R&B singer Nivea most known for her 2002 single “Don’t Mess With My Man,” sat down with Madame Noire to explain why she took a break from the music industry.
“At the time I wasn’t receiving a lot of support,” the Atlanta native said. “I had management issues and imaging issues. I was being labeled ‘unf*@$kable’ to male fans because the industry wants female artists to be attractive because sex sells. They said, ‘You are getting boo’ed up, wifed, and trying to have a baby. You are unf*@#kable to us.’ Jive Records, the industry itself and all of the games you have to play, and the fake persona you have to maintain is overwhelming.”
Nivea also said another significant reason her career stalled was that her second album was recalled.
Complicated wasn’t distributed in a large amount and most of the ones that were distributed were defective,” she explained. “They wouldn’t play in certain laptops, CD players or cars, so they did a recall.”
