Ozone Magazine

It’s like that riddle about the tree in the woods: If a star has two chances at fame then disappears, does it mean their career never existed? Olivia Longett doesn’t want you to think that’s the case. She was the first artist signed to Clive Davis’s imprint, J Records (which is currently led by singer/songwriter Alicia Keys). A couple years later, Olivia was first lady of G-Unit Records, where she contributed her floaty vocal skills to a number of gritty rap cuts straight out of Southside Queens. After realizing that she wasn’t feeling fulfilled at 50 Cent’s label either, she requested to be released and was finally free to discover who she was, as opposed to who everyone wanted her to be.

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What have you been doing over the last few years?

After 2007, when I split with G-Unit, I’ve been on the road overseas just touring and performing up to 2008. I started doing movies. I actually shot three movies. The first movie I did was Peephole. Kellita Smith was in that movie with me. My acting coach is Tracy Moore-Marable , she’s totally amazing. She’s worked with everyone from Denzel to Dave Chappelle. As far as the album, I did all the records over with a whole bunch of new producers, Missy, Ne-Yo, Rockwilder, Ryan Leslie… I wrote like 85% of the album. I’ve been busy. I’m so happy to be back by myself.

You were the first artist on J Records. What was that like?

It was a brand new label. I knew I was going to be the experimental artist and I’m the first one signed. Nobody really knows what they’re doing yet, no one really knows how to work together. They just know that they have to make it work. They decided that they wanted to make me the ‘bad girl’ and that’s where “Bizounce” came from. I was always making different types of records regardless, so I was surprised that was the record they wanted to go with. When I first went to Clive, I was singing gospel music for them. I did imaging, that was totally “left [field],” but I went with it and we made it work. It was a great record and I had a good time over at J, but it didn’t feel like home because they were trying to change me. I just wanted to be myself. I was right out of college and I did what I had to do because that was my first deal and that was what I was going to school for to be a singer, so I’m gonna rock whatever Clive Davis says.

Olivia – “Bizounce”

Then on to G-Unit right?

Kawan Dillion left J Records with me and brought me over to Interscope with him. That’s where I met Chris Lighty who introduced me to 50 because he managed him and that’s when they had the idea to put it together. 50 told Chris that he loved my music and wanted to meet me. After we met he was sold and he wanted me to be the first lady of G-Unit. I knew how the politics in the building were at Interscope so… I had to go with the politics. I said, “I’m gonna do what’s best for everyone and go with G-Unit, it’ll be a great look! I’m coming back after J Records and I’m with the hottest rapper in the country. What could go wrong?” Everything was good but he was trying to market me as a rap artist and I’m only singing hooks. I didn’t want people to think that was all I did, like I’m a “hook singer.” I don’t do rap but that’s what everybody was getting so from that, I had a conversation with Fif where I told him, I didn’t really want to be there anymore because he was marketing me as a rap artist. There was no R&B presence up at the label.

So J Records was on one end of the spectrum and G-Unit was on the other. You said that you’re happy to be by yourself now. Who is Olivia?

I’m just a woman who loves music and I’m happy to be doing what I’m doing and happy to have the talent that I’m able to do it. I always tell people that a lot of artists don’t even get one shot. I get three. Who can say they’ve got that? So I feel totally blessed to even be able to have a third chance and have people respect and love me that much to give me another shot. I really don’t think that I got a fair shot either time. But this time it’s all me and I’m just excited to be able to do it again and do it the right way.

50 Cent feat. Olivia – “Best Friend”

What’s happening with your music?

It’s definitely on the R&B tip but I stay with an edge regardless so I don’t really know how to put it in a category because I just do what I do and let it fall. Regarding things you’ll hear me sing about, it all either happened to me or someone close to me, so you definitely feel connected when you hear my songs. I’m so happy that I went back and did the whole album [Behind Closed Doors] over, that’s what I’m most happy about. I’m glad I went back in and was like, “You know what? I’m gonna do a whole new album and it’ll be hotter than before just because I know I can do that.” That’s how serious I am about my music because I know I can go back and do a whole album over and it’s gonna top the last one. That’s what I did. Trust me- it’s gonna show.

How’d you get into acting?

I was a character growing up and I always wanted to act out little skits and stuff. I always knew I had it, I just never tapped into it. Missy used [to be] my acting coach for a while and I asked her, then got a few other people to give me a co-sign on her. When I started working with her it was magical because she was like “You’re a natural.” She directed Peephole and that’s how much she believed in me, she put me in it! There were a lot of different people cast in that and for it to be my first film, I was so grateful that she even thought of me, to do that. I had just started taking private lessons with her.

How’s the acting going now?

I’ve been getting more roles and going to read more. I just went in to read for a movie, The Eyes of Kings, starring Rosario Dawson. They asked me to read for the co-lead, so I’m just waiting to hear back on that! Everything’s just been really good and I think it comes from just being in a good place and having a good mindset.

Besides music and movies, is there anything else we should know that you’re working on?

I’m doing a clothing line, but I don’t want to do a regular one. Being that I’m a very sensual and sexy person, I want to do lingerie for the ladies. I’ve been on the move, as much as people think that they haven’t seen me, I’ve been all over the place.

Are you anxious about making your second comeback?

There’s always gonna be some pressure regardless, or a little nervousness, but I’m more happy that the album didn’t come out on G-Unit. If it did, I would’ve had to go through all the rappers then my album would’ve come out. I’m just happy I had the one on J and that was great, but I just felt like I had a long break. Like, this whole time, I was able to still tour and be with G-Unit then do all the work that I’ve been doing. I got to do the album and now I can come back harder than before. I feel like the material on this record will totally speak for itself.

—Interview by Nadine Graham