The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Eve Talks Motherhood, Ruff Ryders Brotherhood, Jay-Z's Advice, Overcoming Alcoholism + More

Episode Date: September 17, 2024

The Breakfast Club Sits Down With Eve To Discuss Motherhood, Ruff Ryders Brotherhood, Jay-Z's Advice, And Overcoming Alcoholism. Listen For More!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing.

Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going.

That's what my podcast, Post High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, y'all. Niminy here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Executive produced by Questlove, The Story Pirates, and John Glickman, Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone.

The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did

the same thing. Check it. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records because in order to make history you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jack B. Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original

series, Black Lit, the podcast for diving deep into the rich world of Black literature. Black Lit is for the page turners, for those who listen to audiobooks while running errands or at the end of a busy day. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Listen to Black Lit on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8th, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was

introduced to the world. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, and every single wig removal together. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha Guy. We are The Breakfast Club.

Jess is out on maternity leave. So we have Lauren La Rosa filling in. And we got a special guest in the building. The legendary. Her book is out right now. Who's that, girl? EVE, ladies and gentlemen. Eve.

What's up? Morning, y'all. How you doing? Welcome. Good morning. How you feel? How you feel? I feel good.

I'm jet lagged, but I'm good. Oh, you just got in? Like Saturday. And my kid's with me, so yeah. But good. Happy to be here. You got the memoir out, man. Who's that girl? One thing you tell folks right out the gate is how much you initially hated the name Eve. Could you explain that for the people who haven't read the book yet? Yes. This is the first time I got this question, actually.

Yes, because I thought I was cursed. Because I grew up Jehovah's Witness. My grandma's Jehovah's Witness and religious. And Eve was the one who made the evil happen in the world. She gave the apple to Adam. So I actually literally for years thought that I was cursed having that name. You know, I grew up Jehovah's Witness too,

but you're the first person that ever made me look at that from that perspective. Cause most people just say Eve was the first. Lady. Lady, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I felt like, well, damn, she's responsible for evil. Like, because people used to say to me when I was a kid, like, oh, you gave Adam the apple, like literally. And I'm like, that's crazy.

Why would you say that to a kid? I don't even know Adam. Also, like, yes, like I don't fucking know him. But yeah, no, I really did think I was cursed. But then you really love your name, Eve Jahan, because you found out what it meant. Yes, Jahan means universe. Eve means first lady.

And my mom was obsessed with Shah Jahan that built the Taj Mahal. And she changed a letter. And then I was like, wow, Eve Jahan. Like, that's a big deal. And yeah, I love my name now. First lady of the universe. First lady of the universe. What point in your life was that switch from I hate it to now I'm embracing it?

Like, how old were you? I was honestly, even 30s, late 20s, 30s. Because I was still in, I don't know. I was such a tormented person within myself. It took a while. It was years also that I just didn't trust myself. And I talk about in the book, like, with drinking and stuff, I just didn't trust myself.

So it took a while. How was reliving all these memories, right? Because a lot of these stories. I feel naked. You gave it up. I feel real naked. You talked about a lot in this book. I talk about a lot in this book.

I definitely, we reread stuff. I definitely was like, do I really want to put this stuff out here? But I was like, I think it to put this stuff out here but I was like I think it's important I think it's important for myself I think it's important for my kid I don't want to bring any of my shit on to my kid um but and it's so cheesy to say but you know is this what's that saying what you what you what you reveal you can heal yeah what you don't heal, you can reveal. Yes, exactly. And it's like, I just feel like I need to shed some of that shit. What was the most difficult thing to write in the book?

What was the hardest part? The hardest? If anything. No, there was, yeah, listen, I tried. We was editing, kind of. And then I was like, fuck it. Lots of it I think being really vulnerable vulnerable about my drinking for real because I talked about it when I was on the talk I talked about it yes I had an issue but I don't even think I actually admitted it to myself also the fact that

I had I had this ectopic pregnancy when I was on my my sitcom that I never told anybody about and I actually did not even recognize it until I was ready to get pregnant with my kid so I never even dealt with it at all so that was really hard what made you deal with it now you felt like there's other women probably dealing with it 100% 100% and the frustration of being a woman and and I talked about this the last time when I was here with with the frustration of being a woman. And, and I talked about this the last time when I was here, um, with, with the crew of Queens. And we talked about, um,

well, I mentioned about, um, endometriosis and having fibroids and shit like that and how doctors just don't listen to you. Um, and having to go get a specialist to find out that I had that. And I think it's just important. There's so many women that are suffering,

um, with infertility and lots of definitely lots of black women, lots of my friends are still suffering. So, yeah, I think it's just important. I know that was back in 2006. Yeah. And I've actually been through that. So when I when I heard you talk about it in the book, I was like, oh, shoot, because it's it's like it just happens. Like you don't even know what happens.

