Rapper Eve Reveals She Didn’t Fully Appreciate Her Impact Until Writing Memoir
Eve, the acclaimed hip-hop artist, says she doesn’t dwell on her musical legacy despite becoming only the third female rapper to have an album reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. “I don’t think about it. I just, it’s not something that comes to my mind, it is not something I think about,” she told the Associated Press in a recent interview.
Eve stated she doesn’t concern herself with the level of credit she receives, knowing she has “done and have accomplished” a notable body of work, ”that’s something no one could ever take” away from her. While acknowledging the inspiration she’s provided to fans,she didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of her career until completing her 2024 memoir,who’s that Girl?
“I think the only time I kind of allowed myself to really reflect on it is after I finished my book and I did the audiobook. And literally,as soon as I got in the car,I called Cathy,my co-writer,and was like,’Yo,I did a lot,like,and I’m proud of myself,you know!'” she explained.
Eve, born Eve Jihan Jeffers on November 10, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, rose to prominence in the late 1990s as a member of the Ruff Ryders collective. Her debut album, Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First lady,released in 1999,achieved platinum status and included the hit single “What Ya Want.” Her second album, Scorpion (2001), featured the chart-topping single “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” with Gwen Stefani, making her the third female hip-hop artist to top the Billboard 200, following Lauryn Hill and Lil’ kim.
In a recent appearance on the Joe and Jada podcast with Fat Joe and Jadakiss, Eve discussed her continued touring despite being married to Maximillion Cooper, a billionaire entrepreneur and race car driver. When questioned about her motivation to tour,she responded,”I like money. Okay? I like checks. So if there’s, I wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t a check involved, I wouldn’t be doing it if the check wasn’t right.”
Eve, often referred to as the “First Lady of Ruff ryders,” emphasized her financial independence, stating, “First of all, nobody ever saved me.I saved myself. I got my own money. If I wanted to stop working,my man wouldn’t care.but why would I not do something that I love?” She noted that her current tour had included shows in Europe and was “going good,” with several shows already completed.
