Nivea Hamilton debuted in the music industry on Mystikal's #1 2001 hit "Danger (Been So Long)". She was quickly signed to Jive Records, and they released her debut single, the pop "Don't Mess With The Radio". However, the single failed to hit, and her album was pushed back to the following year. It wasn't until they regrouped (and she had overseas success with the Australian release of her album), and reintroduced Nivea with her second single, "Don't Mess With My Man" featuring Brian & Brandon Casey (of R&B group Jagged Edge), that her album saw a release date. Retooled with a few newly-recorded songs and a couple left off the Australian release, her self-titled debut was released in November 2002. By 2003, the success of "Don't Mess With My Man" geared her for her first Grammy nomination, for "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal". She lost to acappella group Take 6. Her third single "Laundromat" was released during the R. Kelly controversy, so instead of him appearing in her music video, he was replaced with Nick Cannon playing the boyfriend character. The next singles ("Ya Ya Ya" and "25 Reasons") were only released to radio.

It wasn't until 2004 that Nivea reappeared, with a new marriage (to music producer Terius "The Dream" Nash), and her Lil' Jon-produced single "Okay" which had moderate success, but was lost due to the introduction of R&B singer Ciara Harris. Soon, her album followed in Spring 2005, but was severely under promoted. Her impending pregnancy caused Jive Records to put promotional plans on hold, but by the time of her child's birth, Jive had given up on the project all together. "Parking Lot", produced by hit-maker Jermaine Dupri, was the planned second single, but plans fell through, and by the Fall, her third single "Complicated" was set to be released. However, her contract with Jive Records ends in 2005, and any more plans for her second album are left unfinished.


Earned a 2003 Grammy nomination for "Best R&B Performance by Group or Duo", for her single "Don't Mess With My Man" with R&B group Jagged Edge.