Eve opens up about her British accent and her son’s surprising rule

Grammy-winning rapper Eve has opened up about an unexpected change in her voice — and revealed that her four-year-old son has become one of her biggest critics.

The Philadelphia-born rapper has lived in England for around 12 years with her husband, British entrepreneur Maximillion Cooper. During that time, Eve says her American accent has gradually picked up some British influence. Now, her young son, Wilde Wolf, has his own strong opinion about how his mother should speak. 

Her son keeps correcting her

In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Eve explained that Wilde insists she use a British accent when speaking to him.

The rapper jokingly admitted that her son will “tell me off” if she suddenly switches back to her American way of speaking.

“If I say it fully American,” Eve explained, her son tells her, “No, Mama, that’s not how you say it.”

For Eve, the situation is both funny and slightly challenging. After all, she grew up in Philadelphia and spent decades surrounded by American speech patterns.

Her response to her son is simple: “Listen, I’m American, buddy.”

Still, motherhood has apparently made the British influence on her speech even more noticeable.

Eve says the accent is getting stronger

Eve has previously laughed about fans noticing changes in her voice. After more than a decade in England, she acknowledges that certain British expressions and sounds have naturally become part of the way she talks.

She insists, however, that her Philadelphia accent is not disappearing.

According to Eve, both accents now come out naturally depending on the situation. She also admitted that deliberately trying to imitate a British accent is actually much harder than simply picking up elements of it through everyday life.

“If I really try to do a British accent,” she said, “it actually sounds absolutely terrible.” 

Building a family life in England

Eve moved to England after marrying Cooper in 2014. The couple welcomed their son Wilde in February 2022, and Eve has also embraced her role as stepmother to Cooper’s four children from a previous relationship. 

Her life in Britain has also influenced her career. Eve is preparing for a UK and European tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of her acclaimed album Scorpion, which includes the Grammy-winning hit “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” with Gwen Stefani. 

For Eve, the evolving accent appears to be less about changing who she is and more about adapting to the life she has built across the Atlantic.

And if her son has anything to say about it, the British side of Eve’s voice may be here to stay.