The first song I fell in love with
The first song that really impacted me was Cappucino by MC Lyte. When I saw the video, I had that spark of: “Maybe I could maybe do this. I could be a female rapper.” I just loved her attitude and style.
The song that gets me up in the morning
I’m on a single with Sia and Chaka Khan, which I can’t believe. It’s called Immortal Queen, and it’s such a powerful, beautiful anthem record. It’s the perfect song to get up to in the morning.
The first single I bought
Love Me Browning by Buju Banton, probably from one of the street markets we used to have in Philly, or maybe my aunt took me to a store. I can’t remember, but I know it was my first cassette single.
The song I do at karaoke
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by the Eurythmics is such a crowd-pleaser, everybody’s going to sing it. Plus you just feel good singing it. I’m not a singer, but range-wise I can just about do it.
The best song to play at a party
That’s hard because there are millions of them. Also my taste changes depending on the vibe of the party. It could be an Afrobeats record. It could be a hip-hop or a disco record. I’m obsessed with amapiano. I’d probably play Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar because that’s killing it right now.
The song that changed my life
Probably the first verse I wrote for What Y’all Want from my first album Let There Be Eve … Ruff Ryders’ First Lady. I wrote it in an SUV in front of the Apollo theatre in Harlem. I was the new girl that signed to Ruff Ryders, so I had something to prove. It had to be the sickest verse I could think of. It was a life or death situation.
The song that makes me cry
I had What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong on my birthing playlist. If I think about it now, it will make it cry. My husband and I took it in turns to pick songs. He picked Starman by David Bowie. There were so many beautiful songs. But, no, we didn’t have Push It by Salt-N-Pepa!
The song I inexplicably know every lyric to
Shook Ones by Mobb Deep. If it comes on, I’ll be rapping it like I wrote it. It’s such a good record.
The song I secretly like but tell everybody I hate
I like all my weird song choices! I loved Abracadabra by the Steve Miller Band way before Eminem sampled it on Houdini.
The song I can no longer listen to
I played Woman by Doja Cat so much when I was pregnant. It’s a beautiful record, but it needs a break. I will come back to it.
The song I wish I’d written
Get Lucky by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams.
The song I want played in my funeral
I don’t want to think about that. Also I don’t believe in traditional funerals. I think funerals are very morbid things. I want to be cremated and put in a beautiful urn.
Eve’s new book Who’s That Girl? is released 26 September.
