The Main Idea:
Rapper/singer Olivia released her critically acclaimed (but commercially ignored) self-titled debut album on J Records in 2001. Chock full of grinding hip-hop beats and smooth vocals, Olivia is a blend of hardcore hip-hop, soulful R&B, and up-tempo pop music. It's still a mystery to me why seemingly no one has heard of this talented young diva. Though she's certainly no Jay-Z or 2Pac, Olivia has a unique rhyme style with enough profanities to make even Lil' Kim blush. Her songs are mostly about men and relationships and all the problems that can come of them. With such excellent production and well-arranged vocals, I can't understand why Olivia remains such an obscure album by an equally obscure artist.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. BIZOUNCE - This was Olivia's first single that made a very tiny dent on the radio in the spring of 2001. It has a catchy melody and addicting, though profanity-laden, hook. The song is basically about how Olivia's man is doing her wrong, so she finally decides to "bizounce" and leave him. It's the hardest, most urban sounding song on the disc and one of my favorites, mostly because of Olivia's smooth, husky vocals - 5/5

2. ARE U CAPABLE - This second single challenges a guy's sexual prowess, but is done in such a tasteful way that even I find it very good and interesting. Some of the lyrics are kind of freaky - "Can you kiss below the border while I run a camcorder tonight?" and "Can you spank it 'til I'm beggin' for more?" - but the song has a hot beat. The vocals kind of reminds me of an Aaliyah song, though I can't point out which one - 5/5

3. YOU GOT THE DAMN THING - This upbeat song is very radio-friendly and would have made a very successful single, I think. It has all the elements you need for a hit - a great beat, some unique production courtesy of the Underdogs, a catchy chorus, and smooth vocals. The stuttering vocals and dance-pop undertones give this obvious party jam a good edge that sets it apart from other typical R&B songs. My favorite song on the record - 5/5

4. SILLY B*TCH IN LOVE - This slower track has great guitar work and really showcases Olivia's vocal ability. In this song, she chastises herself for letting her man get away with so much and reminds him of everything she's done for him: "Gave you my money, let you push my Benz/Up in my 600 chilling with your friends/Boy I gave you everything you need/Guess I was/A silly b*tch in love." Despite it's many swear words, the song is very catchy and has a great melody - 4/5

5. IT'S ON AGAIN - This is a beautiful ballad with great production; kind of reminds me of a Janet Jackson song. It has a lot of Asian influences, especially in the guitar. Olivia's vocals sound really smooth and sensual, which fits in with the rest of the song. It's one of the most well-arranged tracks vocally and has nice lyrics and a great melody. Another one of my favorites, mostly because of the production - 5/5

6. WOOP-T-WOO - This is another more hip-hop inspired track with a great bassline and beats. The lyrics are along the same lines as those in #1, and the chorus is extremely catchy: "I'm sick of your woop-t-woo/Ain't taking no sh*t from you/Is it me or your crew?/Let me know 'cause I'm through." It's actually pretty mid-tempo, and Olivia delivers the song with a lot of attitude and conviction - 5/5

7. WHOADIE - This is basically a slower version of "Bizounce." The production sounds similar, though the lyrics in this are actually praising her man rather than yelling at him. There's also a little rap in the middle of the song that I assume is from Rufus Blaq. A great hip-hop anthem; probably would have made a good single. Another one of my favorites because it has a lot of spunk and sass and edge - 5/5

8. 'TIL HE COMES HOME - This mid-tempo song has a different sound from the rest of the album. It opens with some nice guitar and launches into some sleek, well-delivered verses. The lyrics are about sticking by your man while he's on the run, and the song itself is a mix of soulful R&B, pop melodies, and rap ad-libs. Though it's not one of my favorite tracks, it does demonstrate Olivia's diversity as an artist - 4/5

9. BRING DA ROOF DOWN - This is a great club track with some simple yet urban production and hardcore rhymes. It's not the catchiest song on the record, but it's strength is in its vocals, which are infinitely convincing in the second verse when Olivia tells an imitator to step off. The rapping on this song is quite good, though it's the usual "I'm so hot and I drive a Jaguar and I wear Prada" and some of the other overused self-declarations female rappers encounter in their rhymes - 5/5

10. WHEN 2 SOULS TOUCH - Yet another ballad. I think this is Olivia's best vocal delivery on the entire album, as she sounds uncharacteristically vulnerable and soft. The production compliments these vocals well, and the lyrics are very sweet: "Baby when 2 souls touch/There's no way that you can escape from the rush/I'm under your power, just like a flower/That's ready to open up/When 2 souls touch." One of my favorites and the best ballad on the record - 5/5

11. LOWER 2 MY HEART - This mid-tempo song is overflowing with sexual innuendo, but it's delivered in a tasteful way, similar to #2. The erotically charged lyrics are complimented by some fairly simple production as well as some strings and the flute. Once again, this song isn't very catchy, but has great vocals - Olivia sounds smooth and soulful, and this track shows off her range very well. Another Janet-esque song - 4/5

12. LOOK AROUND - Labelmate Jimmy Cozier adds some jazz and low-key funk to this mid-tempo track. This is one of the best collaborations I've heard in a while; Jimmy's voice blends perfectly with Olivia's. In the lyrics, Olivia accuses Jimmy of cheating on her, and, in response, Jimmy swears he didn't do anything wrong and warns that Olivia shouldn't let him go. It's very sweet and romantic, despite the subject matter, and the production is extremely romantic - 5/5

The Big Picture:
I was thoroughly impressed with Olivia. Her voice is smooth and soulful, like a blend of Alicia Keys, Aaliyah, and Janet Jackson, and her raps are hardcore and blunt, like Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown. Yet despite all of these comparisons, Olivia is a unique artist with a sound all her own. She has crafted an album that is unlike any other out there. In truth, Olivia's strongest point is its production. So much of a debut album depends on production because, without the right production, an artist's voice and sound can be ruined forever. This didn't happen to Olivia, fortunately. Her record is full of soulful yet edgy beats that are at times club-worthy and at other times tear-jerking. Olivia knows how to use her voice to her advantage and how to adapt it to virtually any song, which is a talent most singers strive for many years to achieve.

Despite being recently dropped by her record company and releasing a grossly underhyped first album, I still think Olivia can have a future in music. By listening to her debut, you can tell that she has soul and passion for the music she's singing. Olivia is one of the best albums R&B albums to come out in a while, period. It has the lyrics, the production, the vocals, everything you need to make a great first album. Olivia's only problem is that she signed with a record label who was pushing their biggest star (Alicia Keys) and didn't want to be bothered with any other artists. Now I'm not dissing J Records or Clive Davis, but I think they made a big mistake in not giving this album the promotion it deserved. Olivia could have been one of the biggest albums of the year, commercially, but I guess no one important really cared. And that's a shame, because Olivia is a great young R&B talent who could have gone, and will probably someday go, very far.

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.75
Best Song(s): "Bizounce," "You Got The Damn Thing," and "When 2 Souls Touch"
Worst Song(s): "Silly B*tch In Love"

How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 4 stars
Lyrics? 3 1/2 stars
Production? 5 stars
Timelessness? 2 stars
Artistry? 2 1/2 stars

Also Recommended:
Eve - Eve-Olution
Missy Elliott - Under Construction
Aaliyah - Aaliyah

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out