Eve is, as the title states, Ruff Ryders’ First Lady. Her album is full of welcome contradictions. “Let’s Talk About” is rough. “Gotta Man” is silky. This album is really nicely balanced.
Eve can look you in the face and tell you she loves you, then next she is punching you in the mouth. Her rhymes get the job done and her flow is tops. Need proof positive? Track seven, “Ain’t Got No Dough”, finds Eve rhyming and stealing one on one with the current queen of rhyme, Missy Elliot. Eve doesn’t miss a beat. She is solid.
“Love Is Blind” gives you a little guitar, a slow-paced love song. Eve is even raw when she’s pleading her friend’s case. DMX, The Lox, and Drag-on join Eve on “Scenario 2000”. This track is a panic attack of hard-ass rhyming. DMX sticks around on “Dog Match”. His growl greets you from the beginning. The best part about this album is that Eve doesn’t leave you hanging when it’s her turn to step to the mic. “Heaven Only Knows” is a sobering track about Eve’s existence prior to striking it out as an mc.
As her liner notes tell us, “Your name is very important. The name Eve has given you energy and ambition excessively strong willed and independent nature.” No words could have better described her sharp style. If you shy away from female rappers because you don’t think they can be tough, Eve will quickly change that.
+ rae gun
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.