This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk celebrates the undeniable legacy of BET. Like the network that put Black artistry first, these sets reflect the essence of Black music.
Bobby Carter | June 16, 2026
As the first artist booked for this year’s Black Music Month celebration, Eve helped set the tone for our Tiny Desk tribute to BET’s cultural impact. One of the most successful women in hip-hop music, the Philly emcee occupies a unique space, connecting audiences who grew up watching Rap City with a younger generation that rushed home to catch 106 & Park. Although much of Eve’s set features songs that are more than 20 years old, the fresh arrangements, her commanding performance and the audience’s enthusiastic response shows that her music and influence remain timeless.
Since relocating to London over a decade ago and starting a family, Eve hasn’t put out much music. In 2024, she published a memoir chronicling her life and experiences navigating the music industry during the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Not only did she survive one of hip-hop’s most fiercely competitive eras, but she also emerged as one of its dominant figures — selling millions of records as the First Lady of Ruff Ryders Entertainment, and building a career in television and film.
For her Tiny Desk, Eve enlisted the music director Mare — who you may recognize from Tierra Whack’s Tiny Desk — making this a Philly affair. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of her second album, Scorpion, the set features standout tracks such as “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” and “Who’s That Girl,” alongside fan favorites from Let There Be Eve… and Eve-Olution.
SET LIST
“Satisfaction”
“What Ya Want”
“Gotta Man”
“Gangsta Lovin’ ”
“Let Me Blow Ya Mind”
“Tambourine”
“Who's That Girl”
MUSICIANS
Eve: vocals
Mare: keys, music director, background vocals
Anthony DeCarlo: guitar
Ali Bervine: bass
Mark Thomas: drums
Sheldon “Spazz” Robinson: percussion
Martin 2 Smoove: DJ
Brandon Pain: background vocals
Mimi: background vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Director/Mix: Josh Newell
Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant
Audio Engineer: Tiffany Vera Castro
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Alanté Serene
Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton
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