Rapper Eve Finally Receives Grammy Award 27 Years After The Roots Collaboration
Philadelphia hip-hop icon Eve has officially received her Grammy Award for her contributions to The Roots’ 1999 hit single “You Got Me,” marking a significant moment of recognition nearly three decades after the song’s release. The track, which won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2000, originally resulted in statues for The Roots and Erykah Badu, but Eve, who delivered the song’s second verse, did not receive a physical award at the time due to Recording Academy regulations regarding featured artists.
The retroactive presentation of the award highlights a shift in how the Recording Academy acknowledges the contributions of collaborators. For years, strict eligibility rules prevented many featured artists on winning tracks from receiving their own gramophones. While this correction is viewed as a victory for accuracy in music history, it has also reignited discussions regarding the Academy’s historical oversight of hip-hop contributors. Critics often point to similar instances where essential vocalists and lyricists were excluded from accolades during the genre’s formative years, arguing that such exclusionary policies diminished the visible impact of key artists.
“You Got Me” remains a seminal track in the neo-soul and hip-hop canon, co-written by Jill Scott and featuring the chorus vocals of Erykah Badu. Eve’s receipt of the award acknowledges her role in the Philadelphia music scene that produced the collaboration. Celebrating the arrival of the hardware, Eve remarked, “Philly started it,” paying homage to the city’s tight-knit musical community that fostered the careers of The Roots, Jill Scott, and herself. This long-overdue recognition formally cements her status as a Grammy winner for one of the era’s most defining songs.
