footsteps, her grandfather got her signed with his agent and she was officially on the path to stardom.

At the age of seven, Townson booked her first job in a Toon Disney commercial, next she landed a guest spot on Joan of Arcadia and a recurring role on Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101, alongside Jamie Lynn Spears. GG was also seen in the hit Bounce TV sitcom In The Cut.

Other memorable television appearances include Everybody Hates Chris, Cory in the House, Children’s Hospital, 30 Days 2 Life, and Like Family.

She ventured into the world of film in Major Deal, which follows an aspiring rapper who is left with an ultimatum by the mother of his child to sign a record deal or give up his dream indefinitely. She will next be seen as Lisa in Welcome Matt, alongside Tahj Mowry.

Townson’s big break came when she was cast as iconic hip hop artist “Salt” in the highly-anticipated Lifetime biopic Salt-N-Pepa. The story chronicles the journey of Queensborough Community College students Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton as they enter the world of rap and hip-hop after recording a song for their friend Hurby Azor.

Next GG can be seen with a pivotal role in the upcoming season of CW’s hit series All American.

Outside of acting, GG is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment. She is currently working to start an organization which aims to inspire and motivate young women with educational, artistic, and social-recreational experiences that nurture all aspects of their health.

GG spoke to Aries from UB this week, in support of the Lifetime biopic Salt-N-Papa. She tells UB about her experience in shooting the film and talks about learning about the group while filming and touches on the absence of Spinderella.

She shares her favorite SNP joints and tells us which female MC she feels deserves a biopic next.

GG also talks about her upcoming film Welcome Matt, her ideal role and memories with her grandfather Ron Townson of 5th Dimension.

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UrbanBridgez.com: What first made you interested in playing the role of Salt in the biopic?
GG Townson: I got an email from my manager, just saying that they would like for you to come in and audition for the role. I didn’t know that they were casting before that. But just thinking about the possibility of booking this role, I thought it would be really really dope to play them. Plus the fact that they’re still alive and to experience getting to know them would be really dope.

UrbanBridgez.com: Well as someone who reviewed the film, you embodied your portrayal!
GG Townson: Oh thank you! You were able to see it, real cool!

UrbanBridgez.com: What was the most difficult part for you in prepping to portray Cheryl James?
GG Townson: For me I feel like it was, getting her stillness down. She’s just really a force, without having to say much you know. So really getting that down, was probably the hardest. From a preparation aspect, but still wasn’t far off from who I can be. Depending on the setting, I can be an introvert given the circumstance or who I’m around. I adjust to my surroundings for sure. I have a tendency to talk with my hands, like if I’m super excited. Cheryl’s mannerisms are very still and they’re powered by her words even if she’s not loud.

UrbanBridgez.com: As a huge fan of Salt-N-Pepa, I absolutely loved the film, however I couldn’t help but wish Spinderella was involved with the biopic and featured more. Being apart of the cast, was that something you wondered and or discussed?
GG Townson: No we didn’t really go into the details of Dee Dee, Spinderella. I actually didn’t even know and had learned, that there were two Spins. So that was cool for me, seeing the story of Latoya. With Dee Dee I never knew that she got into the group so young. I thought that was pretty cool, her parents were like go and be a rock star.

UrbanBridgez.com: Right and it’s so cool that you actually learned so much stuff while filming.
GG Townson: Yeah I learned a ton of stuff because when they were in their prime and rise, I was a toddler. So I didn’t grow up with them, so even for the fans who did grow up with them. They didn’t see, I feel like much of what we covered in the film. the drama of it all, because social media wasn’t a thing. You’re not seeing the break-ups and the issues and things like that. It would of been a different story if there was. Like that scene with Pep and Hurby in the club, I know you know which one I’m talking about.

UrbanBridgez.com: Oh yeah, trending (laughs).
GG Townson: Uh huh (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: What was your favorite performance scene and album cover shoot for the film?
GG Townson: Performance was definitely Push It! That was one of the first performances that we started to build. It was really important to try to get that down perfect. Based on what the music video looked like. The thing about it is, when we were building that out…when you watch the music video, there are different cuts from different moments. So maybe 20 seconds of a dance move and then they cut into Salt-N-Pepa close up, then it will cut to them on the other side with them doing the dance move. We had to remember all of that and the piecing of the parts together. Just to make it look fluid and getting the blessing of Steve, who did the chorography and it Hurby’s brother. Who was the dancer in the actual video. So having them be apart of it and Hurby as an executive producer and just having the blessing of everybody involved was dope. Because it’s their story too you know.

UrbanBridgez.com: What did you learn from working with director and actor Mario Van Peebles?
GG Townson: Mario always whipped us in shape and kept us on our toes. I learned, on the day don’t be married to the material. Be able to adjust and if we need to rework something out after blocking..or the director doesn’t like it, so what. You may have worked on this scene all night and think it is the best performance. If the director doesn’t like it, moving on. Figure it out and readjust, it’s not personal it’s business. And just the mindset of, happy to be here, easy to work with.

