Eve (rapper)

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Eve
Birth name Eve Jihan Minnie Jeffers
Born November 10, 1978 (1978-11-10) (age 29)
Origin West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Genre(s) Hip hop, hardcore rap, East Coast hip hop, contemporary R&B, pop
Years active 1997-present
Label(s) Ruff Ryders/Full Surface/Aftermath/Geffen/Interscope
Associated acts Sean Paul, Ruff Ryders, Swizz Beatz, Gwen Stefani, Dr. Dre, Kelly Rowland
Website evefans.com

Eve Jihan Jeffers (born November 10, 1978), better known as Eve or E-V-E, is an American Grammy Award-winning rapper, singer, and actress. She has sold millions of albums during her musical career. Her first three albums have so far reached 7 million copies sold world wide. In 2003, she became the star of her own TV show, Eve, which lasted for 3 seasons. The rapper/singer/actress has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She ranked # 48 on VH1's "50 Greatest Women Of The Video Era" show list.

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[edit] Early life

Eve was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Julia Wilch, a publishing company supervisor, and Jerry Jeffers, a chemical plant supervisor.[1] She adopted the name Gangsta in high school as part of an all-female group called EDGP (pronounced Egypt), and went solo as Eve of Destruction.

During her early years in Philadelphia, Eve's first musical interest was singing. She sang in many choirs and even made an all-female singing group (Dope Girl Posse or D.G.P.) with a manager. This group covered songs from En Vogue and Color Me Badd. After the group's manager saw the rap group ABC, they suggested that the group raps and Eve stuck with it. She then went on to form a rapping group.

[edit] Career

[edit] Eve The First Lady of Ruff Ryders (1998-1999)

Eve first appeared on DJ Clue's The Professional, along with other Ruff Ryders' compilations. Her next single, "What Ya Want", featuring Nokio of Dru Hill, didn't do so well on the charts, so she collaborated with The Roots, Blackstreet and Janet Jackson, which further expanded her fan base. Her 1999 debut, Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady, was an unprecedented success, becoming the second hip-hop album by a woman to enter the Billboard 200 at #1 (the first was by Brooklyn rapper, Foxy Brown).

[edit] Scorpion (2001)

The follow-up to Let There Be Eve, Scorpion, was released in 2001. Its first single, "Who's That Girl" guaranteed the rapper first international success. The second single, "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (with Gwen Stefani of No Doubt) and produced by Dr. Dre, became a pop success, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and Scorpion eventually went platinum.

One of the record's strengths, cited in several reviews, was Eve's exploration of her singing voice in addition to her rapping skills. "I was a singer before I started rapping," Eve said in a Ruff Ryders press release, "so on this album I wanted my audience to hear more of my vocal skills".[2]

[edit] Eve-Olution (2002-2003)

Eve's third album, Eve-Olution, was released in summer 2002 (see 2002 in music) and peaked at #6 on Billboard. In the meantime, the album's first single, "Gangsta Lovin'", with Alicia Keys, became another #2 hit. The second and final single, "Satisfaction", only saw moderate success again. Eve-Olution was a flop and became Eve's worst selling album to date. Also that year she peformed the entrance song "All Grown Up" for WWE personality Stephanie McMahon. Afterwards, Eve closed out 2003 by signing to UPN for a television show about a fashion designer titled, Eve, and a feature on Mary J. Blige's single, "Not Today".

[edit] Guest singles (2005-2007)

In 2005, the rapper appeared on Gwen Stefani's top ten hit "Rich Girl", which peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March. The same year, she appeared on the remix of Amerie's #1 U.S. R&B hit, "1 Thing" the Hitch soundtrack.

In 2007, she appeared on Kelly Rowland's single "Like This". The Punk Cabaret band One On None covered Eve's 1999 song "Love Is Blind". In July 2007, Eve made a guest appearance on Maroon 5's second single Wake Up Call on Live @ 45th at Night, it is unknown if this will be an official remix or if it will even be recorded.

[edit] Here I Am (2008)

Eve will release her fourth album sometime in 2008. Those rumored to be involved with the album are Timbaland, Dr. Dre, The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz and Scott Storch. Slated to make guest appearances are Adam Levine, Sean Paul, Swizz Beatz, Shakira, and possibly Gwen Stefani.[3]

The first single "Tambourine" from Here I Am was released in April 2007. The second single was "Give It to You" featuring Sean Paul, a reggae-influenced breezy mid-tempo song[4] Eve has stated that the third single may be a song called "All Night Long". This song is an 80s-pop influenced song that Eve sings rather than raps.[5] "All Night Long" was produced by Pharrell and finds Eve singing, something the rapper had previously been reluctant to undertake despite persuasion from her label.

"Pharrell made me sing a whole song. I finally got up the nerve [but] I feel like I was bullied into it," she jokes. "But it's one of my favorite songs on the album. I was really stressed about it but it was fun to do. I consider myself somebody who can maybe hold a note on a good day. I sang hooks before, which is super easy, but I had to get out of my comfort zones."

She will embark across Australia on her Here I Am Tour in early 2008 near the 2008 MTV Australian Video Music Awards where she will also be performing and appearing.

An insider review of "All Night Long" said:

"Very different than Eve's usual style. It sounds like an '80s pop song. She tries out her singing skills here and she succeeds. They are no crazy, over the top vocals, but she sings much better than most so called songstress' today. The beat is pretty much good, and the lyrics are above average, but the chorus gets repitive (Make it last all night long/baby baby all night long). This should be the third single"[6]

Reggae artist Sizzla is also featured on a song and Eve is currently lining up another reggae cameo. "I listen to reggae all the time. It's always been my favorite music because of the melodies," she says. "I also listen to a lot of Brazilian music [and] a little bit of rock, so I wanted to bring all those elements, along with hip-hop".[7]

She is also featured in the track "Dame Reign" w/ Trina, Lil' Kim ,Eve, Jacki-O & Missy Elliott (TBR).

