R&B songstress Nivea couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the world of hip-hop; the contemporary blend of R&B and hip-hop that Nivea emits appeared in Mystikal's smash single "Danger (Been So Long)""Danger," Nivea's debut single off Jive Records, 2001's "Don't Mess with the Radio," was a flop. Jive postponed the release of the singer's first album and tested her overseas; Nivea was successful in Australia with the release of her album and a second single "Don't Mess With My Man" dropped in 2002. The single, which featured Jagged Edge members Brian and Brandon Casey, climbed to the number eight spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became to greatest single of Nivea's career. Later that year Nivea's self-titled EP finally made its debut and despite a mediocre reception, "Don't Mess With My Man" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with vocals.

The release of Nivea's third single, "Laundromat," a duet with R. Kelly, was tainted by Kelly's recent sexual allegations, nonetheless Nivea released the single and Nick Cannon subbed in for Kelly in the music video. After two singles, "Ya Ya Ya" and "25 Reasons" went straight to radio, the singer experienced success in her personal life when she married producer Terius "The Dream" Nash in 2004 and welcomed a daughter into the world one year later. Nivea released the Lil John collaboration "Okay" in 2005, off album Complicated, but ended her contract with Jive that same year. Animalistic, produced by her now ex-husband Nash (the couple divorced in 2007) was released in Japan in 2006 and rumors of a U.S. release are still pending.