Those who think Nicki Minaj invented female rap should prep to meet the mother of tricky rhymes, the female emcee who embraced a harder edge and opened the door of possibilities for acts like Minaj. Eve was the first woman to enjoy financial success not only by flaunting her sex appeal, but by merging hot looks with amazing street skills. It was in 1999 when she took the road to mainstream success, like a pit-bull disguised as the girl next door. Now, she is back with a brand new album, Lip Lock, out Tuesday, May 14, 2013.
Eve brought a wind of change for all the female emcees out there and became rap’s leading lady who could out-spit any famous male rapper at the time. She hasn’t released a record in more than a decade, so it’s natural if some critics are a little reserved in granting her the title of best comeback of the year. Lip Lock has plenty of high expectations to comply to and thousands of impatient fans to satisfy, but rumor has it that it won’t disappoint.
In fact, Eve spends most of the album reminding listeners that she’s ready to reclaim her spot in hip-hop, so she is not shy in disclosing the goal of this release. “They had a little time, tried to be E-V-E/snatching the plate back, it’s my turn to eat,” she spits on “Zero Below”, while on “Mama in the Kitchen,” she puts her rivals, those who cheap the success of their foremothers, in their places, emphasizing once again that she has returned to put the house in order and win “the lioness killing competition”. She raps “You might be in the building/ but I built this (expletive) / you just a visitor.”
It looks like Eve is making references to her female rap peers with irony and disgust, as she thinks they spoiled the beauty and the real face of hip hop by blending it with pop. On “Never Gone”, she spits about her personal legacy, while Chrisette Michele blends in with her great vocals. Besides, on “Make It Out This Town”, Eve makes it obvious that she is stabbing pop industry and those who top the charts without deserving it. The beats are also remarkable and Eve sounds better than ever, even better than before taking a recording hiatus. Singles such as “She Bad Bad”, featuring guests Pusha T and Juicy J, as well as the self-affirming “EVE”, with reggae’s Miss Kitty, sound a bit more like the Eve of the old days, but they are just the exception that confirms the rule.
Thus, Eve is officially back and Lip Lock is the weapon that will put her back on the lost throne. It’s an album that has everything a hip hop fan would want: quotable lines, a play on words, a Ruff Ryder attitude, inviting beats, hand claps, tribal chants, and a boost of energy, provided by guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Dawn Richard, Juicy J, Chrisette Michele, Gabe Saporta, Missy Elliott and Pusha T among others.
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