Eve

Eve rose to prominence in the late 1990s as part of a fresh wave of formidable and skilled women in rap, sharing the moment with peers Foxy Brown and Lil Kim. Aligned with the Ruff Ryders crew, she projected a sharp, uncompromising street persona capable of matching any rival in a mic battle, carving out independent success along the way. As a solo act she dropped her debut Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady in 1999, which climbed straight to the top of the Billboard 200. Her second album Scorpion arrived in 2001, reached number four on the Billboard chart, earned platinum status, and introduced her worldwide through the singles “Who’s That Girl” and “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” both of which became signature tracks of the era. The latter track, recorded with Gwen Stefani, captured the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2002. That same year Eve-Olution and its singles climbed high on the Billboard rankings, while a 2005 joint effort with Stefani titled “Rich Girl” again placed the duo in the upper chart tiers. A full decade passed before another studio album surfaced, owing to repeated label complications and delays; in 2013 Eve simply released Lip Lock on her own.

Born Eve Jihan Jeffers in Philadelphia on November 10, 1978, she began performing as a vocalist in her early teens inside an all-female vocal quintet. At the same time she sharpened her rap technique through spontaneous ciphers with friends, and before finishing high school she formed the female rap duo EDGP—pronounced “Egypt”—under the alias Gangsta. The pair appeared at neighborhood talent shows and club dates, often at the expense of her studies. After the duo dissolved she went solo, adopted the name Eve of Destruction, relocated to the Bronx following her mother’s remarriage, and spent a period working as a table dancer in a strip club. Dissatisfied, she decided to pursue rap once more after receiving encouragement from Mase.

Connections led to an introduction with Dr. Dre in Los Angeles, where she transformed the encounter into an impromptu showcase. Impressed, Dre placed her on a one-year contract with his fledgling Aftermath label. She cut several tracks there, one of which, “Eve of Destruction,” landed on the 1998 Bulworth soundtrack. Directionless at Aftermath, she was ultimately released when her deal ended without an album. During that Los Angeles stretch she had crossed paths with DMX while he promoted his debut It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot; she passed a freestyle audition and joined the Ruff Ryders collective. In 1999 she appeared on the label compilation Ryde or Die, Vol. 1. Powered by DMX’s momentum, the project debuted at number one, and her contribution “What Ya Want” was issued as a single that reached the R&B Top Ten. Additional high-profile features on the Roots’ “You Got Me” and the Blackstreet/Janet Jackson collaboration “Girlfriend/Boyfriend” further heightened anticipation for her first album.

Titled Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady and released in September 1999, the project benefited from Ruff Ryders’ stature and debuted at number one—the first time a female rapper had achieved that mark—eventually moving more than two million copies. She also scored R&B Top Ten success with “Gotta Man” and the domestic-violence commentary “Love Is Blind,” while adding a guest verse to Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott’s “Hot Boyz.” Following the supporting tour she returned with Scorpion in early 2001. Critics responded positively; the album topped the R&B chart and entered the pop chart at number four. “Who’s That Girl?” achieved moderate success, yet the follow-up duet with No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani, “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” propelled her into mainstream prominence, peaking at number two and securing the inaugural Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration while helping the album reach platinum.

Eve simultaneously launched a film career, appearing first in the 2002 Vin Diesel vehicle XXX and soon after in a key supporting part in Ice Cube’s Barbershop. In August 2002 she issued her third album Eve-Olution, which debuted inside the Top Ten and revealed her returning to the soul-rooted singing of her youth on multiple tracks. The Alicia Keys-assisted “Gangsta Lovin’” hit number two on both the pop and R&B charts, and the follow-up “Satisfaction” earned a Grammy nomination. Early 2003 brought a deal with the UPN network to develop and star in a multiracial sitcom centered on a fashion designer. Additional screen roles followed in Barbershop 2, The Cookout, and The Woodsman. An attempted musical comeback arrived in 2007 with Here I Am, featuring productions by Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, and Pharrell, yet after a pair of singles the project was shelved by Interscope. She stayed visible through a starring turn in Whip It and a recurring part on Glee until Lip Lock surfaced in 2013. Released on her own imprint From the Rib, the album included appearances by Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliot, and Juicy J.

While preparing the next project she took on television work with Sisterhood of Hip Hop and The Talk, and joined Stefani on tour in 2016. Eve resurfaced in 2019 with the single “Reload” featuring Konshens.