Eve

This is what we've been waiting for. A comeback in hip-hop that's not built on the portentous hype of saving the genre from imminent gloom and doom. No sir. This is a happy homecoming for a triple threat entertainer, who has been sorely missed. One whose return will serve notice that hip-hop doesn't need to be saved or resurrected; it just needs a woman's touch every now and then. Eve is back!

After a four-year hiatus, Eve returns with Here I Am, a more mature and adventurous album, one she calls her best effort to date. "This is the album I've always wanted to make," she says. "In the past my albums have had a heavy male influence. Not this time. This one represents the woman I am today." Surely, four years away from the scene would spell a death sentence for most rappers, but not Eve. The woman who brought us hits like "What Ya Want," and "Let Me Blow Ya Mind," is hardly worried that her time is up with the hip-hop faithful. "I didn't just cater to a rap audience with this album," she says. "I can go to the Pop Top 40 with this because it's far more universal than anything I've done. Even if you don't care that I'm back you're going to pay attention to me because it's different."

Before Eve reaches that royal status Here I Am is going to have to reacquaint her with the masses that might have forgotten the impressive body of work she has amassed over the course of her illustrious career. And she's already begun the process with the instantly appealing rap- rock hybrid "Aint Nothin Changed". Not an official single the mixtape smash, is the most sought after record on Eve's myspace page. Over a chopped & screwed sample of the White Stripes' classic "Seven Nation Army" the blond bombshell fittingly raps: "Had to get back in the game/to deal with some unfinished business/What you thought I gave it up?/Like I was done and over.

Far from finished Here I Am truly speaks to the growth of an artist that has transcended the ride or die chick niche hip-hop carved out for her. One listen to the hyper-chants and hard-charging bounce of the Swizz Beatz produced lead single "Tambourine" and you'll see that Eve's return is going to be a triumphant one. "I wanted my comeback to be an event," she says. "This record symbolizes that. I didn't want to come back doing what people expected me to do." Surely no one will expect to hear Eve singing as she effectively does on the 80's pop-influenced "All Night Long" produced by Pharrell. Or anticipate her reggae-tinged aura on the breezy second single "Give It To You" featuring Sean Paul. Along with collaborations with T.I., Robin Thicke and Timbaland Here I Am is chock full of pleasant surprises.

As you can see Eve's time away from hip-hop was not spent idle. Now considered a genuine star in the worlds of music, fashion and film, she's currently preparing to launch "a more womanly" line of Fetish and starting her own film production company. More importantly, she looks forward to getting knee deep in the rigors of the rap game. "I can't wait to get back on tour," she says. "I miss performing. I need it. It's like an indescribable hunger that I have." Clearly Eve hasn't lost her zest for the music, which is all the reason why her return will absolutely spice things up-for the better. Just as the old saying goes, hip-hop is a man's world, but it wouldn't be anything without a woman in it.