Eve Rydes Shotgun

The Gumball Rally drive wouldn’t be complete without Mrs. Gumball 3000. That’s right: Eve, who’s known to the world as Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, rapper, talkshow host, actress, creative spirit, mother, and wife of Maximillion, will be riding shotgun in the Lambo.

WHO’S THAT GIRL? ALL ABOUT EVE

Passion and persistence – it’s what started Eve on her path to greatness from an early age. The talented young rapper showed off her rhymes in hip-hop groups during high school, before taking things professional as Eve of Destruction. The Philadelphia-native spit bars in clubs across the city, and was even featured on the Grammy-winning song, You Got Me by The Roots.

Her confidence and attitude unlocked doors for her, and her sheer talent got her inside, but the music industry wasn’t yet ready for a female rapper as fierce as Eve. After being briefly signed to Dr. Dre’s label, the future star was introduced to the Ruff Ryders – and the rest is history.

It took just one solid rap battle performance to blow their minds (pun intended), and the Ruff Ryders welcomed Eve – she dropped the Destruction – to their family. She signed on to become RR’s First Lady, and in 1999, she released her first album at just 21 (produced by Swizz Beatz), called Let There Be Eve… Ruff Ryders’ First Lady. She wrote all the tracks, including some super real, female-empowered songs like Love Is Blind, setting the tone for storied career. It peaked at number one on the Billboard 200, a huge accomplishment as she was only the third-ever female rapper to do so at the time.

Eve’s hip-hop career would go on to be as legendary and eye-catching as her iconic paw-print tattoos. She went on to release three more albums.

SOME OF EVE’S BEST TRACKS

• What Ya Want
• Love Is Blind
• Got It All
• Gotta Man
• Who’s that girl?
• Let Me Blow Ya Mind
• Gangsta Lovin’
• Satisfaction
• Tambourine
• Give It To You
• She Bad Bad
• Make It Out This Town
• Eve
• Reload

These songs don’t even cover all the tracks E-V-E has been featured on, like Hot Boyz by Missy Elliott, Rich Girl by Gwen Stefani, Caramel by City High, Like This by Kelly Rowland, Tonight by Doja Cat, and of course, Ruff Ryders’ Anthem (Remix).

During her musical career, the rap legend has been honoured with a Grammy win for Let Me Blow Ya Mind and a Grammy-nomination for her second album, Scorpion. She holds BET and MTV Video Music Awards on top of countless other nominations.

EVE EVOLVES

While she was on her way to rap superstardom, she was also stepping on screen and showing off her acting chops. In 2002, she’d become Terri Jones in Barbershop, for which she’d reprise her role in the next two comedy sequels. She dabbled in film and TV off and on, including her self-titled sitcom, Eve, which ran for three seasons.

Not one to be boxed into a corner, Eve reinvented herself once again with a new era when she became a co-host on The Talk from 2017-2020, which scored her two co-hosting Daytime Emmy nominations.

Since taking a break from the talk show, she’s starring in the musical drama Queens, alongside Brandy, Naturi Naughton and Nadine Velazquez, as a former hip-hop group reuniting decades later. Plus, you can find two seasons of her hit podcast, Constantly Evolving, where she discusses life, creativity and living well, with famous guests.

EVE AND GUMBALL 3000

Eve was the only female driver in the 2010 Gumball run from London to New York City. And it was that drive when she met Maximillion (who she’d go on to marry in 2014 on the final stop of that year’s rally.) Every year since, she’s been by his side as the First Lady of Gumball, attending events and parties, and sitting inside the sexy sports cars.

EVE: FAST FACTS

• Born and raised in Philadelphia
• Grammy-winning hip-hop rapper and song-writer
• Ruff Ryders’ First Lady
• 4 studio albums
• 37 singles (some as a featured artist)
• 30 music videos
• Undoubtedly one of the greatest female rappers of all time
• 16 film credits, including Barbershop and Whip It
• 16 TV acting credits, including Eve and Queens
• TV appearances as herself? The Talk and too many more to count!
• Married to Maximillion Cooper
• Riding shotgun in Ignition Casino’s Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster; Driven by Maximillion