Yeah. After that happened, when you were looking to have your baby that you have now yeah were you a bit nervous about like if it would work out would you be safe during the pregnancy like what were your thoughts I was so nervous I was so anxious and I'm an anxiety written person which is why I drink and smoke so much weed to try to chill myself out um I was so anxious I was so nervous and i talk about in the book how i was like anxiety master level when i was pregnant on the set of queens because i was like here it is okay i'm working which is great and i'm so grateful and blessed but is it to the detriment of my kid like am i gonna lose this baby like i was literally going to the doctor trying to hear the heartbeat

just so i could feel calm on set. So, yeah, I was scared. I was really, really scared. Yeah. You know, it's crazy when you're younger and you don't know what anxiety and I guess, you know, depression is. Yeah. We all have those coping mechanisms because they're all around. So whether it's in the lifestyle, in the hood, just growing up, you see family members drinking.

And then I know hip-hop didn't help. Oh, yeah. No, hell no. What the fuck? No, have another drink. What the fuck? Smoke some more. Yeah, smoke some more. What the fuck? Oh, you crying? It's fine. Have a drink, yeah. No, hell no. What the fuck? No, have another drink. What the fuck? Smoke some more. Yeah, smoke some more.

What the fuck? Oh, you crying? It's fine. Have a drink. Like, no, hell no. Because everybody was doing it. Also, nobody was using these words. Nobody was talking about anxiety.

Nobody was talking about mental health. Nobody was talking about depression. That's right. Like, literally, it was just like, all right, well, you'll be all right. You'll be all right. You'll be all right. Like, it was what it was. It was what it was.

When did you realize you had a problem? Like, you just, like, what made you say you had a problem? Honestly, my DUI. My DUI was the time that, and not even just the moment of the DUI. It was when I couldn't drink. It was when they told me I had to wear the ankle thing. The ankle thing for drinking? Yeah, because, what was it?

You know back then, they was giving out them fucking things for some reason in L.A. Yeah, the ankle monitor. For some reason, they were giving them out because they could tell through your blood that if you were drinking. So I have 56 days where I couldn't drink. And I was so scared of that 56 days because I couldn't remember a time where I hadn't drank. So I even begged my lawyer at the time, like, can I go do community service at a hospice? Can I go like I'll do anything? And she was she was like no this is what you have to do um and it say and I say this in a book it saved my life because it was the first time in a very long actually not even a very long time it

was the first time I ever sat with my fucking emotions like actual why am I drinking what am I trying to cover up why am I trying to numb myself what is the problem and I had to cover up? Why am I trying to numb myself? What is the problem? And I had to sit with my shit and I cried a fucking lot. And I needed it. I needed it. What was the biggest moment when you were sitting with yourself? What was the biggest thing where you're like, dang, I'm really dealing with this. I can't even believe this is something I have to deal with. Well, because I

lived in LA too, so I had a psychic lady. And I say that because you know how it is in LA, but I believe in all that shit. I don't care. Some people are really good medium or yes a medium medium okay i had a medium and you still have one to this day no i don't but if you know somebody give me no no no no go ahead no because so it she was very like and i and i take it for what it's worth i take it for what it's worth she was very good she wasn't the type she wasn't scary she was just like she just could read you and it was more like energetically She was just like, she just could read you.

And it was more like energetically. She was just like, at one point, I would call her for everything because I didn't trust myself. And one day she fired me. I called her and she was like, no. She was like, you're depending on me for too much. She was like, I have to let you go. Really? And I was like, oh, shit.

She's good. I didn't even know you could get fire by a therapist. Most people would have kept that money rolling in. And that's why I know she was good. My friends who got fired by their therapist are like really messed up. So how did you get fired by a psychic? I know. What did you call?

