Cherry was born as Neneh Mariann Karlsson, to a Sierra Leonean father, Amahdu Jah (a drummer) and a Swedish painter/textile artist mother, Monika Karlsson, known as Moki Cherry. Her siblings include the singers Titiyo Jah and Eagle-Eye Cherry. Her step-father Don Cherry raised her since birth so Neneh took his name on. Cherry lived the first years of her life in the small Swedish town Hässleholm.

Cherry dropped out of school at 14 and moved to London, where she joined the punk rock band The Cherries. She was close friends/house mates with Ari Up and worked at Better Badges, which was a centre of punk culture. Cherry moved through several bands, including The Slits, New Age Steppers, Rip Rig & Panic, and Float Up CP. She also dj'd, playing early rap music on the reggae pirate Dread Broadcasting Corporation.

She began a solo career with "Stop the War", a protest song about the Falkland Islands. She also worked with The The and musician Cameron McVey (a.k.a. Booga Bear), who co-wrote most of her debut album Raw Like Sushi, and whom she would eventually marry.

She was intimately involved in the Bristol Urban Culture scene, working as an arranger on Massive Attack's Blue Lines album and helping out in various other ways in the scene. Famously, she gave birth while Shara Nelson was recording the vocals for the album in the same house. Robert Del Naja and Andrew Vowles of Massive Attack had in turn contributed to Raw Like Sushi.

Her cover was released as a single, and "Buffalo Stance" was an international blockbuster and she caused controversy when she performed the song - complete with gyrating choreography - on UK television show Top Of The Pops while 7-8 months' pregnant. "Buffalo Stance" eventually peaked at number 3 on the UK pop charts and number 1 on the American Dance charts, becoming one of 1988's biggest club anthems.

More singles released between 1988 and 1990 included the slower "Manchild," "Kisses on the Wind," "Heart," and "Inna City Mama." She also found success with "I've Got U Under My Skin," a dramatic reworking of the Cole Porter song, which appeared on the Red Hot + Blue AIDS fundraising album. The single reached number 25 on the UK pop charts.