Throughout the summer time of 1998, a 19-year-old rapper named Eve (previously often called Eve of Destruction) acquired a telephone name from her producer buddy Scott Storch about a chance to hop on a file with the Roots.
The hip-hop band from Philadelphia, fashioned by Black Thought and Questlove, was effervescent on the time and Eve, a recognized battle rapper within the metropolis, was excited to work collectively on a track referred to as “You Got Me.”
After tweaking the verse that Black Thought, the band’s lead MC and co-founder, wrote for her, Eve laid down her vocals, rhyming the lyrics “Another lonely night? / It seems like I’m on the side, you only lovin’ your mic.”
“It was really exciting,” Eve mentioned, whereas lounging on a sofa in a Hollywood residence. The rapper, actor and clothier has been primarily based in London for the final decade. “I think that was my most professional setting because they obviously were already signed.”
When the track, which is featured on the Roots’ career-defining “Things Fall Apart” album, was launched in 1999, it was the primary time the world heard Eve’s voice — however nobody knew it was her. To her shock, she wasn’t listed as a contributing artist on the observe.
She was additionally stunned to search out out that Jill Scott, a poet and rising neo-soul singer from Philadelphia who wrote and sang the preliminary hook, was changed by Grammy-winning singer Erykah Badu. After receiving the incorrect deal with for the shoot, Eve wasn’t featured within the music video both.
In 2000, the Roots and Badu received a Grammy for “You Got Me,” however as a result of Eve wasn’t listed on the observe, she didn’t obtain an award. By this time, Eve was signed to Ruff Ryders and selling her debut album “Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady” together with her breakout single “Want Ya Want,” so though it harm her emotions on the time, she moved previous it, she mentioned.
“There was no time to kind of go back and think about it,” mentioned Eve, who opened up concerning the state of affairs in her 2024 memoir “Who’s That Girl.” After years of seeing one another and even performing the track collectively, she and Questlove spoke concerning the matter for the primary time when she made an look on his podcast and apologized to Eve for the oversight. “We were extremely inconsiderate, insular and uncommunicative with each other that things like that always spilled on the sidelines,” the drummer mentioned on the podcast. (Questlove wasn’t accessible for remark additional on the time of publication.)
Final fall, Eve acquired one other surprising telephone name — this time from the Recording Academy. After listening to Eve speak concerning the “You Got Me” state of affairs on Ebro Darden’s podcast, the Recording Academy wished to provide her an award for her contributions to the observe.
“They were like, ‘Listen, we didn’t even know about this situation at all until we heard the podcast,’” Eve recalled.
After 26 years, Eve was given a golden gramophone Thursday night time in the course of the Recording Academy Honors offered by the Black Music Collective in entrance of a star-studded viewers. For her, the award appears like “validation in a way to that little girl, to little Eve,” she mentioned. “She deserves that.”
She added, “Whatever is yours can’t miss you.”
Forward of the ceremony, Eve spoke to The Occasions about arising within the Philadelphia music scene as a youngster, what the “You Got Me” state of affairs has taught her and what receiving this award means to her now. She additionally talked concerning the influence of her second studio album, “Scorpion,” which turns 25 this 12 months, and what it was wish to deliver her toddler son on tour along with her for the primary time.
This interview has been evenly edited for size and readability.
You grew up in West Philly at a time when so many future greats have been arising directly — the Roots, Jill Scott, Bilal and Scott Storch. If you have been simply a youngster, you have been hanging out at studios with a few of them and attending jam periods at Questlove’s home. What did the vitality in Philly really feel like again then?
It was wonderful as a result of music was in every single place. I knew that I wished it to be my life, so each weekend I used to be doing one thing. I ought to’ve been going to high school, however I used to be going to the studio as a result of I knew that I wished music to be my life. And in Philly, there was at all times one thing occurring whether or not it was a block get together or a jam session or an open mic night time. I used to be at every little thing.
Scott Storch was the one that referred to as you about getting on the Roots’ “You Got Me” file. What was your response while you obtained that decision?
If you end up younger, there’s that no concern factor. I bear in mind being excited, after all, but in addition like, “Yes! I’m supposed to be here,” not from a cocky place however extra affirmative. It was actually thrilling, however it was additionally very skilled. I feel that was my {most professional} setting as a result of they clearly have been already signed. I’d by no means been round that earlier than, so I bear in mind [being] like “This feels like the business.”
You have been round 19 or 20 at the moment, proper?
I should have been round 19 as a result of I might’ve gotten signed and dropped [from Aftermath] after I was 18. [laughs]
At the moment you have been in between file offers, so it should have felt like an enormous alternative.
Completely. You realize what’s humorous, I in all probability simply took it with no consideration within the sense of like “Oh yeah, this is the start.” They’re signed. It’s humorous as a result of I feel again on the state of affairs and I suppose I assumed it was gonna pop off from there. That’s why all of the occasions that occurred afterward have been like “Ugh.”
