Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Harrison’s eponymous debut album with Interscope Records was released in April 1998, and sold over a million copies in the United States, producing the gold-certified top ten single “It’s All About Me” featuring Sisqó. In addition to her solo work, Mýa was also a featured artist with Ol’ Dirty Bastard on Pras’ 1998 Grammy Award-nominated hit, “Ghetto Superstar”, from the Bulworth soundtrack and “Take Me There” from The Rugrats Movie soundtrack, with Blackstreet and Mase.
Her second studio album, platinum-selling Fear of Flying, was released in 2000 and became a success stateside and worldwide, with lead single “Case of the Ex” becoming Mýa’s breakthrough hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100, number three on the UK Singles Chart, and number one on the Australian Singles Chart. A year after, Harrison won her first Grammy Award for the worldwide number-one hit “Lady Marmalade,” a cover version she recorded alongside Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, and Pink for the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge! (2001).
The singer’s third album Moodring was released in July 2003 stateside and eventually certified gold by the RIAA. It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 selling more than 113,000 in its first week of sales, making it Mýa’s highest first week sales ever. The first single, the Missy Elliott-produced “My Love Is Like…Wo,” became a top twenty hit in the U.S. due to its success on mainstream radio.
Following several label changes, Mýa’s often-delayed fourth studio album, Liberation (2007), received a download-release in Japan only and led to her 2008 Japan-exclusive album Sugar & Spice.
Having expanded her career to acting and product endorsement deals, Harrison has been engaged in product endorsement deals with brands such as Coca-Cola, Iceberg, Tommy Hilfiger, and Motorola and has appeared in films such as Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004), Shall We Dance? (2004) and Cursed (2005). In 2002, she had a supporting role in the film adaptation of the 1975 Broadway musical Chicago, for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Mýa is currently working on her 6th studio album due this summer and to be released on her own independent label, entitled Planet 9. She’s recently signed a new deal with Young Empire Music Group and slated to release a new mixtape called Beauty & The Streets Vol.1
Evolve
Mýa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was in a shell but I'm breakin out
Ain't go let nobody chain me down
I'm stronger now
You're the reason I'm inspired (yeah)
You thought you left me burnin in the fire
But like a phoenix baby
I'll survive and blaze the sky
Yea
This is my genesis
A total metamorphosis
Didn't think that I could handle this
But you gon' be a witness
Watch me evolve
Through the heartache and pain
From the way you left me
I'll be still here standin
Watch me evolve
Redefine myself before your eyes
Before you know it you won't recognize
This girl 'cause I'll be so out your league (yeah)
By then you'll have a load of regrets
But I won't be tryin to hear it
I'll be over it
Goin through that final stage
Yea
This is my genesis
A total metamorphosis
Didn't think that I could handle this
But you gon' be a witness
Watch me evolve
Through the heartache and pain
From the way you left me
(from the way you left me)
I'll be still here standin
Watch me evolve
Through the passing judgment
All the trials and sufferin
(imma make it through it all)
Imma make it through it all
Watch me evolve
Whoa-ooh-oh (3x)
Watch me evolve
Was in a shell but I've broken out
That was then, this is me now
From a lost one to the found
Watch me evolve
And a few words from the wise
Never ever let 'em see you cry
(never ever let 'em see you cry)
?
Watch me evolve
Through the heartache and pain
(heartache and pain)
From when you left me
(I'm not the same)
I'll be still here standin
Watch me evolve
Through the passing judgment
(whoa-ooh)
All the trials and sufferin
(all the trials and sufferin)
Imma make it through it all
Watch me evolve
No matter what it is
(no matter what it is)
I'll always find a way
(I'll always find a way)
I'm come too far
So I'm gonna say
Watch me evolve
Through the passing judgment
(judgment)
All the trials and sufferin
(all the trials and sufferin)
Imma make it through it all
Watch me evolve
In "Evolve," Mýa talks about a personal transformation that involves breaking away from a painful past and growing into a confident and independent person. She asserts that nobody will chain her down and that she is now stronger than ever. Mýa credits her strength and inspiration to the person who hurt her in the past, implying that she has channeled that pain into positive self-growth. She likens herself to a phoenix rising from the ashes, emphasizing her capacity for resilience and survival. Mýa expresses confidence that her evolution will outstrip her former partner's expectations and that he will regret losing her. The song is an anthem of empowerment and self-determination, encouraging listeners to rise above their struggles and evolve into their best selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Was in a shell but I'm breakin out
I used to be closed-off, but I'm changing and becoming more open
Ain't go let nobody chain me down
I won't let anyone hold me back or limit me
I'm stronger now
I have grown and become stronger
You're the reason I'm inspired (yeah)
You are the reason I am motivated to change and evolve
You thought you left me burnin in the fire
You believed that you had destroyed me emotionally
But like a phoenix baby
But like the mythical bird, I have emerged from what once seemed like destruction
I'll survive and blaze the sky
I will thrive and achieve greatness
Now that you're out of my life
Since you are no longer a part of my life
This is my genesis
This is my beginning or origin of change
A total metamorphosis
A complete transformation
Didn't think that I could handle this
I never believed that I could overcome this challenge
But you gon' be a witness
But you will see me overcome and succeed
Watch me evolve
Witness my growth and change
Through the heartache and pain
Despite the emotional suffering and pain
From the way you left me
From how you ended our relationship
I'll be still here standin
I will persevere and stand strong
Redefine myself before your eyes
I will redefine myself and my identity before you
Before you know it you won't recognize
You won't recognize me because of how much I have grown and overcome
This girl 'cause I'll be so out your league (yeah)
I will have surpassed you in every way and become more successful than you
By then you'll have a load of regrets
By then you will regret underestimating me and leaving me
But I won't be tryin to hear it
But I won't listen to your apologies or regrets
I'll be over it
I will have moved on
Goin through that final stage
Going through the last stage of my transformation
Through the passing judgment
Despite being judged by others
All the trials and sufferin
Through all the difficulties and hardships
Imma make it through it all
I will overcome everything I face
And a few words from the wise
Advice from someone experienced and knowledgeable
Never ever let 'em see you cry
Don't let anyone see your weaknesses or vulnerabilities
Through the passing judgment
Despite being judged by others
Imma make it through it all
I will overcome everything I face
No matter what it is
Regardless of the challenge
I'll always find a way
I will always find a solution or overcome
I'm come too far
I have made too much progress to give up now
Contributed by Cameron O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.