Scorpion is an appropriate title for someone who is seductive yet equally deadly. The mic presence that I've alluded to in the past is still as evident as ever. This is Eve's most endearing quality. She is the ultimate "around the way" Philly girl, flipping from straight gangsta braggadocio to introspective, soothing femininity without missing a beat. As in the past, Eve manages to shine in spite of more than one uninspired, played out Swizz beat. A healthy dose of guest producers more than overcome for this most obvious deficiency.

Dr. Dre lends his understated production genius to Let Me Blow Your Mind and That's What It Is. Although the album already has a runaway hit single in Who's That Girl no one is asking that question anymore. And with good reason. The album is full of mass "appealably" catchy hooks that translate into Benjis for the Iladelph Dynamo. Eve's command is tight throughout the entire project, most notably on the major league collaborations with Stephen Marley and the one & only Lady T: Teena Marie!!! The Marley colab is a phat detour into Raggamuffinality entitled No, No, No that builds on the Reggae classic You Don't Love Me (No, No, No). Eve takes the opportunity to showcase her versatility with gusto and phatness. Life Is So Hard is the smoothed out, attention getting, liquid soul that pairs the Scorpion with the Vanilla Child. What an unexpected yet amazing surprise to have two of my favorite females on one cut...all I can say is damn! Teena sounds soooooo good on this track. Her vocals maintain her classic sultriness and have me jonesin' to find my Lover Girl wax. Eve's rhyme is equally delicious and intelligent. Take it to the bank- THIS IS A HIT. DJ Shok's slammin' track completes this funky triumvirate. Label mates DMX, Lox & Drag-On make their expected appearances and for the most part manage to stay out of the infamous Ruff Ryder monotony showcased on recent efforts. The only thing that I found wack were the played out, "what does this have to do with anything?" skits that we've come to expect yet loathe. Minus that, this is a solid sophomore effort with flashes of brilliance.

The next album should be called Diamond. 215 rock, rock on...

Reviewed by Funk Wizard Snow
Editor- PhillyHipHop.com
March, 2001