| Product Summary | | Label: Uni/interscope | | UPC: 00606949045326 | | Release Date: 9/14/1999 | | Buy.com Sku: 60356050 | | Item#: M9VTH2 | | Buy.com Sales Rank: 25140 | Format:  CD |
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(P) 1999 Ruff Ryders/Interscope Records
(C) 1999 Ruff Ryders/Interscope Records
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| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel includes: Eve, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot, DMX, Drag On, The Lox, Parle, C.J., P. Killer Tracks, Eve, Diona, Eric, Grimy, Ron Martinez (vocals); Adam Gazzola, Rich Keller (various instruments). | | Producers: Swizz Beatz, Shok, P.K., Icepick. | | Engineers include: Eric Smith, Adam G., Anthony Sanders. | | Personnel includes: Eve, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot, DMX, Drag On, The Lox, Parle, C.J., P. Killer Tracks, Eve, Diona, Eric, Grimy, Ron Martinez (vocals); Adam Gazzola, Rich Keller (various instruments). | | Producers: Swizz Beatz, Shok, P.K., Icepick. | | Engineers include: Eric Smith, Adam G., Anthony Sanders. | | Personnel: Eve (vocals); Ron Martinez (vocals). | | Audio Mixers: Rich Keller; Tony Maserati. | | Recording information: Enterprise; Powerhouse; Sony Studios; Streetlight Studios. | | Editor: Mario DeArce. | | Photographers: Taryn Simon; Jonathan Mannion. | | 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. "Love Is Blind" is a painful look at domestic violence. Self-respect and positivity are the moral of "Heaven Only Knows." Both tracks are backed by beautiful arrangements with acoustic guitar and lush vocals. Eve maintains her hardcore image in these tracks, but with a subtle vulnerability that promise lots of interesting things to come from this Philly prodigy. ~ Theresa E. LaVeck | | FIRST LADY is the debut album from Eve, a self-described "pit bull in a skirt" and the only female MC in the Ruff Ryders crew. Though she was first signed onto Dr. Dre's Interscope-funded Aftermath Entertainment, her deal expired before she was able to release an album. After working on posse cuts and guest appearances with Ruff Ryders, Blackstreet, DJ Clue, and the Roots among others, she released this album for Ruff Ryders/Interscope. | | The killer beats provided by producer Swizz Beatz, along with Eve's straight hardcore flow make FIRST LADY one of the most complete debut hip-hop albums in recent memory. "What You Want," which was first heard on the Ruff Ryders compilation album, had been burning up urban radio stations for months at the time of this album's release. Standout tracks include "Gotta Man," "Philly, Philly," and "Scenario 2000," featuring DMX, the Lox, and Drag-On. | | FIRST LADY is the debut album from Eve, a self-described "pit bull in a skirt" and the only female MC in the Ruff Ryderz crew. Though she was first signed onto Dr. Dre's Interscope-funded Aftermath Entertainment, her deal expired before she was able to release an album. After working on posse cuts and guest appearances with Ruff Ryderz, Blackstreet, DJ Clue, and the Roots among others, she released this album for Ruff Ryderz/Interscope. | | The killer beats provided by producer Swizz Beatz, along with Eve's straight hardcore flow make FIRST LADY one of the most complete debut hip-hop albums in recent memory. "What You Want," which was first heard on the Ruff Ryderz compilation album, had been burning up urban radio stations for months at the time of this album's release. Standout tracks include "Gotta Man," "Philly, Philly," and "Scenario 2000," featuring DMX, the Lox, and Drag-On. |
Musical Guests | | Missy Elliott | | DMX | | The Lox | | Drag-On | | Beanie Sigel | | C.J. | | P. Killer Tracks | | Parle |
| | Artist Overview | | A Philadelphia native, Eve met Ruff Ryders camp head DMX while in Los Angeles. Impressed with her ability to rhyme, DMX invited Eve to join the Ruff Ryders crew for guest appearances on their debut album. Her photogenic looks and sassy rhyme style earned her instant popularity, which was parlayed into Eve's 1999 debut album. Maturing into a media icon, the stylish, platinum-tressed Eve has since signed a modeling deal, appeared in several fashion shoots, appeared in numerous films, and gone on to be a reigning queen of hip-hop. |
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| | Associated Artists and Works |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 09/14/1999 | | Original Release Date : 1999 | | Catalog ID : 490453 | | Label : Interscope Records (USA) | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00606949045326 |
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| | Professional Reviews | | Rolling Stone (10/14/99, pp.119-120)
- 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...powering her debut with more than just blond hair: She has an oven-roasted voice, smooth flows and a thuggish attitude for days....Eve's luscious voice and Swizz's beats have made her...first among equals in the Ruff Ryders..." Q Magazine (12/99, pp.130-1)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "...the most charismatic female MC since Missy Elliot....Eve is the jewel of the Ruff-Ryders clique and their super-fashionable, in-house producer Swizz Beats provides the hook-heavy production that helps make her debut such a treat..."Rolling Stone (10/14/99, pp.119-120)
- 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...powering her debut with more than just blond hair: She has an oven-roasted voice, smooth flows and a thuggish attitude for days....Eve's luscious voice and Swizz's beats have made her...first among equals in the Ruff Ryders..." Q Magazine (12/99, pp.130-1)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "...the most charismatic female MC since Missy Elliot....Eve is the jewel of the Ruff-Ryders clique and their super-fashionable, in-house producer Swizz Beats provides the hook-heavy production that helps make her debut such a treat..." Muzik (11/99, p.129)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "...her full-length is a Missy/Timba-style melange of real instruments and syallabic flows....overall more impressive than you want to give it credit for." Muzik (11/99, p.129)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "...her full-length is a Missy/Timba-style melange of real instruments and syallabic flows....overall more impressive than you want to give it credit for." The Source (11/99, pp.214-6)
- 3.5 mics out of 5 - "...this girl can spit with the big dogs. Her rhymes - intelligent, honest and delivered with a subtle cockiness - make her shine amongst her gruff Ruff Ryder brethren....The energy on this album is manic; every track packs a punch..." The Source (11/99, pp.214-6)
- 3.5 mics out of 5 - "...this girl can spit with the big dogs. Her rhymes - intelligent, honest and delivered with a subtle cockiness - make her shine amongst her gruff Ruff Ryder brethren....The energy on this album is manic; every track packs a punch..." NME (Magazine)
(11/6/99, p.37)
- 7 out of 10 - "...she bridges the gap between Lil' Kim and Lauryn Hill...with a style al her own....the girl has an undoubtable star power....the sweet-and-sour peroxide 'pit bull in a skirt' looks like she's here to stay." NME (Magazine)
(11/6/99, p.37)
- 7 out of 10 - "...she bridges the gap between Lil' Kim and Lauryn Hill...with a style al her own....the girl has an undoubtable star power....the sweet-and-sour peroxide 'pit bull in a skirt' looks like she's here to stay." |
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