What was that call? I wouldn't even, honestly, I would be like, can you come do an energy clearing over here? Can you come do that? And she was like, at one point I called her and I was like just in this dark place. And she was like, you know what you need to do. am not responsible for you you have to figure this out and this was during that time the dui this was all that shit where i was just trying to figure shit out and i at the end of the day you cannot look outside yourself it does not matter who it is or what they do you have to look within and that shit sounds cliche now too sometimes, but it's the fucking real, it's the realest thing ever. So yeah, it just forced me to sit with myself,

talk to myself, go back to my roots, go pray. You know what I'm saying? What was that moment in LA that you were about to talk about that was like the really big dark moment that you got into the second conversation? It was me crying on the floor, depression. Crying in a closet and calling her. Like literally calling her. That's why I brought her up and just being like listen I need you to help me

figure this out and she's like no no I'm sorry like you need to figure this out at that time we're with friends family associates so my other issue is that I push people away and that's another thing that I realized is emotionally. I didn't grow up in a family that really talked. We didn't say, I love you. We didn't say, I hate you. If shit was bad, we screamed. Also, you just knew you were loved.

So I really just didn't know about, I didn't know communication. And I always felt like, my mom had me young. So I feel like we grew up together. So I always felt like I needed to be independent. She raised me very independent, fiercely independent. So I think I was just like, I need to deal with this shit on my own. Plus, I'm a Scorpio.

Like, I think it has a lot to do with that. Like, I don't know. So how are you as a parent now? Because I think my parents, probably Charlamagne's parents, those older parents were always, they never really show much love. They never said, I love you. You knew it was there. And you're from Philly, too.

And I'm from Philly, feisty Philly. Like, listen, you you better just get on with it like how are you as a mom i'm a fucking mother i am a mother i'm like and he's already like mama like get off me but i am so and i was actually scared that i wouldn't connect i swear to god i was like and i my sister-in-law told me that too she has three kids and she was like don't feel weird because some women sometimes just don't connect immediately

and I just thought possibly because of the way I grew up maybe I won't be you know what I'm saying and it makes me emotional

because like it's so it's just it's a freedom it's so fucking nice it's so fucking nice and i fucking like i'm just gonna he's gonna be fucking spoiled and he's probably gonna get away with a lot of shit

but are you are you raising him out of fear um so yeah but you but you want him to be in a position where he really calls mom regardless of anything you know because even growing up you'd call your parents when you had to had to but now my son who's he's about to be 21 he calls his mom for everything and i love their relationship because I know that if something happens mom got his back you know nah that's real

I do I couldn't talk to my mom and it's not her fault like me and my mom now are like it's not her fault it's how she grew up I was scared of my fucking mother

which is fine I think a little fear is important yes but she was probably scared for you growing up 100%

on murder street right 100% so that's why I asked would they really raise you out of are you raising them out of fear of love because yeah our parents raised us out of fear because they didn't want us to end up in bad situations 100 or end up like them like my dad 100 100 no i look at and i'm you know i look at where we live where i'm at like i wake up i walk down the street sometimes i'm like damn i live in london i'm from philly like it's crazy like i

still think like that i'm 45 like you know but i also appreciate it i also feel like i am greatly like thankful um and i'm also greatly thankful that my kids life is so far removed you know every now and then just to you know of course i gotta keep it like yes another good part in the book is uh unbeknownst to Jay-Z, he put a battery in your back. Yeah. Early. Yes.

Yes. It's funny because that was one of those things that we were like, do we put this in there because I know how people get. But there's nothing bad about that. You know, it's one of those things where it was a very amazing phone call that I needed that was one of those. I always felt like I was the underdog anyway and he wasn't saying it out of mollusk or mean that wasn't about that it was fact

really it felt like he was trying to temper your expectations yes exactly but i was like okay let me see i'm gonna show you um yeah it's all good it's all good and it went on to be fine but and like i say in the book we all have that person that something no matter what industry or whatever you know what i'm saying we all have that thing or someone says something they don't even fucking know that you're like okay i'm gonna use that no problem one of the dopest things i love is is you talk about your big brothers in the industry right because you don't really hear that that much yeah and how rough riders and all them you know kind of was your big brothers in the industry, right? Because you don't really hear that that much. And how Rough Riders and all them, you know,

kind of was your big brothers to make sure they protected you. Talk about that a little bit because in this industry, you hear so many crazy stories, but they were showing up with knives, guns, and everything they needed to make sure you were safe. Listen, I was so fucking protected. I'm so forever grateful as well that Rough Riders is the crew that I come from. They respected me, protected celebrated me allowed me to be me at all times um and yeah if they had to shake a nigga that was one of the things i was wondering about that's why i was so excited to meet you i was

like i wonder how much how philly she's still gonna be no philly i never that can never go that can never ever go i do say words now and then i will say my manager's there he's from london i will say because for my baby i try to keep shit like consistent so i do say rubbish sometimes and i do say jumper but philly is always always you can't take it, always. You can't take it out of me. You can't take it out of me. Your baby's a bit older now. I know I saw you talk about exposing your husband to, like, Eve from Philly, like, whatever.

