Eve Spills on Her Romance With Suge Knight — and How It Nearly Ruined Her Label Relationship
Eve has always been one of hip hop’s most respected voices — sharp with the pen, unapologetic with her delivery, and undeniably a trailblazer. But in her brand-new memoir Who’s That Girl?, the “Ruff Ryders’ First Lady” is pulling back the curtain on a chapter of her life fans never knew: her short-lived romance with Suge Knight.
Revenge Love: Eve + Suge Knight
According to Eve, the story starts in 2001, when she was still salty about her complicated dynamic with Dr. Dre. “I was still in my little mood about Dre even though we made a solid hit together,” she writes, referring to their smash collab “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” with Gwen Stefani. “So having Suge, his former boss at Death Row, stomping around Interscope felt like some sweet revenge. I am not really sure how I concocted this idea yet here we were.”
Translation? Eve admitted she went after Suge, at least partly, to get under Dre’s skin. The pair had a brief fling — but in true Suge Knight fashion, it didn’t take long before things got complicated.
When Suge Meddled in Business
Eve revealed that once Suge started poking around her business at Interscope Records, things went downhill with label head Jimmy Iovine. “I feel like he (Jimmy) took his anger out on my third album,” she said, suggesting that her romantic choices directly affected the way her label handled her music.
It was the kind of behind-the-scenes tension that could make or break a career — and for Eve, it nearly derailed her momentum.
Ruff Ryders to the Rescue
Thankfully, Eve had her Ruff Ryders family watching her back. The co-founders of the crew, Dee and Waah Dean, weren’t here for her involvement with Suge. “They didn’t like the idea of me hanging out with Suge at all,” Eve admitted. “When my guys said it was time to cut the cord, I didn’t think twice.”
And when she finally told Suge it was over, surprisingly, he didn’t flip. Instead, his response was calm — almost brotherly. “If I was your little sis, I would tell you the same thing,” Eve recalls him saying. For a man with Suge’s reputation, that reaction was almost tender.
From Drama to Deals
Fast forward two decades, and Eve is a long way from Death Row drama. Last year, she made headlines again — but this time for her business savvy. The Grammy-winning rapper sold her entire back catalog to the company Iconoclastfor an eye-popping eight-figure sum, estimated between $25 and $50 million.
That deal included her iconic 1999 debut Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, which made her the third female rapper in history to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Iconoclast praised Eve in their announcement, calling her a “trailblazer” and celebrating her ability to fuse rap with R&B and pop influences. “Eve became a defining voice in hip hop, known for her lyrical prowess, dynamic flow, and unique fusion of rap and R&B influences,” the company wrote.
It was a career move that placed Eve alongside other heavyweights cashing out on their catalogs, securing long-term financial power in an industry where artists often get the short end of the stick.
A Legacy Secured
Eve’s catalog sale wasn’t the only blockbuster deal on the table. Around the same time, Irv Gotti announced a $300 million arrangement with the same company, handing over 50% of Murder Inc.’s masters while locking in financing for TV and film projects. Clearly, hip hop legends are learning to monetize their legacies on their own terms.
As for Eve, her memoir shows that she’s unafraid to tell her truth — whether it’s about her messy romance with Suge Knight or the music industry politics that almost cost her everything. But now, with her catalog sold, her legacy cemented, and her life story on her own terms, Eve proves she’s still very much that girl.