Cheryl James, aka Salt, is a famous rapper and the mother of two children, Corin Wray and Chapele Wray. She welcomed the two kids with her ex-husband, Gavin Wray, whom she married in 2000 but divorced 18 years later.
Salt, whose real name is Cheryl James, is widely famous for being a member of the pioneering female rap trio named Salt-N-Pepa. Formed in the mid-1980s with Sandra Denton (Pepa) and later joined by Deidra Roper (DJ Spinderella), the group gained fame for their amazing songs.
The group released their debut album titled Hot, Cool & Vicious in 1986, which sold more than 1 million copies in the US. This made them the first female rap act to receive gold and platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Their other hit albums include A Salt with a Deadly Pepa (1988), Blacks’ Magic (1990), Very Necessary (1993), and Brand New (1997). Furthermore, Salt-N-Pepa disbanded in 2002 but reformed in 2008.
Besides her professional career, Cheryl is a family person. She is the mother of two kids whom she shares with her then-husband, Gavin Wray.
Cheryl James Is The Mother Of Two Children: Corin And Chapele
Cheryl James is the proud mother of two kids, Corin Wray and Chapele Wray. They were born from her marriage to her then-husband, Gavin Wray. James and Gavin became parents for the first time in 1991 after welcoming her child Corin.
The pair later became parents of their second child, Chapele, in 1999. The American rapper has been open about her children and has talked about them in some interviews.
Ahead of Mother’s Day in 2023, Cheryl and Sandra Denton sat down on the Tamron Hall Show, opening up about various things in her life, including motherhood. The duo said they were discouraged from having kids as they shot to fame in the mid-80s and early ’90s.
Cheryl then went on to reveal that she was once asked to have an abortion. She chose not to disclose the person who advised her about the abortion. Further, James then mentioned something about her daughter.
She said, “Having my daughter, besides finding Jesus, is the best thing that I’ve ever experienced… Like I needed that little baby in my life. She kept me company on the road.”
As of now, both of Cheryl’s children are focused on their work. Chapele is active on Instagram as @chapele_wray. His Instagram bio shows that he is an architecture student. He also does a livestream on Twitch through Covered In Rice.
On the other hand, Corin is active on Instagram as @corindonaphin. Corin is interested in making videos and is active on YouTube, where she shares vlogs and lifestyle videos.
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James Divorced Her Then-Husband Gavin Wray After 28-Year-Long Relationship: What Went Wrong?
James is currently single but was previously married to Gavin Wray. They met in the late 1980s, fell in love, and dated for ten years before their marriage.
Finally, on Christmas Eve 2000, Cheryl and Gavin officially tied the knot.
Before marriage, the duo had already welcomed two children, Corin and Chapele. However, in 2018, they divorced, ending their 28-year-long relationship.
Reportedly, the former couple had four years of lengthy court proceedings for divorce—meaning they split in 2014.
James has also been open about her life after divorce. While talking with The Jasmine Brand, James said it was one of the darkest moments in her life as it took four long years.
It was the moment for James to try to find herself. While the rapper didn’t specify the exact reason for their divorce, she gave a hint and said, “It was me trying to fill someone else’s void. And I didn’t realize that I was doing that.”
She said she received great support from Sandra “Pepa” Denton, with whom she shared everything.
Now, James has already moved on and is focusing on herself. Her ex-husband, who is also a music producer, is focused on his career.
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Husband | Gavin Wray (ex-husband) |
| Children | Corin and Chapele Wray |
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Who Are Cheryl James Parents? All About Her Family Background
Cheryl James was born on March 28, 1966, to her parents in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. Her mother, Barbara James, is a retired bank manager who held the family together. Her father, whose name remains unclear, was a transit worker.
It is known that James’ father was addicted to drinking, and it was Barbara who helped him to stop drinking.
Cheryl now has a great bond with her father. On June 17, 2024, she posted an image with her dad on Father’s Day.
Cheryl once talked about her mother, who faced a tragic incident in his life. Barbara was nine years old, and at that time, she witnessed her mother being shot and killed by a police officer.
They even chased Barbara’s sibling into the home. James has two siblings, one of whom is Kim James.
She also has a brother who has stayed away from the limelight. During her interview with Rolling Stone, James talked publicly about her brother for the first time, stating that the streets influenced her brother into crimes. Later, he was diagnosed with “paranoid schizophrenia” and now lives in an institution.
Despite all the challenges, Cheryl graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in 1983. Later, she attended Queensborough Community College, where she studied nursing.
It was at college that she met Sandra Denton, with whom she founded the hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa.
| Date of Birth | March 28, 1966 |
| Age | 58 Years Old |
| Parents | Barbara James |
| Siblings | Kim James |
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