Rapper, actor, and Grammy winner Eve knows what it feels like to walk into a business meeting where she is the only woman. The Philadelphia native recently spoke about her rise from rap battling boys at school to holding her own in major-label boardrooms, where she said her “Philly girl” attitude often had to come out when executives put down her ideas.
Getting Heard
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Eve, 47, recalled being the only woman in major music label meetings during the making of her albums. She described an environment where some of her suggestions were dismissed. One example was her insistence that Gwen Stefani join her on the single “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” a collaboration that went on to become a major hit.
“I was the only girl in the boardroom in those major label meetings, and that Philly girl often had to come out,” she said.
At first, executives pushed back on the idea because Eve was a rapper while Stefani was known primarily as a rock and pop artist. But Eve stood her ground. “Guys, this will work. Trust me,” she said she told the room.
Eve said executives frequently dismissed her suggestions, with responses such as, “Oh, that’s cute. We’re not doing that.” She also recalled feeling as though she had to suppress her personality rather than bring her full self into the room.
Years later, she said one of her former A&R executives apologized and acknowledged that some of her ideas had been worth hearing. “I really wish we listened to you a little bit more – you had some good ideas,” he told her.
After an early setback when she was dropped by Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label, she found a home with Ruff Ryders and went on to become one of the most recognizable voices in hip-hop. Her debut album, “Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 1999. She followed it with “Scorpion,” which included the Grammy-winning “Let Me Blow Ya Mind.” Her career later expanded into acting, television, and other entertainment projects.
Today, Eve’s life is a far cry from those early boardrooms. With an estimated net worth of $25 million, she lives in West London with her husband, British entrepreneur Maximillion Cooper, who is worth about $65 million, their son and her four stepchildren, enjoying a lifestyle that includes luxury travel, galas, polo matches, afternoon teas and other high-profile events.