How do you – are you having those conversations with your baby yet? Is he back and forth? Like, are you doing that exposure too? Yes. No, he comes back and forth to Philly. We'll be there in a few days. He was just there a few months ago playing with his cousins. And I love that because it's a different vibe.

And I love that. And I feel like he needs that. And it's going to be such a rich childhood for him because England is so different. Does he have an accent? Yes, he does. He says garage. Garage. He says garage. Wait till he says John.

Wait, I need to start teaching him that now. You know, in the Things Fall Apart chapter, you said that you feel like the spirit of the Rough Riders died with DMX, God Bless the Dead. Yes. When that RR chapter of your life closed, did you feel a sense of grief with that as well? Yes.

Yes and no. Yes in the sense of obviously with x because of x a hundred percent um but no in the sense that we've all kind of gone off and been doing our own shit for so long in between all of that because you know before he died may he rest um we were supposed to do a rough riders tour we have been talking about a Rough Riders tour. So yes and no. Yes and no. Always wanted to know the Rough Riders record right? Yeah. The remix when you were on it.

Did you know what it was as soon as you heard that record? Break that down. As soon as you heard Rough Riders anthem and I don't know. You know what I knew? I knew it was a fucking dope verse. I did know that. I was like nah this is this is, this is, because this is the thing. The way that they had us all in the studio,

it was healthy competition. So I knew that verse. I knew it. I was like, this is the verse. I didn't know what it was going to do from there, but I knew that I was holding my own. I didn't really feel it until I heard it on the radio. And I was like, wow, that's what I sound like like um and

I didn't sound like they were carrying me like I knew it like I was like okay I'm supposed to be here yeah was that that moment that I'm that was that moment that on the radio that was that moment yeah yeah I was gonna ask you get tired of telling the same stories over and over right because listening to your hip-hop stories since you've been up here and since we follow you, I know the stories. Like, I know the Mase story. I know the Lazy Strip story. I'm 46.

I've been around. Dr. Dre story. To Lauren, who's 32, is brand new to her. Do you get tired of telling me? I knew the Mase story. I'm from Delaware, though. So the way we connect with Eve is different. No, but Eve, it's right there.

We literally cousins. Yeah, so I knew that only because of that but there are a lot of people I saw people reacting online when when like episodes of the book were being picked up who didn't know that does that freak you out at all like when people are like some of it because you know what was was annoying to me I was talking about this the other day it was annoying to me is yes like I've talked about the stripper thing right what's annoying to me, though, is that people fixate so much on it still that I'm like, bitch, I was 18.

I was two months. It was two months, and I was lazy. And the craziest thing about that is not that I was stripping. I was just saying this yesterday, is that I was rapping with my titties out. Like, that's the crazier thing. And on top of that...

Not crazy in 2024. That's what everybody's saying now. Well, not crazy. I was a trendsetter. I was a trendsetter. But on top of that, the revelation of that is the situation that happened with the conversation and that no one chooses to go there and say like, oh, damn, that was a dope moment. No, she's just a fucking straight.

Like, bro, are you serious? So that annoys me. And actually, that was one of those things where I was like, do we put this in the book again? But then I felt like people who did know my story might be like, oh, well, why she ain't talk about that? So, yeah, I don't know. Yes, it gets annoying. But that's I think that was another reason for doing this book, because I'm like, these are the stories.

Yes, there's some shit that I have already talked about. I will go deeper on that. And then now I'm good. Now it's time to move on. But it's also because Mase got a new resurgence with it. It is what it is. So that's what it is. Yes, yes, yes. That's's time to move on. But it's also because Mase got a new resurgence with the It Is What It Is show. Yes. So that's what it is.

Yes, yes, yes. That's true. That's true. But no, crazily, enough people don't even say his name to me. They just talk about the stripping thing. Really? Yes. Like, it's crazy.

