‘Girl, I’m chillin!’ Eve on her overdue Grammy win,
enduring legacy and embracing all things ‘woo woo’
Nearly three decades after she rewrote the rules for women in hip-hop, Eve is exactly where she wants to be. As she steps into her MOBO hosting era – and finally claims a long-overdue Grammy – the Philly-born icon reflects on legacy, London life and why, at 47, embracing a little “woo woo” might be her greatest power move yet.
When a young Eve burst out of the Philly rap scene in the late ’90s, the landscape of hip-hop was irrevocably changed. Scrappy and self-possessed with a confident flow, she intuitively translated her lived experience as a young woman hustling to make ends meet into gripping bars that infiltrated culture far beyond her native West Philadelphia. With a bleached platinum buzz cut and two paw print tattoos emblazoned across her chest, Eve was impossible to ignore in both sight and sound. A chance encounter with rapper Mase and a failed start with Dr Dre eventually led to her signing with DMX’s hip-hop crew Ruff Ryders and becoming the “first lady” of the male-dominated group. Her debut album, Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, landed at number one on the Billboard charts, making her the third female rapper to do so after Lauryn Hill and Foxy Brown. Her 2001 sophomore album, Scorpion, answered the question on everyone’s lips with her enduring hit, Who’s That Girl?
And yet, this year, her Grammy win for her work on The Roots’ featuring Erykah Badu You Got Me arrived 27 years late. When she recorded it, Eve was on the precipice of becoming the icon we know now, but back then, she was still an unknown artist, uncredited and unpaid for her contribution. The recognition marks a full-circle moment: this year also marks the 25th anniversary of Scorpion.
It could be argued that Eve walked so that a whole canon of women in hip-hop could run, without having their gender prefixing their artistry, and now at 47, Eve is excited to witness a new generation of talent. This spring, she will host the MOBO Awards alongside comedian Eddie Kadi. Ahead of the big night, we caught up with her to talk legacy, reiki, and finally getting that Grammy nod.
You’ve been living in London for over a decade, but will presenting the MOBO Awards truly cement you as a Brit?
I feel like it’s really solidifying that. I’m really looking forward to it, the MOBOs is always a great show. To be part of it in this way is so fun, and to be doing it with Eddie [Kadi], who is hilarious… I’m definitely looking forward to our back and forth. I love Manchester. It’s the best; there’s so much energy. I’m also looking forward to the fashion, of course.
Are you an anglophile? What do you love about British culture?
Yes! I think the last eight to 10 years have been phenomenal for British music, especially hip hop, it’s just come into its own and crossed over to the US as well, because for time, I don’t think it really translated because of certain slang or certain sounds. Now there’s so many American artists and audiences that love British artists, Little Simz is amazing. Central Cee is amazing. I love Skepta..there’s so many incredible artists here.
You just won a Grammy for your previously uncredited verse on The Roots’ You Got Me…
When I did the song, The Roots were huge. I recorded it a year before it came out. By the time it did, my career took off a few months later. Things had happened so fast that I didn’t have time to go back and reflect. It’s a very weird feeling. The Grammy feels like a full-circle moment, closure. This was something I did before I was signed, it was young homegirl, Eve from Philly, going to the studio. To have this Grammy now, it’s like, “Whoa!” I really appreciate the Black music collective and the Grammy association recognising it. I said in my speech, this is for her—the young version of me, because that was the first major thing I did that kind of got thrown away. It feels really good.
To have this Grammy now, it’s like, “Whoa!” I really appreciate the Black music collective and the Grammy association recognising it. I said in my speech, this is for her—the young version of me…
EVE
You have these truly enduring hits. Do you ever revisit your early songs like Let Me Blow Ya Mind?
I honestly don’t unless I have something coming up, like a tour. But I love to hear certain records, they take me right back to that girl, that moment, and it makes me proud.
So for example, Ain’t Got No Dough ft Missy Elliot– where does that take you back to?
Oh my God, that was my Philly record! All my friends were in the studio with me. That’s how we actually talked about broke dudes! We thought it was funny, even back in high school. Making those records was probably my most fun process ever because it was my debut album, but I got to have all my friends on it, acting like we did on the block. The studio wasn’t different from the neighborhood.
Do you stay in touch with other women in the industry like Missy Elliot who came up at a similar time?
I love cheerleading for Missy. She’s incredible. She was one of the first artists to be supportive when I started, like a big sister. We don’t speak all the time, but when we do, it’s like no time has passed.
You recently toured with Nelly and Ja Rule. That must have been fun?
It was really fun. Everybody has amazing hits, and the energy was incredible. People honestly came to party. I had my son on the road with me, and my whole family—my mum, my husband– that was really special.
Can we expect new music from you?
I have the 25th anniversary of Scorpion, so we’re talking about some remixes. In terms of new music, I’m not 100% sure yet. Let’s see where this project goes…
You sound like you’re having a lot of fun?
I am, I think it’s important. Nothing’s perfect, but you can’t be stressed and serious all the time. I’m grateful people still want to see me perform, that I can make remixes and work on different projects. To do that, you have to have a bit of fun and not put yourself through unnecessary stress or anxiety.
And what helps you do that? I know you’ve talked about your “Woo”.
I’m embracing the second woo this year. I’m into Reiki, breathwork, acupuncture—I’ve never missed acupuncture in four years. These tools work for me, whether people call them woo woo or not. I want to learn how to slow down and hit the brakes before I hit the wall, right? It’s important to me to learn how to step back because it doesn’t come naturally. I’m one of those people who gets that guilt feeling if I’m chilling for too long. How do you pump the brakes before you hit the wall?
I’m into Reiki, breathwork, acupuncture… These tools work for me, whether people call them woo woo or not. I want to learn how to slow down and hit the brakes before I hit the wall, right?
EVE
You wrote your memoir in 2024. What was that process like?
I knew if I was going to do it I wanted to be super vulnerable, and coming away from it, I felt like I really got everything out that I wanted. It was cathartic, I was fearful at first—the fertility journey, which I had spoken about before, but talking about anxiety, the alcohol thing, I just felt like I wanted to shed the skin of these things and be done with it, but I hoped being honest would help someone else once they read it. People were gentle and respectful with it, and that felt good. I felt like, “Okay, yeah, I can do this.”
Did hosting The Talk prepare you for opening up in that way?
Absolutely. Being on The Talk, I had to be real, open, authentic. Those women shared their lives, and I had to meet them there. I wasn’t used to being that personal, I post on socials, but I don’t get super deep. That show helped me see, “Oh, I can be honest and people will get it.”
You have this incredible legacy. Is there pressure that comes with it?
No, girl, I’m chillin’! I’m 47, and honestly, I don’t care. I love music, but I don’t need to compete with what’s out now. I get inspired by younger artists, love collaborating if I can, but I don’t need to try to be like them. I’ve always been open to pivot. I feel lucky I can dip into things that fulfill me. Right now my four-year-old son is my biggest everything. I’m just grateful. Really grateful my life is where it is and that I get to make these choices.
The 2026 MOBO Awards, hosted by Eve and Eddie Kadi, takes place in Manchester’s Co-Op Live on 26 March.
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