Swizz Beats said that Eve's Here I Am — despite constant push-backs — isn't dead. They're going back in the lab, and Swizz will produce some if not the entire project. "It ain't over until it's out," he said. "Everybody wants the best for her. We just regrouping and starting back. It wasn't too many follow-ups that can follow up after Tambourine...You get those type of records ... I'm sorry to make those type of records, but sh--, they're hard to follow up. I'mma get back to doing the [whole] album thing," he added. "It eliminates the problem of what we go through. I let the artist use who they wanna use, this and that, it's crazy. The following up [to the songs I produce], sh-- becomes hard. It's a formula and sound the people are looking for and want. When you get all these different producers, it messes up the formula."[8]

[edit] Acting (2004-present)

Eve appeared in XXX with Vin Diesel, both Barbershop and Barbershop 2: Back in Business with Ice Cube, The Cookout with Queen Latifah and Meagan Good, and The Woodsman with Kevin Bacon in mid 2004. She also voiced Major Jones in the video game XIII. She also voiced one of the villains of the short-lived Spiderman cartoon on MTV.

In 2003, Eve starred in the UPN television sitcom, Eve, as a fashion designer named Shelly. The show lasted three seasons until it was cancelled May 2006. Eve appeared in Wisin Y Yandel's Reggaeton Album Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres.

She is currently appearing in the nostalgic drama "Flashbacks of a Fool" alongside current "James Bond" actor "Daniel Craig".

[edit] DUI arrest

On April 26, 2007, Eve was arrested due to suspicion of driving under the influence after she crashed her silver Maserati into a divider on Hollywood Boulevard. The crash happened at 2:45 a.m. and two other people were in the car at the time of the crash. Eve was visibly upset after getting out of the car. She was then transported to the Los Angeles County Correctional Facility and was held on $30,000 bail. She received a visit from actor Sean Penn while in jail and was let out later that morning. She was due back in court May 30, 2007. Eve has been told she must wear an alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet for 45 days after she pleaded no contest to drunk driving in a Los Angeles court. The rapper must also attend 10 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, a three-month alcohol education program and appear in court to verify that she is using the alcohol detection monitor.

[edit] Discography

Main article: Eve discography

[edit] Albums

1999 - Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady
2001 - Scorpion
2002 - Eve-Olution
2008 - Here I Am

[edit] Top-ten hits

Year Song U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap UK Album
2001 "Who's That Girl?" 47 16 5 6 Scorpion
"Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (feat. Gwen Stefani) 2 6 10 4
2002 "Gangsta Lovin'" (feat. Alicia Keys) 2 2 2 6 Eve-Olution
2004 "Rich Girl" (Gwen Stefani feat. Eve) 7 78 — 4 Love.Angel.Music.Baby
2007 "Like This" (Kelly Rowland feat. Eve) 30 7 — 4 Ms. Kelly

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Barbershop Terri Jones
xXx J.J.
2003 -
2006		 Eve Shelley Tv Series - Lead Role
2003 Third Watch Yvette Powel Television drama (Episode - Second Chances)
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Cheyenne Tate/The Talon Voice Role (Episode - Keeping Secrets)
XIII Major Jones Voice Role
2004 The Woodsman Mary-Kay
Barbershop 2: Back in Business Terri Jones
One on One Ida (Episode - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Hip Hop World)
The Cookout Becky
2008 Flashbacks of a Fool Ophelia Franklin
Ego Denise (in production)

[edit] Awards and nominations

  • Grammy Awards
    • 2003, Best Female Rap Solo Performance: "Satisfaction" (Nominated)
    • 2002, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" w/ Gwen Stefani (Winner)
    • 2002, Best Rap Album: Scorpion (Nominated)
  • Image Awards
    • 2005, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series: "Eve" (Nominated)
    • 2004, Outstanding Music Duo or Group (with Mary J. Blige) (Nominated)
    • 2003, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Barbershop (Nominated)
  • Lady of Soul Awards
    • 2001, Best Music Video: "Who's That Girl" (Nominated)
    • 2000, Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist: "Gotta Man" (Nominated)
    • 2000, Best R&B/Soul Female Solo Album of the Year: Let There Be Light (Nominated)
    • 2000, Best Music Video: "Love Is Blind" (Nominated)
  • MTV Video Music Awards
    • 2007, Best Choreography: "Tambourine" (Nominee)
    • 2001, Best Female Video: "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Gwen Stefani (Winner)
    • 2001, Viewer's Choice: "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Gwen Stefani (Nominated)
    • 2001, Best Hip-Hop Video: "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Gwen Stefani (Nominated)
    • 2000, Best Rap Video: "Love Is Blind" (Nominated)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Eve Biography (1978-)
  2. ^ Eve on her singing and rapping
  3. ^ Eve Drafts Top Producers For 'Here I Am'
  4. ^ [1] Eve w Sean Paul on 2nd single for "Hear I Am]
  5. ^ [2] 80s type song on Eve's 4th cd
  6. ^ Insider speaks on Eve singing on her 4th album
  7. ^ Eve on the reggae influence on her 4th album
  8. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2008-02-04). Eve And Cassidy LPs Haven't Been Scrapped, Swizz Beatz Promises; Steve-O Stunts As A Rapper, In Mixtape Monday. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.

[edit] External links