Yeah. And basically Mase was just telling you, you don't have to do this. Yeah. I mean, he was literally telling me, he was just like, what do you want to do? He was the first person that really asked those questions where I was already questioning, why am I here? What the fuck am I doing? For the record, though, every man says that to the baddest gripper in the club.

Well, shit. I was not there. You don't have to do this. The girls do it, too. I'm like that. So I be in there like, so what do you do outside of here? No, but I do that as well. Me, too.

Like, yeah. My friends be like, please put Lawrence Cashap away because she just be. Because I be like, dang, you in nursing school? All of y'all in nursing school? In nursing school. The TV show Eve, the name of the show was Eve. Yeah.

But your character's name was Shelly. I know. Why? That's what the network wanted. And then they was like, oh, like the Cosbys, where they were the Huxtables. But his name was Cosby. So everybody knew the show.

Trust me, I tried to fight them on that. I never thought about that. I tried to fight them. That's another part of your life I feel like doesn't get talked about enough. You had a sitcom. Literally. You know what I mean?

That did well. Yeah, that did well. I was very, very lucky. It did well. And I didn't take it as seriously as I feel like I should have or could have. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia Keys opens up about conquering doubt, learning to trust herself and leaning into her dreams. I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves.

For self-preservation and protection, it was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Like, grace.

Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're gonna figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, my little creeps.

It's your favorite ghost host, Teresa. And guess what? Haunting is back, dropping just in time for spooky season. Now, I know you've probably been wandering the mortal plane, wondering when I'd be back to fill your ears with deliciously unsettling stories. Well, wonder no more, because we've got a ghoulishly good lineup ready for you.

Let's just say things get a bit extra. We're talking spirits, demons, and the kind of supernatural chaos that'll make your spooky season complete. You know how much I love this time of year. It's the one time I'm actually on trend. So grab your pumpkin spice, dust off that Ouija board, just don't call me unless it's

urgent. And tune in for new episodes every week. Remember, the veils are thin, the stories are spooky, and your favorite ghost host is back and badder than ever. Listen to Haunting on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sup, y'all? This is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records. It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids starting on September 27th.

I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimany, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out. Hey, y'all. Nimany here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me. Did you know, did you know? I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was called a moment.

Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into

their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese investigative journalist who on October 16, 2017, was murdered. There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate. My name is Manuel Delia. I am one of the hosts of Crooks Everywhere, a podcast that unhurts the plot to murder a one-woman Wikileaks. Daphne exposed the culture of crime and corruption that were turning her beloved country into a mafia state. And she paid And I talk about that in the book i don't believe in regrets but probably that's my only one of my only um ones where i just didn't take it as seriously as i could have what would you have done different i would have shown up to table reads not coming straight from the club um i would not be having um after parties in my dressing room.

I was, yeah. But I was the youngest on set and I was trying to figure out how- You were a real rapper. I was a real rapper. That's a real rapper style. Like literally, like I was having after party. We'd come from the club, go to my dressing room

and then I'm like, damn, I gotta be on set. Like, and did not realizing like how many people, how many, the crew, you know what I'm saying? Like, so I just, I really would have done that differently. Yes. Does Eve care about the industry at all at this point in her life? No, not really.

Yeah, not really. Not in the same way, definitely not. I think because I did go through so much torment within myself that now it's kind of PTSD to a certain extent so I feel like I that's why I do dip in and out because I know I think is I think it's healthy for me what was the torment because you keep talking about questioning yourself second guessing yourself and now in torment like what was it it it was all personal shit it was all personal shit

mixed with I don't think, I think at the time I probably was depressed, but I just didn't know it, honestly, which is why I did drink as much as I drank. But I just didn't understand it. I just didn't know it. And I also did have no one to talk to about it. And the times that I would go cry to people, they'd be like, you'll be all right.

Like, you know what I'm saying? So then I'm like, well, what's wrong with me? Like literally, okay, then maybe I'm,'m i don't know maybe i'm not supposed to be here it was a lot of that kind of questioning am i truly happy am i only doing and is this what i'm supposed to be doing and then i think um yeah it was it was a lot of my own personal torment it really was yeah i've got to ask about you know the kept woman comment God. Like, people forget who you are and all the things that you did. I've been working for a long, long time. What does that come from?

Like, Eve's a cat woman. I'm like, do y'all know Eve and the work that she put in? And I have been working. There is nothing wrong. She's not one though. Listen, if you can do it, if you can get great, God bless you. If that's what you want and that's who you are, I have zero. Personally, I have zero problems with it.

