Greetings, everyone, and welcome. Have you ever pondered the whereabouts of the R&B sensation Olivia? Olivia gained prominence as the inaugural lady of G-Unit and further solidified her presence through her appearance on the hit reality show Love & Hip Hop New York. Yet, for those familiar with Olivia, the question lingers: what became of her career and where does she stand now?
In this presentation, I aim to unravel this mystery. Olivia burst onto the music scene at the tender age of 17, on the cusp of 18. Her entry into the industry was marked by her signing with J Records, the brainchild of music tycoon Clive Davis. Her journey to signing was remarkable, as she captivated Davis with her rendition of the gospel classic “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” earning herself an instant contract. Although Olivia possessed a captivating voice tailor-made for R&B ballads, Davis had a different vision. Instead of portraying her as the soulful songstress she truly was, he positioned her as the rebellious figure of R&B, a characterization that didn’t quite align with her authentic self.
Reflecting on her experience, Olivia shared, “I was essentially directed on what to do, and it didn’t resonate with me, you know. Nonetheless, I pursued my first album, navigating the terrain alongside everyone else, adhering to the directives I was given.”
Interestingly, Clive brought another artist to the label, Alicia Keys, positioning her as the good girl and soulful songbird Olivia could have been. Olivia, however, embraced her bad girl image, releasing her first single in 2000, “Bizounce.” This R&B track, laced with curse words, stood out from her peers’ music and climbed to number 15 on the Billboard charts. Despite expectations for a follow-up single, none materialized. Her self-titled album debuted in 2001 before she departed J Records for another label.
Reflecting on her departure, Olivia revealed, “There’s a lot of politics behind the scenes that nobody knows about. I left J Records with an executive who wanted me to join Interscope, but I later realized there were ulterior motives at play.” Despite the confusion, she moved to Interscope, where she was managed by the late Chris Lighty and became affiliated with 50 Cent and his label, G-Unit.
Lady Chris Lighty reached out and mentioned, “You know, 50 is interested in adding a female member to the group.” Initially hesitant due to G-Unit’s tough image, Olivia had just signed a deal and didn’t want to cause any disruption. Nevertheless, she decided to take the leap, recognizing it as the right move for her career.
Sitting down with 50 Cent, Olivia realized that joining G-Unit was a strategic move, diversifying the label which was predominantly known for street rap. With an eye on rivaling Irv Gotti’s successful Murder Inc., 50 wanted an R&B singer akin to Ashanti.
Her big break came with the platinum-selling single “Candy Shop,” featuring on 50 Cent’s track. Despite being the only female R&B artist on a predominantly male hip-hop label, Olivia faced challenges in building her fan base.
Following “Candy Shop,” 50 Cent opted to release “Best Friend” featuring Olivia, aiming to bolster her visibility. Olivia released a few solo singles like “Twisted” and “So Sexy,” with varying success. Additionally, she collaborated with her then-boyfriend Shaggy on tracks like “Wild 2Nite.”
Despite efforts to promote her sophomore album “Behind Closed Doors,” Olivia’s focus shifted due to touring commitments with G-Unit, impacting the album’s release and promotion.
Although Olivia delayed her sophomore album, she still made an appearance on a G-Unit project, a mixtape titled “So Seductive.” During this period, G-Unit faced internal strife, with one major issue being The Game. Previously affiliated with G-Unit, The Game’s falling out with 50 Cent led to his departure from the label, during which he targeted everyone associated with G-Unit, including Olivia, spreading the false rumor that she was transgender.
Despite The Game’s derogatory remarks, Olivia chose to rise above the negativity. When asked about The Game’s actions, she responded with grace, stating, “I don’t. I never have. I never responded to immature people, you know?” She refused to engage in petty conflicts and maintained her dignity in the face of baseless accusations.
However, Olivia’s challenges extended beyond dealing with The Game’s insults. She also navigated strained relations with Ashanti due to the ongoing feud between their respective labels, G-Unit and Murder Inc. This tension created a rift between Olivia and Ashanti, preventing them from establishing a cordial relationship.
“Was that genuine? Like, seriously, did you really want to confront Olivia if you ever crossed paths with her?”
“They were all like, ‘I’ll confront her. I’ll be waiting outside. Let’s settle this.'”
“Was it for real, though?”
“Well, look, I’m not one for empty threats, you know? If someone’s got an issue with me, they can come talk to me directly.”
Although Olivia and Ashanti never openly clashed, there was a noticeable tension, leading them to keep their distance. During this period, Olivia grew increasingly dissatisfied with her position in G-Unit.
“Olivia was the sole R&B artist on the label and felt they weren’t effectively promoting her or nurturing her unique style. So, she began collaborating with artists like Missy Elliott, spending more time with her than with G-Unit. This didn’t sit well with 50 Cent, who felt slighted. Despite working with Missy, Olivia still didn’t produce the hit the label hoped for. She even passed on a potential hit, ‘Let It Go,’ produced by Missy, which eventually went to Keyshia Cole.”
After numerous discussions with 50 Cent, Olivia chose to leave G-Unit.
“Rumors started circulating that Olivia departed due to a soured romantic relationship with 50. However, there was never any truth to those rumors.”
