Eve (rapper)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Eve
Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Eve Jihan Jeffers
Born = birth date and age|1978|11|10
Origin = West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Years_active = 1997–present
Label = Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope (1996–1997)
Ruff Ryders/Interscope (1997–2001) Full Surface/Aftermath(2002–2007) Geffen (2007–present)
Associated_acts = Ruff Ryders, Swizz Beatz, Dr. Dre
URL = [http://www.evefans.com evefans.com]

Eve Jihan Jeffers (born November 10 1978),cite web |url=http://music.msn.com/music/artist-biography/eve.6/|title=Eve: Biography|author=Steve Huey |accessdate=2008-07-29 |date=2008 |publisher=MSN ] better known as Eve, is a Grammy Award-winning rapper, singer, actress, and musician. 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.

Early life

Eve was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Julia Wilch-Jeffers, a publishing company supervisor, and Jerry Jeffers, a chemical plant supervisor. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/69/Eve.html Eve Biography (1978-) ] ] 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.

Career

" 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).

"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". [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/eve-rap-artist?cat=entertainment Eve on her singing and rapping] ]

"Eve-Olution" (2002-2003)

Eve's third album, "Eve-Olution", was released in summer 2002 (see 2002 in music) and peaked at #6 on the "Billboard" 200. 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 performed 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".

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. Eve also was featured in Keyshia Cole's song Never as on the Soundtrack and The Way It Is along with the official remix for Teairra Mari's second single No Daddy.

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.

New Album (2009)

Eve will release her fourth album, Here I Am, in 2009. 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. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003188708 Eve Drafts Top Producers For 'Here I Am'] ]

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 [ [http://www.evefans.com/bio] Eve w Sean Paul on 2nd single for "Hear I Am] ] 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. [ [http://www.showbuzz.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/11/music/main2793369.shtml??source=RSS&attr=_2793369] 80s type song on Eve's 4th cd] "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" [ [http://jay-mindustry.livejournal.com/ Insider speaks on Eve singing on her 4th album] ]

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". [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003188708 Eve on the reggae influence on her 4th album] ]

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."cite web|first=Shaheem|last=Reid|title=Eve And Cassidy LPs Haven't Been Scrapped, Swizz Beatz Promises; Steve-O Stunts As A Rapper, In Mixtape Monday|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580802/20080201/swizz_beats.jhtml|date=2008-02-04|accessdate=2008-03-10]

Acting (2002-present)

Eve appeared in "XXX" with Vin Diesel, both "Barbershop" and "" 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 on Wisin Y Yandel's Reggaeton Album "".

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

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. 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.

Discography

Albums

* 1999: "Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady"
* 2001: "Scorpion"
* 2002: "Eve-Olution"
* 2009 : Here I Am (unreleased yet)

Top-ten hits

Filmography

Awards and nominations

* American Music Awards
** 2003, Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist (Nominated)

* Black Reel Awards
** 2005, Best Actress (Independent): The Woodsman (Nominated)

* 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 Movie Awards
** 2003, Best Female Breakthrough Performance: Barbershop (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)

* MOBO Awards
** 2001, Best Hip-Hop Act (Nominated)

* Soul Train Awards
** 2000, Best New R&B/Soul or Rap Artist: "Gotta Man" (Nominated)
** 2000, Best Music Video: "Hot Boyz" with Missy Elliott, Nas, & Lil' Mo (Nominated)

References

External links

* [http://www.evefans.com Official site]
* [http://www.geffen.com/eve Eve at Geffen Records]
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