I think it's a disservice to who I am and what I've done and what I've built for myself. That's why I have a problem with it. Like, yeah, okay, yeah, I married this dude. I'm not going to marry a broke dude. That's real. But he's not. I think people also have put on him more than what he is, and he's not that. We do stuff for each other together.

He's just a dude I fell in love with. He's a billionaire, right and he's not that we we do stuff for each other together like he's just a dude i fell in love with like google he's a billionaire right he's not a billionaire oh because that was always the headlines i know like even but at the same time like no i'm not i'm not kept if i didn't want to work it'd be fine but it's i just who i am to the core to my dna like i just it's just who i am and how was the transition to london like yeah when you decided to move to london you had to be skilled it a mother. They know Cheesesteaks. It was one place, though. It was one place, and it was good. And they were from, they did have Amoroso's bread, which was the good bread. But then I think they shut down.

Okay. So how was moving to London? $60 million, by the way. $60 million? Where the billionaire thing came from? I don't know. I think maybe because he's white and British. I don't even know.

I swear to God. Because I was like, I never said it. There was literally no quote for me. I swear to God. And I never fact-checked that. I I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God.

I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God.

I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God.

I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. I swear to God. it no it was girls we can do it there were memes yeah that's why i remember how much money i thought he was worth because no no no so how was the transition to moving to london no cheesesteak yeah no it was hard the first two years were really brutal definitely and i still have moments where i miss like conveniences and things i know um british people i love you because you're different you're good you've used you're warm but some of them ain't warm cold some of them could be cold it's hard to get in there like um it took a minute it takes a minute it takes a minute and

it's still weird and different but i've been there 10 years like it is actually home like so so when you get a presidential race yeah you'd be like god i'm just gonna stay in london no but i'm still voting from that i already put in my like absentee make sure y'all get my absentee like because it's important because i'm still american i am american and i do care what happens here because at one at some point i want to come back with my kids so he experienced i want him to go to college here like that is my goal like i want him to come back and i pray by then that the country is what it needs to be for all of us imagine being eve's kid in college your dad we already thought your dad was a billionaire your mom is eve and you just pop up in college with this crazy accent that people are gonna love

yes saying john like it's gonna be he's gonna have a pop up in college with this crazy accent that people are going to love. Yes. Saying, John, like, he's going to have a great time in college. My little babe. We got to talk about NYU. What are you doing with NYU? Yeah. So I am Professor Jeffers Cooper. No.

I'm doing their Steinhardt residency, year residency. So basically I get to teach whatever I want or just come and just, I won't say vibe because it's more than that, but it's like conversations about who I am, what I am, what they offer. And then we're going to do like a big event in the spring with, with some of the students from there, the musicians, everything like that. So this is a huge deal for me because I mean,

I never knew this was even available. Like I would have never even thought this was something. So I'm very, very honored to be there. Yeah. What is it called? Residency, what is it? Scholar and Residence. Scholar and Residence at NYU.

Yeah. So do you have to be there? Or will it be Zoom? I do. No. So I have to do two. I'm doing my first event next Saturday, just like meet and greet. And then I do my first official one in November.

So you have a curriculum and everything. Yeah. First official one in November. I'm going to do one in London. And then in the my first official one in November. So you have a curriculum and everything. Yeah. First official one in November. I'm going to do one in London. And then in the spring, back here. And then if I want to continue, then we'll see what happens. When you're here, does your family, like your husband and all you guys' kids, come with you? The baby is here.

But my husband is doing gumball, which is how we met. His rally. It's my first one I haven't done in 10 years. And that in Asia. So, hi, baby. Yeah. I don't know. Y'all met on the gumball rally we met on the gumball you were 14 years ago i was driving on the gumball yes yes that's a long drive it's 3 000 miles in seven days every time they ask me like that's too much i know it's a lot but you need a co-driver just get a dope get

even get like two look at me selling it listen. Listen, two co-drivers, somebody for the music, somebody to make sure you can drink one night, and then the next person drive. Like if you want to do it, I will map it out for you. I promise. It's something I feel like everybody should experience. I wanted to do it and then broadcast from the different countries. No, I'm telling you do it.

