Eve reflects on the legacy of women in hip-hop, new ‘Queens’ series

When Eve burst onto the mainstream in the late 90s with her debut album, “Let There Be Eve … Ruff Ryders’ First Lady”, the rapper made history by becoming the third hip artist. -hop feminine to be at the top of the Billboard Hot 200 charts.

And now, the Grammy-winning artist celebrates the legacy of women in hip-hop by starring in ABC’s “Queens,” a drama that follows the lives of four women as they reunite for the premiere. times in 20 years and are looking to regain the fame they gained as part of an iconic ’90s hip-hop group, “Nasty B ——“.

“You kind of see them in their femininity getting back together, figuring out how to get back together. But it’s definitely about music, but also friendship,” Eve told ABC News.

The ABC series, which premieres on October 19, stars Eve as Brianna, whose stage name is “Professor Sex”, R&B star Brandy as Naomi “Xplicit Lyrics”, Naturi Naughton, who was part of R&B group 3LW, as Jill “Da Thrill” and actress Nadine Velazquez as Valeria “Butter Pecan”.

The show takes audiences back to the ’90s to a time when the hip-hop industry was particularly dominated by men and women had to fight to get into what was seen primarily as a “boys club.”

Eve reflected on the legacy of women in hip-hop and her own rise in an interview due to air on ABC and Hulu on Monday as part of the special documentary “The Real Queens of Hip-Hop: Women Who Have changed the Game. “

The rapper, who has had to fight male rappers to get signed by Ruff Ryders Entertainment, said that in the late 1990s and 2000s when she launched her career, it was difficult for them. female artists to break into hip-hop because the industry was male. dominated.

“When I say male-dominated, I don’t mean in front of the camera, those people on stage. I mean the people you have to sign contracts with, the people you have to negotiate with,” she said. declared.

With the rise of social media over the past decade, she said female artists have been able to develop their own platforms and grow their own fan bases without having to wait for a big co-signature from a label.

In the case of artists like Cardi B, she has been thrown into the limelight as a social media sensation and reality TV star. Then a big recording contract followed.

Reflecting on how things have changed since launching her career, Eve said she enjoys seeing many female rappers succeed in the industry – from big stars like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj, to underground artists.

“If anything, it’s going to keep growing. I don’t think you’ll see another period like the 2000s where [women] are just gone. It won’t happen, ”she said.

“Having the voice of this woman in hip hop is so important,” she added. “… The women of hip hop have given our culture a true, true and authentic voice.”