Sexual expression was becoming a common theme among R&B artists in the ’90s. When you look back on it, one could say it helped shaped the genre. Hits such as R.Kelly’s “Bump n Grind,” H-Town’s “Knocking da Boots,” Silk’s “Freak Me,” and Jodeci’s “Freakn’ You,” among others, backs the claim. The freak bug even bit clean-image, Boys II Men (“Uhh, Ahh”). However, no one expressed their sexuality for the ladies like Adina Howard.
In 1995, Adina Howard stepped onto the scene with her sexual-induced debut, Do You Wanna Ride? The album cover consists of Adina bend over in front of a Mercedes, providing a visual for her question. You were delusional if you thought “You Got Me Humpin’,” the opening track, wouldn’t give off the same vibe.
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“Freak Like Me,” the following track, was the freak jam of 1995. By the end of the year, every guy was popping the big question: “one to the two, two the two, two the three; Adina do you wanna get freaky with me?” Not to their girlfriends of course. Or maybe they were. Case and point: the song was infectious.
If banging West Coast beats and the album’s title was the main layout, it’s safe to say Adina stuck to the blueprint. But by no means was the whole project the Freaknik in album form. In “If We Made Love Tonight,” Adina is at a crossroads: should she sacrifice a friendship for a courtship? She lends a shoulder to cry on in the Rene & Angela remake, “You Don’t Have to Cry.”
“You Can Be My Nigga,” in my opinion, could have easily been a response to 2Pac’s “Ratha Be Ya Nigga.” But adding the females terms and conditions.
Do You Wanna Ride? was promoted by two other singles, “My Up & Down” and “It’s All About You.” However, they didn’t have the same impact. Nevertheless, the album still impressively peaked at number 39 and 7 on the US Billboard and R&B/Hip-Hop, respectively.
Judging by Adina’s hit, “Freak Like Me” and her album cover, she’s perceived as an insatiable songstress. While simultaneously using her contralto vocals to sing about sexual songs as if they were love ballads. However, listening to her album in it’s entirety tells a different tale. She’s the West Coast home girl from around the way that just so happens to have a high sex drive. Unfortunately, that was a major contributor to her being pigeonholed. Sadly, those straight-forward type of sexual songs doesn’t age well.
But let’s get back to the original question. Do You Wanna Ride?
With Adina?
Yes!
Adina Howard’s ‘Do You Wanna Ride?’; Classic, Jammin’, Regular, or Not Impressed?
Jammin’ – 67%
Classic! – 33%
Not Impressed – 0%
Regular – 0%
