The rapper kept the momentum going by linking up with Gwen Stefani for the Dr.

The Hits (“Hot Boyz,” “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” “Rich Girl,” “Gangsta Lovin’”)Ī few months after Eve stepped onto the scene, the rapper quickly scored her first top ten single on the Billboard Hot 100 – thanks to Missy Elliott’s “Hot Boyz.” A still beloved posse cut (also featuring Lil’ Mo, Nas, and Q-Tip) from Elliott’s 1999 sophomore album Da Real World, the song showcased Eve’s now-signature sassy flow. Nonetheless, music has always remained at the forefront, and these are her best songs. The rapper also found a home in film and TV, starring in the Barbershop film franchise, her own Eve sitcom (which ran from 2003-2006 on UPN), and serving as a co-host on CBS daytime talk show The Talk starting in 2017. She dabbled in fashion with the launch of clothing line Fetish, which launched in 2003 and closed in 2009. 1, was sharp and assertive, with Eve rapping over a catchy Swizz Beatz production.Īs Eve became an established name in the rap world, she also expanded her reach. Dre’s Aftermath and appearing on 1998’s Bulworth soundtrack and The Roots’ “You Got Me,” Eve moved to Ruff Ryders Entertainment/Interscope and was properly introduced on “What Ya Want.” The 1999 single, found on the compilation Ryde or Die Vol. She initially found a place as a singer in an all-female R&B cover group called Dope Girl Posse, but when the group’s manager suggested they take a rap approach, Eve began sharpening her lyrical pen. With the genre’s lack of female representation at the time, the paw print chest-tattooed Eve was a unique voice: A slick lyricist that shifted the male gaze of rap to a female’s perspective on sexuality, self-worth, and stacking your coins.Įve Jihan Jeffers Cooper is a proud Philadelphia native.

The Ruff Ryders were one of the largest rap posses in the late 90s, and Eve – AKA the label’s First Lady – helped propel them to Grammy-winning dominance.

Eve & Adam by Michael Grant