The Barbershop 3: The Next Cut release is just a week away and the all-star line up of Hip Hop game changers with starring roles in the film have anticipation levels sky high.
Among the familiar faces who will return to reprise their roles in the franchise is none other than former Ruff Ryders first lady, Eve. A Hip Hop heavyweight in her own right, Eve has remained at the top of her game since making her industry debut over 15 years ago and these days, she’s got plenty on the horizon in and outside of music for fans to get excited about.
We caught up with the Philly native to get her take on the importance of the Hip Hop unity showcased between she and Nicki Minaj in Barbershop 3, whether or not we’ll hear new music from her on the soundtrack, what’s missing from women in Hip Hop and much more.
How much of who Eve is today were able to bring into your reprised character Terry in Barbershop 3?
I’d say a lot of me, I guess, in the sense that a lot of Terry’s life kind of mimics my life. You know, being married and having a step-kid and just being evolved in where she is business-wise. That’s the reason why I fell in love with Terry the first time, because she reminded me so much of myself in the beginning. I think they did a perfect evolution of her.
There’s a huge Hip Hop presence in the film (you, Ice Cube, Nicki, Common). How important do you think it is to showcase that unity, especially at a time where so much of mainstream culture looks to Hip Hop for what to do next and also at a time where there’s so much happening in the Black community?
Obviously, seeing all of us together and knowing where we come from as far as music goes and then us being able to also shine on screen together is important, but also just us being able to work together period. I think that’s so important for people to be able to see, especially with me and Nicki, just on a female rapper level. People are always thinking we should be beefing and all of that and it’s not about that. It’s like, why can’t we come together? Even in the movie, I think it was a big deal for me and Nicki’s characters not to have any type of like “f*ck you” kind of thing where it ended in a drag out or anything like that. It’s like,why can’t we show that we can go through something and talk it out as women? Why does it always have to be some type of beef? When people see that that’s what was done, it’s gonna be a nice surprise.
You’ve actually been an advocate of women in Hip Hop coming together for a little while now.
Exactly! The guys do it all the time!
What do you think about the climate of women in Hip Hop today?
I want to see more diversity as far as the voices out there for women. That’s always been my big thing. I celebrate all women just because we need to be out there, number one. But also, there’s so many different types of women that it can’t just be one female voice speaking for the masses [in Hip Hop]. I mean, there’s so many other male voices out there so, I just think there needs to be a bit more diversity speaking for groups of women all over. That would be my biggest thing.
You did the first Barbershop film just a few years after dropping your debut album back in 2000 so, you got somewhat of a jump start on branching out to show that women in Hip Hop can also do other things. What advice would you give for women in music in general who realize the importance of building empires beyond their music?
I think it’s easier now than even when I did it back then because now, everything is about branding and being about a collective. It’s not just about your music, it’s about how can your music reach as many people as possible. So, linking with this person or with this brand or starting a business—there are so many options I think it’s even easier now to do it. I think it’s important because at the end of the day, you want things to live on beyond you (that’s the hope when you’re building an empire), but you also want the money working for you. You want to be working smarter and not harder and I think in this day in age, it’s much easier to get that done. And why not? Don’t just be one thing. As women, we aren’t ever one thing, whether you do music or not. We hold down the household, we have businesses, we have children, we do everything. Be a business woman; do all of the things that you love and try to make it all successful.
Can fans expect to hear new music from you on the Barbershop 3 soundtrack?
No, I’m not on the soundtrack but, I can tell you there are definitely exciting things happening where my music is concerned.
Are you more comfortable doing film and television or doing music?
I love them both. I feel blessed and happy that I don’t have to choose because each one makes me appreciate the other. Doing this movie last year actually inspired me to wanna write and get back to the music again. Just being around Common and Nicki and talking to people it was like, “wow, I need to get back to it and I’m ready to get back to it.” That makes me appreciate my music and like I said, I feel happy that I’m able to dip in and out of both.
For somebody who is new to the Barbershop franchise, would you recommend that they go back and watch the other two films first or would they be able to jump right into this one and know what’s going on?
No, I actually think this one was done so well that I’d almost want somebody to watch this one first and then go back. It’s done so well and the flashbacks are done so well that you can still kind of get a clear idea of what the storyline was leading up to this film. Even if you’ve never seen one or two, definitely see this one first. They catch you up on everything and all of the characters so well. Plus, it’s a fresh, new take now and you want to be current. See this one and then go back.
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Barbershop 3: The Next Cut hits theaters on April 15.