UrbanBridgez.com: What do you want viewers to take away from the film, once they watch it?
GG Townson: We love and appreciate them for who they are. Now we’re seeing the stuff that was going on while everyone was loving them for the performances and the performers that they are. That for me really adds another element of respect. Like while we’re doing sold-out shows, we’re going through break-ups and just life. Then y’all maintain a business relationship. Listen when me and Cheryl were going through that scene, we were reading. I told her yo, you are better than me, because I would of had the cops called on me quick. And I would ask her about specifics in that situation, like how did you not take off on him? She laughed and just remained her poised self. It was not the circumstance, that came out of that circumstance. it was not the fault of..I’ll just leave it at that. You know what I’m talking about. Yeah we have to talk in more detail after it comes out, I don’t wanna give to much away (both laugh). I told her if I was your friend, I would of aught that battle for you quick.

UrbanBridgez.com: Talk to us about your next project, the film “Welcome Matt?”
GG Townson: I shot it a couple of years actually with Tahj Mowry and Deon Cole who is a comedian who I love so much. He’s hilarious I remember first seeing him on 1st Amendment, Martin Lawrence’s show. That’s where I first got my Deon fix, I know he been on so many other shows before that. I’m a little young, so dont crucify me for not knowing him before (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: It’s alright, it’s alright (laughs).
GG Townson: Welcome Matt is based on Tahj Mowry’s character who suffers from Agoraphobia. Which is a fear of going outside, but his mom hired a therapist. Lisa who has a therapist herself. Me and Tahj basically help each other through our own personal struggles. Then we end up in the loving beautify little relationship. The director is currently working on what platform it will be streaming on. So I’ll make sure to keep you guys posted.

UrbanBridgez.com: What would be your ideal role?
GG Townson: My ideal role would have to be…I don’t know if you’ve veer heard of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix?

UrbanBridgez.com: No.
GG Townson: Okay so Sabrina is a character from Archie’s World, the comic series. We had the series in the early 2000s and Netflix did a darker version of Sabrina with some black witches featured. My interest with black witches, started with American Horror Stories. I feel like there needs to be a project of black witches. When we were prepping for Salt-N-Pepa, I saw a break down that Gabriel Union was tied into a watch project with NBC called Black Girl Magic. Which was a comedy series based around three black witches from Louisiana. So my dream role would be to play a black witch on television in something like that. Because we haven’t really seen that and if we do, it’s very short. Just exploring the world of black magic, like the play on words black girl magic. I also want to book a serious lead, on a cult like, hot new television series.

UrbanBridgez.com: Nice!
GG Townson: The shows with cult like followings, are undeniable they’re great. So when I’m setting my intentions and praying, those are the key words that I use.

UrbanBridgez.com: It’s coming.
GG Townson: I receive it!

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s a found memory of growing up with Ron Townson of 5th Dimension as your grandfather?
GG Townson: My memories of him are just regular granddaughter/grandfather memories. We use to sneak and watch WWF, which is WWE now which gives you where we are in time. Watching Jerry Springer when my grandma wasn’t around. Because we wasn’t suppose to be watching stuff like that. But in the mornings, that would always be his show. He would always watch TV in the dining room. I remember this little white TV and he use to have his newspaper and I would come in the dining room in the morning. So I would sit in his lap and watch TV with him. Watching him eat sherbet ice-cream after dinner, that was his favorite. As far as the music and how he was as an artist and the barriers that the group broke. The music and blurring the color lines, I didn’t understand it till I got older.

UrbanBridgez.com: In celebration of Salt-N-Pepa and Women of Hip Hop – Who would you like to see get a biopic next next and who deserves homage as a female MC?
GG Townson: I feel like I would love to see a Lil Kim biopic. We did see a little of it in NOTORIOUS. Shouts out to Naturi for playing Kim. But I definitely think that Kim needs her moment for sure. From style wise to just what she was saying on the mic. Just the whole package so yeah I would love to see Lil Kim get a biopic.

UrbanBridgez.com: Favorite three SNP joints?
GG Townson: Okay, the first one is None of your Business. Because it’s such a play on words, that’s a timeless song and one you can throw on anybody. At anytime, as a friendly reminder like listen it’s none of your business. Listen to all three minutes of this song so you can know why it’s none of your business (both laugh). So that’s #1 and Shoop is #2. And Expression.

UrbanBridgez.com: Yes!
GG Townson: It was like my first time really really hearing the song Expression, when we were going through our preparation for the film. I heard the chorus before, but really hearing the lyrics and what they were saying. That song too is so relatable to today’s time, like Joe wanna be like Bob, Bob got it going on without no job. Because that is what is going on today, all over social media.

UrbanBridgez.com: Facts!
GG Townson: They were so before their time, talking about the things they talked about. they just made timeless music, because it was real. They were rapping about real stuff.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s next for GG?
GG Townson: GG has All American in the can, I booked a role for season three. That’s exiting, I filmed a couple of episodes. So I’m excited to see where the producers want to take the character. I hope they see longevity with her, because I love working with CW. The producers are absolutely amazing. it’s also dope it cross airs on Netflix.

“Salt-N-Pepa” Premieres Tonight January 23rd at 8pm ET/PT on Lifetime.
Preview “Salt-N-Pepa”