When
Eve Jihan Jeffers stepped onto the scene eight years ago, no one could
predict what the future had in store for her, but it was obvious she
was unique and destined for success. She evolved from a Hip-Hop artist
to a sex symbol to an actress in both movies and television. And in
light of the obstacles that presented themselves throughout the
duration of her career, you have to agree that she has done well
overcoming what’s surfaced in the media looking to put a damper on her
reputation.
Although we haven’t heard much from Eve on the Hip-Hop side of things
in the last five years, she’s resurfaced and is ready to give Hip-Hop a
woman’s touch. She recently collaborated with Kelly Rowland for the
song “Like This,” and has released her first single “Tambourine” off
her upcoming album Here I Am
– both receiving significant airplay. While putting the pieces together
for her return, Eve took some time tell us what she’s been up to, her
views on being in a relationship, and how she deals with attention,
positive and negative, from the media.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve had your fair share of press over the years.
We’ve seen like photos, the video tape, and even your recent situation
with your car. As a celebrity, how do you deal with bad press?
Eve: It just depends on what it is, especially when it’s personal like
pictures that can be painful, that stuff just sometimes makes me cry.
It’s not so much about me, but I shed a tear because somebody would
mess with someone else’s life like that. How do you try to benefit off
of my life by doing something negative to me? As far as situations that
have happened recently, it is what it is, that’s why you have
management and publicist. Thank God my mother has my back, and as long
as she’s down for me, I’m good. I pray through it and I have a great
team to help me through it.
AllHipHop.com: You’re officially Hollywood now…
Eve: I know, right; I love those checks though! [Laughs] I definitely
want to get into more acting, more movies, and producing though.
AllHipHop.com: Have you had any more offers for any television shows or movies lately?
Eve: Definitely more movies. I get scripts all the time. I just want to
make sure that it’s right but right now with this album, I barely have
time. I’m back on the grind like a new artist.
AllHipHop.com: Does your schedule give you anytime to date and be in a relationship?
Eve: I’ve been single for about 10 months. I just got out of a three
year relationship. The break has been nice. I don’t find myself putting
my energy into being a relationship anymore; I’m just focused right
now, focused on me.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve been away from the Hip-Hop scene for the past five years, what’s been your focus?
Eve: I don’t know; I was just ready to come back. It was time.
AllHipHop.com: What other things were you giving your time to? You had your television show and clothing line Fetish.
Eve: That was basically it; the TV show and the clothing line. I
actually have new partners working with me on the clothing line so
we’re about to revamp that. For three years, I had the television show.
A year before then, I had just moved to California. It took me about a
year to do the album so that makes up the five year [absence].
AllHipHop.com: How did you initially come about the TV show?
Eve: When I first moved to California, I was approached about a TV show
but I was skeptical about it. Then I decided that I might as well try
it and see. I thought if the script was right then I would do it; we
tried three times with this one guy and it just wasn’t right. Then I
was like, “You know what? It’s not meant to be.” But at the last
minute, a really dope script came across the table and I could relate
to her [the character] so I just ended up doing that one instead.
AllHipHop.com: When you found out it didn’t make the cut for CW, how did that make you feel?
Eve: I was disappointed because it would’ve been nice to do at least
another year. I did in vision myself doing at least four or five years.
It would have been nice to get a syndication package. At the same time,
I took this as a time to get back into my music. I felt like I was
ready to get back into my music.
AllHipHop.com: How do you feel about females in the industry? Do you feel like you have any competition?
Eve: Well right now, there isn’t any. I kind of wish it would come back
around. I would be lying if I didn’t say I didn’t’ want to have this
lane to myself. At the same time, we all help each other out. Even if
we’re not the best of friends, it’s nice to have a group of females.
It’s just really nice to represent females.
AllHipHop.com: Since there’s no competition it kind of gives you room to just step up and do your own thing.
Eve: Yeah, and it’s a really dope feeling but you kind of want that comradely to give you that extra edge to do better.
AllHipHop.com: Most female artists come in the game part of a male
dominated crew. For example, you emerged on the scene as part of the
Ruff Ryders. Do you think that that’s the only successful approach for
a female coming into the industry?
Eve: I don’t think so but I feel like it pushes you, especially when you’re the only female. But that’s not the only way.
AllHipHop.com: What made you latch onto the Ruff Ryders?
Eve: At first when I was with Dr. Dre, it was just me. Once Aftermath
dropped me, it was really Jimmy Iovine’s idea to put me with them [Ruff
Ryders]. It wasn’t like, “Oh, I need to be with a crew.” They didn’t
treat me like a girl, they treated me like one of them. They wanted to
see if I could battle and write just like them.
AllHipHop.com: A lot has changed since you’re last album. The South has
evolved with snap music bringing a new genre to Hip-Hop. How do you
plan on stepping your game up and bringing a new sound to Hip-Hop?
Eve: For me, that is always my goal. I never want to make the same
stuff that people are already listening to. Not that I’m not into it, I
just feel like what’s the point of listening to me if I sound like
everybody else? A lot of this album is for me to stand out and let
everybody pay attention to me. I wanted to go completely to the left so
people would pay attention to me. Whether a person likes it or not,
they have to listen to it to and give it a chance. That was my biggest
goal.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve mentioned that your previous albums have had a
heavy male influence. Have you moved away from that sound and soften up
your music?
Eve: I don’t know if it’s soft. This time around it’s definitely all
me, it’s completely 100% Eve; not that the other albums weren’t, it was
just that a lot of my music sounded masculine. On this album, I just
had to trust myself. It’s definitely flirty, and fun.
AllHipHop.com: With the recent Don Imus situation, how do you feel
about Hip-Hop artist saying that they’re not going to curse in their
music anymore? You have artists like Master P and Chamillionaire saying
they are going to exclude profanity from their records.
Eve: It’s great, but I feel like no artist should feel like they should
have to censor themselves just to avoid the media from coming down on
them. With the Don Imus situation, I feel like he’s too old to be
influenced by Hip-Hop. I haven’t heard the term “nappy headed hoe” on
anybody’s record in years. There is a lot of music that I wouldn’t let
my child listen to, if I had one, but that’s my personal prerogative.
But that’s what makes an artist and artist, their words. There are
times when I hear something and I’m like, “I can’t believe he just said
that.”
AllHipHop.com: Would you ever consider taking profanity out of your music?
Eve: It’s something I considered even before the Don Imus situation.
But when I say things like that [the B and H word], I’m not talking
about a specific person; sometimes it’s just something to say. But as
far as the word “n***a” goes, it’s been a word I’ve been saying my
whole life and never has it been threatening. At the same token, it’s a
derogatory word that needs to be erased out of our vocabulary.
AllHipHop.com: I read that you’ve been inspired by Queen Latifah and
want to emulate her career. You all share similarities as far as being
female MCs who have had prosperous careers in Hip-Hop that have spun
off into acting careers, and you both sing.
Eve: She’s such a dope person and so real. She’s never changed herself
to make it into Hollywood and she’s still been nominated for Oscars and
stuff. She’s just an amazing person.
AllHipHop.com: What has been some advice that she’s given you?
Eve: Recently, she pulled me to the side and she said, “You better
start singing now. Don’t be scared of who you are.” So on this album,
I’m singing a whole song. My record label has been trying to get me to
sing, but I wasn’t really into it. I ended up doing it and it turned
out to be my favorite song on the album.
AllHipHop.com: Have you thought about hooking up with Queen Latifah to do a song?
Eve: We did a song for a show Bridging the Gap
that my manager produces that will be on VH1 soon. The show takes
Hip-Hop artist from the present and from back in the day of hanging out
having fun.
