This weeks “UB Soul Friday” spotlights a multi-dimensional songstress Adina Howard.
This year is the 30th Anniversary of Adina Howard‘s debut album “Do You Wanna Ride?” and monster hit “Freak Like Me.”
This week 30 years ago, “Freak Like Me” reached #1 on the Billboard Rhythm/Crossover chart.
Adina Howard is the first lady of UB Soul Friday, being the first female artist spotlighted!
“UB Soul Friday,” spotlighting artists, albums, singles and videos that left a mark in R&B and Soul music!
Adina Marie Howard grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, joining the church choir at age 7. “It kept me focused,” Adina once recalled — “and it kept me from some things I shouldn’t be into.”
At a young age Adina had a curiosity about the world around her that made her both ambitious and restless. “People tell me that even when I was young I would say ‘I’m going to be something,“‘ she laughed. “I don’t remember that. But my mother raised four daughters, and I always felt provided for, and I always felt I could accomplish anything I wanted if I put my mind to it.”
(R&B singer Adina Howard wearing racy low-cut blue leather top w. matching skirt while reclining in deck chair poolside. Photo by John Storey/Getty Images)
She made her career choice early: “My mother used to sing backup for a local R&B group, so she was an inspiration for me,” Adina explained. “I’d hear her singing around the house and I’d be thinking, I’d love to do that.”
Adina‘s other big influence was fellow Michigan native, Betty Wright. “Her song, ‘No Pain, No Gain,’ used to come on the radio all the time. What got me about her was that high note — and she was very blunt.” A quality that was very important to Adina. “I’ve always been aggressive, but it didn’t dawn on me till high school to put that in my music,” she said in her bio. “And that’s when I got the chance to really show what I’m all about.”
Adina was raised by her mother and has three younger sisters. The family later moved to Phoenix, Arizona.
Adina was discovered by producer/manager Livio Harris, of the group 4-Sure. “A lot of people you run into in this business make a lot of promises they can’t keep — if I’d heard that from Livio, I’d have thought, here we go again,” she recalled. “But he never did that — he just worked real hard to get me a deal.”
Adina Howard was the first signing by Mecca Don Records, a new venture distributed by EastWest Records. “Mecca Don believed in me from the minute they received my demo and signed me within a week,” she stated, “Most A&R reps play it safe, but they allowed me to push the limit of what’s acceptable for a female R&B vocalist.”
Max Gousse, who co-owned Mecca Don with partner Roget Romain, stated much of Adina Howard‘s hip-hop/R&B-fused sound was the result of the artist’s own personality. “I would describe her as a West Coast influenced hip-hop/R&B artist – but she’s not in the new jack swing category. She has the attitude of an aggressive female, and her music reflects a more reactionary posture, which is the same thing that hip-hop does. But she’s more than just hip-hop. She can sing.”
The result was the certified gold “Do You Wanna Ride,” originally released February 28th, 1995.
A declaration of independence for strong, fun-loving women everywhere. “I’m representing the aggressive sistas, who aren’t afraid to speak their mind and tell a man what they want,” stated Adina about the release.
The album was led by the platinum single “Freak Like Me,” a sexually defiant, charged-up calling card that redefined the boundaries for female singers in the ’90’s.
(Billboard Magazine)
Written by Mass Order, “they wrote it for me,” she explained. “For my personality. That song is based on me telling a guy, I want a man who can handle me, ’cause that’s the kind of female that I am. I know what pleases me, so l go for it.”
The deceptively silky, West Coast vibe of the title track backs — “Another aggressive song!” exclaimed Adina, laughing at the time. “You know how guys ask, do you wanna ride this? I switch things around and I’m asking the guy. “Do You Wanna Ride” is my declaration that role reversal is a woman’s prerogative.” Adina added more seriously: “I’m not telling people to go out there and have sex. And I wanna say, if you choose to have sex, use protection.”
But there were many other sides to Adina Howard, whose soaring, sultry, expressive voice is at home in an amazing variety of styles.
Example, the vocal skills on her cover of the Rene and Angela classic, “You Don’t Have to Cry,” a duet with Michael Speaks. Or the raw grooves of “You Can Be My Nigga,” withy YoYo.
And then, Adina hit home with the unabashedly straightforward, “Horny For Your Love.” “It’s time,” she said, matter-of-factly, about her attitude, “It’s time for a female to take a stand and really represent her generation and lifestyle. I’m a 90’s woman,” declared Adina Howard. “I’m aggressive. There shouldn’t be a double standard — women can be just as aggressive as men.”
After “Freak Like Me,” the album released two more singles “My Up & Down” and “It’s All About You.”
(MILWAUKEE – JUNE 1995: Singer Adina Howard performs during ‘Jam 4 Peace’ at the Marcus Amphitheatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in June 1995. Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
Adina Howard Talks “Do You Wanna Ride” with UB!
UrbanBridgez.com Take us back to Freak Like Me, do you have any early memories of hearing your music on the radio for the first time? Adina Howard: I do, I remember hearing Freak Like Me for the first time when I was driving down Sunset Blvd. I was listening to the radio and I remember hearing the song and was like this song sounds familiar. And I was like Ayyy, wait (Screams)! This is my song (laughs)! Then I had to quickly pump my breaks because when the song was over I realized it was their make it or break it portion. Then I was like, oh. It’s what do they think about the song? But most of the callers were like this is different, we’ll see if the label promotes and pushes it. So that was basically about it.
UrbanBridgez.com That’s kind of cool also for you to hear your first single ever on the radio and it be a rush it or flush it type of situation, so you can really get opinions. Adina Howard: Exactly, I was like please don’t flush it (laughs).
UrbanBridgez.com That album has so many gems on it, was there any songs on the album you wished were released? Adina Howard: Oh man, let’s see. I haven’t listened to that album in forever.