And I swear, and I'm not even saying it just because I'm his wife. It's one of the best times I've ever had that when it then when that week comes around like i'm really sad i'm missing it like really sad but um i mean bumby does it every year my big bro like he does it every year so please do it y'all should do it y'all should do it next year i know that's right no do it i can't commit to that the way my anxiety set up I don't know you can drive it's not a race

it's a rally look at me there's a lot of people though it's a lot of people for him oh yeah it's a lot it is a lot

do you get bored because you are a creative you know what I'm saying you're an artist like okay so what do you do when the boredom sets in no well

because I don't drink or anything like that anymore. I do, I have an occasional drink. I ain't smoking weed in London. No disrespect to anybody in London, but it's just different. I don't know the right people. I know one dude that smoke, but I don't even know. Like, I'm cool.

So I've stopped. I've stopped. But, yeah, no, I don't know. My son is everything. And then I chill. Like I do chill. But I did say this to a friend of mine. I'm not doing anything creatively to feed my soul.

I mean, this book helped a lot just writing because I shout out to Kathy, by the way, my co-writer. She's amazing and has her own credits and amazing books on her own. But right. Doing this process with her actually helped me a lot. And we're already thinking about the next book. So, yeah. But I do need to do more

creative things to feed my soul. I believe that. You still write raps at all? I write poems more. I went back to that because that's where I kind of first started. That being said,

we are talking about, because this book also falls around the 25th anniversary of my first album. Oh, wow. So, yes. Let There Be Eve. So we are talking about

reworking stuff to put it out next year so there will be some new stuff next year if you rework stuff or like do anything music wise would you add any of the new girl artists i definitely want to i definitely want to we're still talking about it top three go-to's oh yeah i don't know that's hard i ain't even gonna lie because we've been talking about it because ultimately i i don't want to do anything that looks like I'm just jumping on some shit just to jump on it. I feel like it needs to be, it has to be organic and right for those records. So we're still figuring it out.

I feel like you and Rhapsody would make a lot of sense. Ooh. But the interesting thing about Eve, like, Eve, you're such a one-on-one. Even now, I can't think of anybody who I would compare to Eve. Because she did sexy rap, but then she did the positive rap. She did the women's empowerment rap,

but then she also did the grimy rap. That's why it's hard to think about who to put on stuff, to be honest. The demeanor of like coming out of Philly is just a little bit different too. And it's girls coming out of Philly, like they got Rocky, Lee Mazin. Like there's girls that are trying to come out of Phillyilly but they haven't hit like a sexy red or like a little

yet so i don't know if if the i mean i'll be but i'm yeah i don't know i'm gonna have to figure it out i mean it'd be dope to do a whole philly like female i always want to know what the thought process was back then because when you came out like i'm just thinking about it, you wasn't in a singular box, right? You did the sexy rap at times, but then you did the women empowerment rap. But then you- I don't even remember Eve doing sexy rap. She just was a fly chick.

No, but I think the demeanor was sexy though. Yeah. It was very much like A.V.E. Yeah, I don't think, yeah, lyrically, I don't think I really went there. But when it came to maybe like, yeah, style. Yeah, style. She didn't have to force it. It wasn't forced. Yeah, I didn't say it really went there. But when it came to maybe like, yeah, style. She didn't have to force it.

Yeah, it wasn't forced. Was that forced when you thought about it? Or was that something that you was conscious of doing? Or that was just Eve? It was just me. It was just, honestly, it was just me. It was what I wanted to show. My easiest album, I think, was the first album. Because I feel like I was writing that album my whole life.

It was the other albums that I literally had to think about. The second album, the third album but that being said i kind of just did what i felt i kind of just did what i felt like i wanted to do um yeah it wasn't no rhyme or reason but you didn't love his blind was the label behind it or they was like this is totally from what's out now i was shocked that they were behind it i was actually really shocked um especially that early in my career with Rough Riders, but they were completely behind it. I think once I added the third verse where I also popped them,

like it also- You killed them in the end. Yeah, I was like, I think that was fine, but yeah, they were totally behind it. Well, I know you said earlier that you guys had been talking about a reunion before DMX passed. Would you all consider doing something like that now without him being here?

You feel like it couldn't be done without him? I don't know. I would leave that up to DMY to figure out. I think that would be up to them. And if they want to bring us together, I'll always be there, of course. But I think it's more up to them to figure it out. You know, in the Hollywood chapter, you talk about going to the Church of Scientology. Yeah.

