JAY-Z Told Eve That Female Rappers ‘Don’t Do That Well’ After Her Debut Album Release

Eve is gearing up to release her memoir, Who’s That Girl?, and has been reflecting on her career during recent interviews, including revisiting a past conversation with JAY-Z.

In a recent interview with London’s The Times, Eve recalled receiving a congratulatory phone call from JAY-Z on the day her debut album, Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, was released in 1999. However, the call came with a note of caution, as JAY-Z advised her not to get her hopes too high, given that female rappers historically didn’t fare very well.

Despite the initial skepticism, Eve’s album sold 213,000 copies in its first week and eventually achieved double platinum status.

In current news, Eve is heading back to academia. She will be the 2024-25 Scholar-in-Residence at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Starting September 21, Eve will engage with students and faculty through meetings, classroom visits, and discussions about her career and the evolving music industry.

Jack H. Knott, dean of Steinhardt, expressed excitement about Eve’s residency, stating,

“We are thrilled to welcome Eve as our 2024-25 Scholar in Residence. She brings a wealth of experience as an award-winning artist in music, film, and television, and her philanthropic work with young people in the arts. Our students and faculty will greatly benefit from her insights and support as we continue to advance equity, belonging, and innovation.”

The announcement coincides with the release of Who’s That Girl?, which Eve co-wrote with renowned Hip Hop journalist and NYU adjunct professor Kathy Iandoli, set to launch on Tuesday, September 17.

Eve shared her excitement on social media, saying,

“I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be joining NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development as the 2024-25 Scholar-in-Residence. My residency starts on September 21 with a welcoming event at NYU. I’m eager for people to see who I am beyond my music and to connect with the NYU community.”