“I remember V telling everyone, ‘Stay away from Olivia. She’s family. If you engage with her, you’re out.’ You mentioned in the book that there was a point where you felt attracted to 50—nah, we just had a mutual vibe. We talked about being attracted to each other but knew it would complicate things.”
“He didn’t, no.”
Their relationship remained strictly professional, and their split was on good terms. Nonetheless, 50 Cent wasn’t entirely pleased with how things unfolded.
Olivia moved forward, pursuing an independent music career. By 2010, she had signed with Rich Dollaz Management Company and was slated to release an album titled “Show the World,” though it never materialized officially.
However, Olivia did collaborate on a track with Drake during the period when he was gaining significant traction with his mixtapes, particularly “So Far Gone.” Their joint effort was titled “Control.” Yet, the song’s release encountered complications. Initially, Drake had recorded it solo, but Olivia’s manager, Rich Dollaz, arranged for her to contribute to the track. Strangely, the song was leaked without Drake’s knowledge or consent. Upon its internet debut, Drake issued a statement expressing his stance: “I endorse artist collaborations and sampling music that inspires, but I don’t condone unauthorized recordings marketed as features. I’ve never collaborated with Olivia, and I apologize to any fans misled into thinking ‘Control’ was my work.”
Olivia felt disheartened by Drake’s statement as she believed he was aware of and had approved the collaboration.
She recounted, “So, I received the track from the producer, assuming everything was finalized. I mean, the producer sent it, indicating it was ready. ‘Can you work on this?’ So I agreed. I was actually in the studio with Sean Kingston at the time, which delayed our response. Finally, we sent it back, only to learn it had been leaked. Rich initially hesitated to send it back, citing the need for mixing and ensuring Drake’s vocals matched mine. But once it was sent back and confirmed, it was out there. When I heard Drake’s reaction, I was puzzled. I thought, ‘Why the animosity?’ Isn’t that what mixtapes are about? And besides, we heard he was compensated and it was cleared. So, I thought, ‘Really, is this how it’s going down?’ But hey, it gave me more exposure. Thanks for that. Shout out to Trizzy.”
Despite the communication challenges, Olivia garnered attention during her time on “Love and Hip Hop,” sandwiched between stints involving Drake. Joining the reality show in 2011, she stood as one of its original cast members across the franchise. Here, she candidly shared her struggles within the music industry.
“At times, I just want to throw in the towel. It feels like nobody believes in me.”
In her quest, she found herself searching, grappling with a multitude of uncertainties. Why did others seem to navigate this path effortlessly?
Following her debut on “Love and Hip Hop,” Olivia released “December,” her first single since departing from G-Unit. The track resonated strongly with her audience, marking a departure that showcased her vocal prowess. Notably, “December” climbed to number 76 on the Hot R&B and Hip-Hop charts, a noteworthy feat for the independent artist.
Subsequently, Olivia followed up with “Walk Away,” another poignant ballad. Additionally, she dropped two other singles: “Soldier Girl,” featuring Movado, and “Sun Don’t Shine,” featuring Sean Kingston. At this juncture, it appeared that Olivia’s career was finally on the upswing. She was crafting the R&B music she envisioned, simultaneously gaining exposure on “Love and Hip Hop.” However, complications arose within Olivia’s management dynamics.
Rich Dollaz Management, her management team, urged Olivia to exhibit more of her personality to expand her fan base. Yet, Olivia refused to compromise her authenticity for reality television, resisting any portrayal that deviated from her true self. Despite her relentless efforts, she found herself at a crossroads, grappling with a perceived lack of breakthrough success and shouldering undue blame.
“What remained unknown to me at the time was the hindrance her career faced due to her manager, Rich Dollaz.”
Olivia’s talent, whatever it may be, seems elusive to pinpoint. She’s visually appealing, but her association with Rich doesn’t do her any favors in the industry. The lack of credibility becomes apparent, especially in DJ circles where her tracks aren’t taken seriously.
Reflecting on their past collaboration, the drastic change in Rich’s behavior was shocking. Their bond once resembled that of siblings, but witnessing his antics and pursuit of sensationalism was disheartening. Olivia opted out, refusing to be part of the spectacle.
For Olivia, her partnership with Rich marked yet another disappointment in her music career, largely due to management issues and a string of wrong choices. Her experience with “Love and Hip Hop” led her to shift gears towards acting, although her involvement with “The Family Business” didn’t pan out as expected.
Despite setbacks, Olivia persisted, delving into writing with her autobiography “Release Me: My Life, My Words” under the mentorship of Tony Gaskins. She ventured into acting, featuring in projects like “Supermodel: The Man,” “Three B: Conspiracy Ex,” and “Conspiracy Ex Reloaded.”
In 2020, Olivia returned to “Love and Hip Hop: New York,” alongside releasing singles such as “Join Me” and “One More Chance” featuring Papoose and Boy Young. Her acting career continues to flourish, with upcoming roles in films like “Better Than My Last.”
Currently, Olivia juggles her singing and acting pursuits while basking in her engagement. Despite career obstacles, she remains dedicated to her passion for music, solidifying her legacy as a pioneer with J Records and G-Unit. Thank you for tuning into this brief documentary on R&B singer Olivia. Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share. See you next time!