Could you explain to the people what the hell made you do that? Because I got invited by somebody who I was like. A rap legend. A female rap legend. That I was like, well, if you're going, I just need to see. Plus, I'm very much Bart Simpson. Like, I'm very much, I will touch'm very much I will touch the fire just to make sure it's fire and I when the hell else am I gonna get into the celebrity Scientology Center um I was

scared as shit the whole time I was in there I did not eat the food that was like they are gonna fucking yes and brainwash me you gotta break it down when you walked in what was it it was I don't want to say because I don't even know was it? It was so... You need to go by the book. It was going by the book, but it was crazy. Who was the rapper? I don't want to say because I don't even know if she's... I don't want to out nobody. Because I don't even know if she's still doing it. So only for those reasons.

Child, that shit was crazy. And I was hungover. That was the other thing. I remember that. That's why I was so stressed. But it was very weird. You definitely got to read that chapter. So you walk in and is there like access codes or like what?

No, but there's people with you. There's like people everywhere and every like there are people everywhere watching everything. And there are special people to walk you to. It was they all wear the same thing. Like it was crazy. Was it one of those things where you felt like since I'm in the industry now i guess i should be doing this because this is what people in the industry do well i was more curious because of this person we had kind of had a light like friendship it wasn't like a but because we were getting to know each other so i was curious in that way of like oh interesting why what made her

do that let me go see meanwhile obviously i'm still on this what am i doing what's going on but i quickly was like this is not for me no you told your family about that what they say um no like my mom yeah i'm like you breaking all the rules of mom and grandma wouldn't have been with the psychic or the search i know no they wouldn't have been with it like my grandmother for sure my mom now now, she's like, whatever. She's like, you are who you are now. Like crystals and sages. She knows who I am.

But back then, no, no, no. But your mom's still in the hall though. No. Oh, she's not? No, my mom's not. My grandmother is still. Grandmother is, okay. My grandmother is still waiting for

144,000. 144,000. Yes. She still slip you watch hours in the weeks every now and then? No, she's actually good. She still slip you watch hours and weeks every now and then? No, she's actually good. She leaves,

honestly, she leaves us alone, but that's her thing. It's all good. You know what I wanted to ask you in the evil destruction chapter, you talk about your time with Aftermath

and, you know, when you got dropped from the label, Dre didn't even bother to call you. How was it when things came full circle, you done blew up

and y'all ended up doing Let Me Blow Your Mind? Did y'all even, did you bring that up to him? Like, you know, you ain't even called me. No, I didn't even need to. Did y'all even, did you bring that up to him? Like, you know, you ain't even called me when you know, I didn't even need to.

I remember before we even did blow your mind, we did the source awards. And I was like, yeah, I'm on the same stage as you with the rough riders. Like, so it went from that to Jimmy being like, y'all need to get back in the studio, do a song.

And it was kind of just me being so extra, extra Philly. Like, yeah. Okay. Well, let me hit a beat. Let me hit just me being so extra extra philly like yeah okay well let me hit a beat let me hit like so extra like so we never ever discussed it but we also knew listen Dre is one of the greatest like right so I knew he was gonna get it out of me I just I made it hard I made it hard yeah you were yeah they're out when I was gonna say the album the book is out right now who's that girl who's that girl i appreciate you for joining me no thank you for having me i got one final question about who's that girl yes who who were you at the start of this book

yeah and who would you say you are oh that's a good question um at the start i definitely tried to write it like an interview and kathy actually checked me on that because she was like, look, I don't want to take you back to trauma, but you need to emote for people to understand where you're coming from. So I think I was slightly guarded. And then as I went through it, I don't know, I'm getting emotional. It's okay. First time somebody asked me this question. I just feel like all that shit that I had on, like one of my healers used to call it an invisible backpack of shit, of other people's shit, of your shit.

I'm like, that shit's off. And listen, my life's been great. This is not a book about being like, fuck that. This is not a book. This is a book about me realizing how, as much as I say I was in this personal turmoil, turmoil, turmoil,

turmoil, how determined I was to believe in myself, to get to a certain place. And that, at the end of the book, I was like, damn, I'm proud of myself.

So, yeah. All right. Who's that girl of memoir out right now? Thank you for joining us this morning. Thank you. I did not expect tears to, on like memoir out right now thank you for joining us thank you i did not expect tears to on like at all but thank you for having me i'm glad we ain't got no tissue no y'all just be we need it for the content hand out the let it flow. We need it for the content. Hand her the tissues.

All right. Let her throw it. All right. It's The Breakfast Club. It's Eve. Thank y'all. Thank you. Wake that ass up.

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