In Milton's "Paradise Lost," Eve takes the rap for that whole fall-of-mankind thing and lets Satan hog all the best lines. Not so on Scorpion, the rapper Eve's second collection, which dropped this spring, went platinum and cemented the rep of the Ruff Ryders crew's feminist agitator, whose scrappy lyrics have more in common with Pam Grier than with the porn-star aesthetic of the likes of Lil' Kim. After spending the summer on the TRL tour with Destiny's Child and Nelly, Eve closed out the year by returning to New York to begin work on her third album. She's also studying with an acting teacher and preparing to launch her own clothing line, Bombshell.

What was the high point of your year?

Wow. Mmmm, I think the high point was all the awards I've won. I've won - what? Two awards? [To assistant] How many awards did I win this year? Two? Three? This year? From where? [To RS] I don't know. Well, let's not count them, but . . .

There were many. Do you keep them in a place of honor?

They're at the house. Not set up very good. But they're at the house. In a closet?

Yeah. They're around.

What was your favorite song of the year?

"Fallin'," by Alicia Keys. It's such a hot song. I saw her at a Clive Davis party. [To assistant] Which awards was it for? [To RS] One of them awards. The pre-party at the Grammys, I think. She performed live. I was like, "Yo, she come out, she gonna be dope."

If you could have done one thing differently, what would it have been?

I probably wouldn't have worn the lime-green dress to the MTV Awards.

That didn't work out so well?

It didn't do much of nothing. It wasn't too cute. I picked that dress, but on camera it wasn't flattering. It made me look like I didn't have any breasts, and it made my butt look extra-bubble-butt. Extra-big.

Best place you went?

I have not even been anywhere this year. I was on tour. I went to Amsterdam, Germany, London, Japan, performing and promoting.

How was Amsterdam?

I loved it. Say no to drugs [laughs], but I loved Amsterdam. We had a really good time. I got to perform in a club over there, and they had the best Thai food.

Did you check out the hash bars?

Ummmm. Not saying, sir.

The people want to know.

The people have to mind their business sometimes. [Suddenly laughs] Oh, God. I don't mean to laugh, but one of my dogs - the dogs are in heat, basically.

Wow.

This is hilarious! This is the littlest dog sex I've ever seen. Cackles] Anyway . . .

No,let's stay with the dog sex.

I have two Yorkies, but my assistant has a miniature pinscher, so one of my Yorkies - the boy Yorkie - they're in love, basically. It just won't stop. So, anyway; what were we talking about before the dog sex?

Who were you most excited about meeting this year?

Courtney Love. I met her at the Grammy party. I love her. She's just raw. She just is who she is, period. She doesn't care, doesn't bite her tongue. She makes good music, and she acts real well. She's the shit. And she was really down to earth.

[From Issue 883/884 — December 6, 2001]