Take me again to the day that you simply laid down your verse. Who was within the studio with you?
I’m fairly certain Black Thought and Jill [Scott] have been there. Even when not the entire session, I don’t know if I’d are available in if she’d completed or no matter, however I’m fairly certain she was there.
How did your verse come collectively?
I had this complete factor in my head, however Black Thought had a complete verse already. However then I used to be like, “I’m not gonna just say your verse.” Now, I’ve a author typically, however again then, particularly as a result of I used to be a battle rapper, it was like I can’t say any individual else’s bars. That’s not actual. So he had this complete factor after which I form of tweaked it to make it really feel and sound like me.
I had plenty of audacity again then. I actually did. [laughs] As a result of most individuals can be like “Yeah, cool.” Additionally, I used to be like if I’m going to place my voice on this, I actually need to really feel like me. I’ve considered this [situation] a lot now, and I’m certain that additionally attributed to them being like, “We don’t need to reach out. We don’t need to make sure it’s OK” as a result of the vast majority of it was written by him. Not that that’s an excuse as a result of there isn’t any excuse.
When was the primary time that you simply realized you didn’t obtain credit score for the track? If I’m not mistaken, I feel Jill Scott came upon that her vocals have been changed by Erykah Badu after she heard it on the radio.
I feel it was form of the identical factor. All of it occurred so quick like, “Oh, the song is out.” I in all probability heard it across the identical time and thought “Oh, that’s not Jill. Oh, that’s Erykah Badu.” It was such a bizarre timeline as a result of I did the track a 12 months or a couple of months earlier than, after which by the point I heard the track, I used to be residing in Harlem and I used to be signed to Ruff Ryders.
The track went on to win a Grammy for rap efficiency by a duo or group in 2000, however since you weren’t credited, you didn’t obtain an award. In your e book, you speak about how this case lined up with you being dropped from Aftermath Leisure and transferring again dwelling from L.A. How did you take care of all of this emotionally?
I really feel like I had a month that I used to be simply [felt] — I don’t know if I’d name it depressed — deflated. I actually felt like rattling, this was it and now I’m again dwelling. I used to be simply in L.A. in a condominium with a pleasant checking account. Now I’m again at my mother’s home in my pajamas and I gotta catch the bus. What the hell is going on to my life? [laughs] That was horrible so I used to be wrestling with my emotions and my unhappiness, however my mother was nice. My mother has at all times been my rock. She was supportive and he or she [didn’t] inform me to recover from it. She form of simply let me wallow in it, however [she was] optimistic as effectively like, “Maybe that wasn’t the time.” It was loopy, however I’ll say, I wanted it. I’m joyful that occurred as a result of I wouldn’t have the profession I’ve now. Like going again to the Aftermath factor, if I had come out then, I wouldn’t have the profession that I’ve now. I really feel like I did should be humbled as a result of it was undoubtedly the Philly angle that obtained me fired, that obtained me dropped. [laughs] My identify on the time was Eve of Destruction, my battle rap identify, so it was the time that I sat with my emotions and I used to be like if I get this opportunity once more who’s it that I need to be as an artist? Who do I need to present the world? I didn’t need to tackle a title. I used to be like I’m simply going to indicate them myself. I’m going to indicate them Eve.
Some followers knew that you simply didn’t obtain credit score on this observe, however others came upon for the primary time while you talked about it final 12 months throughout an look on Ebro Darden’s podcast.
It’s loopy how many individuals are mad about it for me. I had associates who have been like, “Girl, so what’s going to happen?” [laughs] However it’s a humorous factor. Why wasn’t I mad sufficient? Or was it — that is the over-analyzer [in me] — a kind of moments the place I simply wished to neglect about it. As a result of, yeah, my emotions have been undoubtedly harm if it was a faux deal with. Or did we get the deal with incorrect? So perhaps I used to be like, “I’ll just put it on the back burner,” however Ebro undoubtedly didn’t. And you understand what, I’m joyful he didn’t as a result of typically it takes for an individual to be your champion or your cheerleader in sure issues and I do respect it.
“You Got Me” is likely one of the Roots’ greatest songs to today. Was it bizarre listening to it performed in every single place when it first got here out?
Throughout that point I didn’t see them. It was very bizarre. That track had come out, I used to be doing my factor, however we ran in several circles hip-hop-wise. I suppose we simply by no means crossed paths. I by no means actually noticed them. I feel they have been on tour by then and I used to be with Ruff Ryders. We didn’t see one another till years later as a result of we now have carried out that track now 3 times in all probability at separate factors in my profession, which can also be bizarre. [laughs]
That’s bizarre.
It’s bizarre. I don’t know what’s incorrect.
Now, 26 years after “You Got Me” received a Grammy, you might be lastly receiving your award and honored on the Black Music Collective Recording Academy Honors. What was your response while you came upon?
