I’d be lying if I said I was a big Eve fan around the time this game out. I was more of a Lil Kim/Foxy kind of dude. After hearing a couples tracks from Eve, I then realized that she was more than just a cash in on the “sexy female mc” image. Though her career was short lived, I think she put out some quality records. This week’s Re-Release is Eve’s “Gotta Man“.

The full title of Eve’s full-length debut is Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady for a reason. The Philadelphia rapper sets out to prove she’s earned her place in the Ruff Ryders crew, matching rhymes, raunch, and rounds with the hardest hardass. Minimal beats laced with synthesized strings and keyboards back traditional hip-hop brag fests like “Let’s Talk About.” Eve shows up guests Drag-on, DMX, and others with boasts of sexual prowess, withering insults to inadequately endowed brothers, and violent sister-centered anthems like “My Bitches.” A few short skits offer snapshots of Eve’s beloved hometown. The irresistible party anthem “We on That Shit!,” reminiscent of Coolio’s “Fantastic Voyage,” chronicles a night of clubbing and rounds out the street picture. “Ain’t Got No Dough,” a fabulous collaboration with Missy Elliott, is a fiery bridge between street-centered raps and the more interesting tracks. Purring and pissed, it’s an edgier alternative to TLC’s hit “No Scrubs.” Eve’s conviction and passion make her noticeable no matter what the subject, but she truly stands out when the stories become personal, examining the cost of the hard life she champions in other songs… -Allmusic.com