Editing Eve (section)

== Ruff Ryders Success ==

Eve's association with Ruff Ryders Entertainment launched her career to national prominence. Her debut album, "Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady" (1999), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, a rare achievement for any rapper and unprecedented for a female hip-hop artist. The album's success demonstrated that audiences would support female rappers who offered quality regardless of gender, while its commercial performance opened doors for subsequent women in hip-hop.<ref name="keyes"/>

"Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (2001), her collaboration with Gwen Stefani, won the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, confirming both her commercial viability and critical respect. The song's combination of Eve's aggressive verses with Stefani's melodic hook created a template for rap-pop collaboration that subsequent artists would follow. Her ability to work across genres while maintaining hip-hop credibility demonstrated versatility that extended her appeal beyond rap's core audience.<ref name="dyson"/>

Subsequent albums including "Scorpion" (2001) and "Eve-Olution" (2002) continued her success, while collaborations with artists across genres demonstrated the demand for her talents. Her style combined the toughness that hip-hop demanded with a femininity that some female rappers rejected, creating a persona that appealed to diverse audiences. This balance between hardness and glamour became influential, affecting how subsequent female rappers presented themselves.<ref name="keyes"/>