The singer cited a lack of label support and financial funding for her previous albums Fantasy Ride (2009) and Basic Instinct (2010).

Reid is credited with discovering Ciara in 2003 along with signing her to his LaFace Records label and executive-producing her debut studio album, Goodies (2004).

[9] According to the Los Angeles Times' Gerrick Kennedy, the lack of commercial success with Basic Instinct was attributable to multiple pushbacks, and the leaking of material from the album's recording sessions.

[9] In February 2011, Ciara revealed that her relationship with her record label was not on positive terms; Jive had not properly financial supported Fantasy Ride or Basic Instinct.

Ciara self-funded some of the albums promotions, including her last single "Gimmie Dat" and in the end wrote a public letter asking to be released from her record obligations.

[12] Reid had previously signed Ciara to LaFace at the start of her career, and played a role in executively producing her debut album Goodies (2004).

[21] When interviewed by Rap-Up TV, Jerkins said "I had a meeting with her about what her future holds and I told her I was there if she ever needed my creative juices, so hopefully me and her get in the studio and work.

There's a lot of angst and edge in Ciara's music and we've tried to be really conceptual and write things that haven't been done before and real strong women empowerment songs.

"[23] Along with The Underdogs (Harvey Mason and Damon Thomas), the duo wrote the album's original title track "One Woman Army".

Speaking about Minaj's version on the song, Ciara said "The energy of the record is so dope, and it's really for the ladies, and Nicki she just killed the verse.

"[28] Spin and Idolator described the album as an updated version of crunk&B,[2] a sound that Ciara was familiar with in 2004, and contained my pop moments.

"[39]On June 4, 2012, Ciara began the album campaign for One Woman Army with the premiere of "Sweat", featuring American rapper 2 Chainz.

[52] The song's accompanying music video, which was directed by Joseph Kahn, premiered on the Sony JumboTron in Times Square in New York City on October 25, 2012.

"[58] The album opens with "I'm Out", a "crystalline" rhythmic pop ladies' anthem, which features American rapper Nicki Minaj.

Other pop songs on the album include the Wynter Gordon-penned "Livin' It Up", which was described by Billboard as a "feel-good track" that "infuses island flavors."

[38] The Rodney Jerkins-produced "Read My Lips" features a 1980s-inspired synthpop production with a sing-along chorus, whilst "Sophomore" is "sexy-but-aggressive [and] grown-as-fuck.

[62] Several days later, Ciara previewed songs at an album listening party for industry executives and a variety of internet bloggers in New York City.

[64][65] On August 20, 2012, Epic Records sent an exclusive playlist of songs to Cosmopolitan magazine which contained the album's ninth track, "Livin' It Up", sans Minaj's vocals.

Ciara went on to premiere the album's eighth track, "Super Turnt Up", on California radio station, Power 106, on June 7, 2013.

[69] She headlined the Los Angeles Gay Pride festival on June 9, 2013, performing several songs, including past hits "Goodies" (2004) and "Ride" (2010), and lead single, "Body Party".

She made an appearance at the Grammy Recording Academy and performed acoustic versions of the songs "Read My Lips", "DUI", and "Overdose".

The single was well received by music critics who praised its "smooth R&B beat,"[80] while noting it as "legitimately clever" and comparing it to the work of Prince and R.

The song became Ciara's first Top twenty-five hit on the former chart since her 2009 single "Love Sex Magic" with Justin Timberlake.

The song's official remix, featuring B.o.B and Future, was released as a digital download in May 2013,[84] and is included on physical editions of the album.

[96] He also felt that the features from Nicki Minaj were welcome in a time where artists like Rihanna had maligned Ciara's previous work as commercial failures.

[96] Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times found "Keep on Lookin'" and "I'm Out" to be particular highlights, saying the rest of the album had a mellow sound compared to those tracks; he ultimately praised Ciara for not playing it safe, however, seeing her adventurous with both lyrics and production.

"[6] Pitchfork Media's Tim Finney felt that Ciara improves the songs with her charisma and wrote that her "uncomplicated exhilaration raises the straightforward, 2013 carbon dated club-pop of 'Livin' It Up' and 'Overdose' from throwaway to highlight status, their obviousness transformed into a virtue through the singer's palpable enjoyment.

[94] At USA Today, Steve Jones said that "bass-fueled club bangers and libido-driven ballads tend to hit their mark but ultimately, don't leave a lasting impression.

"[105] The Boston Globe's Ken Capobianco criticized the album for "missing a unique lyrical or musical vision", further elaborating, "we've heard these tropes before," and concluding their review that "now deep into her career, the real Ciara still proves elusive.

"[106] Jon Carmanica of The New York Times found the production "vivid", but felt that Ciara's voice lacks personality and said that she sounds monotonous throughout the album.