It’s been nearly a decade since Eve released her last album Eve-Olution, but she is slowly inching her way back to music with her upcoming album Lip Lock. In an interview with The Women of Hip-Hop, the rapper-actress revealed her plans to release a buzz single later this month, with more music to follow.
Plus, find out what she thinks of the new wave of female MCs including Azealia Banks and Iggy Azalea, which five femcees she would put on a record, and her thoughts on the rivalry between Lil’ Kim and Nicki Minaj.
On her new music: “I’m gonna throw out a viral single at the end of this month before the official single. I’m probably gonna throw out a couple records before the radio single. My whole goal for this record, since it’s been so long, I wanted to make sure that my core audience didn’t feel like Eve completely forgot about us and went to another side. I feel like this record is well rounded. It has enough of the hard street stuff, it has some radio stuff, but it also has some stuff that people can listen to when they’re feeling down.”
On new female rappers: “I like Azealia Banks. I think her style is dope. If you listen to her lyrics, she knows how to wordplay and I think that’s cute. I’m not really into the Iggy Azalea chick. I can’t really fuck with her music, but her look is crazy. I just can’t believe it.”
On her dream collaboration: “Lauryn Hill has always been my one dream collaboration. She to me is so dope lyrically. Unfortunately, she’s just in a place right now mentally, but that would be a dream come true.”
On which five female MCs she would put on a record: “I would definitely have to get Missy [Elliott]. I would definitely have to do Kim ’cause I never got to do a record with Kim. Azealia Banks, I like her. A lot of people want me to hate on Nicki and say crazy things about her. I ain’t got nothing to say about her. Until somebody names me by name, then I don’t feel like nobody [is talking] about me. I wouldn’t have a problem putting her on a record.”
On the Lil’ Kim vs. Nicki Minaj feud: “It’s not about publicity. It’s about wanting that respect. I think maybe that’s where Kim is coming from, like, you’re doing your thing right now and no one can take that away from you, Nicki—we all see it—but at the end of the day, if it wasn’t for Kim, she wouldn’t be here and that shit is real.”
Listen to the full interview below.