It was bizarre at first as a result of the [academy] referred to as plenty of totally different individuals. They referred to as like 4 totally different individuals as a result of they wouldn’t inform anyone why they wished to speak to me. Lastly, I feel Swizz [Beatz] was in all probability the final individual they referred to as. Then we obtained on the telephone and I bear in mind I used to be having martinis in London. It was a FaceTime [call] and I used to be standing underneath a lamp. It was not skilled on my facet and I used to be attempting actual onerous to not be tipsy. I used to be like, “This is so cool. Thank you, guys.” [laughs] My buddy, who I used to be with, was like “What did you have to take a call for?” and I used to be like “Girllll.” So it was a enjoyable night time. I got here dwelling and informed my husband, fell asleep and after I awakened, I fully forgot about it. Then my buddy texted me and was like “Do you remember?” and I used to be like “Oh s—! Yeah!” It’s simply such a cool factor and since then it’s been like “Wow.” They mentioned, “We could send you the Grammy, but we’d like to give it to you.” It’s very nice. It’s a very attention-grabbing feeling as a result of clearly it’s been so lengthy, one thing that I assumed I used to be accomplished with, in a manner, so it feels good.
What did they let you know precisely?
They have been like “Listen, we didn’t even know about this situation at all until we heard the podcast.” It was the podcast that I did with Ebro after they have been like “Oh nah.” Even Swizz was like “Sis, we gotta make this happen. That’s not cool.” And I used to be like “OK, cool.”
Does receiving this award now really feel like reconciliation in any respect? Or perhaps validation?
In a manner, validation to that little lady, to little me. It sounds a bit tacky, however she deserves that. It’s an excellent second. I’m nonetheless wrapping my head round it in a manner particularly since I’ve been away from music for therefore lengthy and for this to be occurring like that is very cool.
What have you ever discovered or taken away from this case?
I feel I’m actually nonetheless processing as a result of I used to be joking, however form of not, like I need to speak to my therapist about why I let this go. What was it? Why did I feel, “Oh nah, it’s cool. We squashed it.” However it’s like no, that is greater than that. However good s— involves good individuals and I do know for certain I undoubtedly deserve it. [laughs]
Oh my God. There’s so many. It was so enjoyable. I bear in mind the home we rented. I had one Yorkie, then I purchased her a buddy in Florida. It was foolish s— that I bear in mind after which simply being within the studio day and night time. Then the Marleys have been on the opposite facet. It was only a good time. I used to be absolutely in it. It was plenty of stress as a result of it was like “We gotta get this album done now.” It’s after I actually suppose I felt the enterprise of music within the sense of like, “We gotta meet these deadlines. We gotta get this album out,” which was traumatic however I used to be nonetheless naive sufficient, I feel, to nonetheless be having enjoyable. I used to be going out. I met Trina. Trina is my lady. General, it was a very good time.
Between experimenting with new sounds, crossing genres with artists like Gwen Stefani, and making the theme pink, “Scorpion” felt very intentional. Reflecting again, what did that period characterize for you personally past the music?
I really feel very fortunate that Ruff Ryders at all times allowed me to artistically do what I wished to do. They by no means mentioned issues like “Oh this might not work.” And even sonically, they weren’t those who have been combating again, it was extra like executives and Interscope, however for me “Scorpion” means pink. Purple is a scorpion shade. We gotta come out stinging, however I additionally need to present that I’ve grown, that I’ve matured and actually present what my ear is. I felt actually fortunate that they didn’t battle me on it. They let me do precisely what I wanted to do. It felt collaborative as a result of that’s how Ruff Ryders labored anyway. There have been individuals out and in of the studio on a regular basis, however it made it good as a result of typically a dialog led to a hook or a verse.
Final 12 months you went on tour with Nelly, Ja Rule and Chingy, and also you introduced alongside your son. What was it like having him there with you, seeing you on stage?
It was grueling. I ain’t gone lie. It was wonderful, however being on tour with a toddler is totally different. That being mentioned, the rationale I mentioned sure to doing the tour is as a result of he’s younger sufficient that I can form of tote him round, however he’s sufficiently old that he can bear in mind. Seeing him on the facet of the stage was like “Oh, my little baby.” It was additionally enjoyable. Like everyone on that tour had bangers, so even me performing or being backstage and listening to Ja or listening to Nelly or listening to Chingy, it was a very good tour. The group confirmed up. It was a very cool tour too as a result of in some locations, it was like generations of individuals collectively like the children and the mothers, after which there have been plenty of younger individuals, and I used to be like “Oh, I love this.”
What else do you’ve arising?
Listening to new music and discovering new artists. I’m enthusiastic about this twenty fifth anniversary as a result of we’re going to do some actually enjoyable stuff with it and we’re speaking about some re-imaginings with it. Simply contact among the songs that individuals love and provides it a little bit of life. What else? I don’t know. I’m simply “momming.” That’s my favourite factor proper now. He’s getting so huge. I can’t imagine he’s about to be 4. Watching him develop is good.