UrbanBridgez.com Really? Adina Howard: Yeah I don’t listen to my music like that. That’s the one thing I don’t do. I’ll listen to it over and over again when I’m in the midst of recording it. Then pretty much when it’s done so I can critique myself & the music. Then I get really strange because when I record a new song for the project then the one I liked before I’m like I don’t like that one anymore, I like this one better. So I’m weird like that (laughs). I don’t find myself listening to my music much because I don’t record my music for me. So I don’t really get a whole lot out of it.
UrbanBridgez.com Well my favorite was Baby Come Over, that should of been a single. Adina Howard: Really? Wow, okay. Thank you! You know what with that album I don’t know what happened. What’s so interesting is labels tend to have the tendency to think they know what the public wants to hear. So they release what they want to release. Instead of taking the opinion of the public, but I guess if they did that they would be all over the place because not everybody agrees. So they decide to push this one and that one. And the ones that they did was at the time absolutely fine by me. Because they pushed the provocative music. But when they selected the singles they didn’t follow through with the promotion and marketing of it like they did with Freak Like Me. Sometimes what labels do is when they feel they achieved the success off the first single, they think that’s all you need and don’t need the support. So they can kind of just throw stuff at the wall and hope it sticks. So when you fall, then they’re looking at you like you can’t sell anymore. And it’s like no you’re not doing what you did before, don’t be trying to blame that on me shoot. I got the gift, you got the money (both laugh).
Billboard Magazine
UrbanBridgez.com Do You Wanna Ride dropped in 95, what was better about the music industry, compared to how it is now? Adina Howard: I couldn’t even tell you, honestly I couldn’t because it’s all the same to me at this point. The difference between then and now is the technology. I learned my lesson because I use to say independent labels are more compact and they’ll be able to focus on you more & push your project. Only to realize they’re not as good because they do not have the machine like the major has. All of their contacts and what not, they’re ineffective. So at the end of the day you need a label that supports you 100%, has the contacts, has the financial backing that’s needed for the pay to play. Because if you don’t have the money to pay these radio stations to play your music you can forget about it. Again I love technology, to a certain degree today because it’s a blessing and a curse. But internet radio and satellite radio are good, but they will never add up to what traditional radio is. Because not everybody can afford satellite radio and on top of that you have so many got darn stations and when it comes to internet radio again it’s so many of them & just anybody can put a internet radio station together. So it’s not like it’s a huge catalyst for artist like that.
UrbanBridgez.com Yeah, because spins can’t be tracked that way. Adina Howard: Exactly!
UrbanBridgez.com From that album what was the best part about the success and what was the worst part? Adina Howard: The best part about being successful with that album was being able to travel to certain parts of the world that I would have never seen if I hadn’t had that opportunity. The worst part and I really won’t say it was the worst part but the challenging part about that project was not getting paid for it. I’ve never seen a royalty check, everybody else got paid and is still getting paid off of me. I don’t know where my money is till this day because they hid it so well. But it’s cool…
UrbanBridgez.com Wow, Karma, Karma will come to them all. Adina Howard: Man! She’s a beast and she don’t play!
UrbanBridgez.com: You’re coming up on the 25th anniversary of your debut. What would Adina now, tell Freak Like Me Adina? Adina Howard: You know what’s so funny. Is this question when they say what would you tell your 20 something self today. You know there is so much stuff I would tell myself. But hindsight is 20/20. But would where I be where I am today and be quote unquote relevant or even here. Had I not made the choices I’ve made to get me to this point. So it’s very difficult, because I can say that I would tell myself back then to talk less and listen more. Watch what you say in front of people. Save your money, get a little more into writing an producing and so forth. I would say all of that to myself.
Adina Howard was an act on the BET Tour, which featured the Bad Boy Family, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, and Naughty By Nature. The tour kicked off in October of 1995 in our own Twin Cities.
Adina kept busy between albums contributing to a string of hit soundtrack albums.
Among them was a duet with Somethin’ for the People, “Damned If I Do,” on the soundtrack for “A Thin Line Between Love And Hate,” the catchy “For The Funk,” on the platinum-plus “Sunset Park,” and a duet with Warren G. on the platinum “Supercop” soundtrack, a remake of the late great Tina Turner‘s “What’s Love got To Do With It.”
(NEW YORK, NEW YORK–APRIL 10: Adina Howard performs at Tramps on April 10, 1995 in New York City. Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
As a host of streetwise femme fatales followed in her wake, 1997 found the chameleon-like Adina reinventing herself once again, fueling her sophomore effort, “Welcome To Fantasy Island,” with cool funk and sultry ballads, but delivering with the finesse of a veteran.
Featuring the lead single, “(Freak) And U Know It,” produced by DJ Quik.
Adina was even more conscious of the buttons she was pushing out there. “I had a lot more creative control on this record,” she said of the second album. “On the last one, being a new artist meant I had to seek a lot of different advice and learn a lot. On this one I got to say: “yes, no, and maybe?”
Adina devoured the material on the second album, pointing out that the songs fitted her like a glove. “I got to hand-pick everything and I feel the songs really represent a part of my personality, each in a different way,” she laughed. “I’m a lot more multi-dimensional than people might know.”
Like another controversial female pop icon; Madonna – Adina matched her fierce explorations of sexuality with the unmistakable authorship of someone in total possession of their own destiny.
And she did it with a streetwise flair that wasn’t pilfered from fashion magazines. “I’ve created a lot of drama, that’s true. But I’m aware of what I’m doing. For me it’s OK to get people comfortable with their sexuality. It’s OK for a woman to love her body and still respect herself. I’m a strong woman and I champion other strong women. Human nature is fascinating to me. I was thinking at one point in my life of being a psychologist. I also studied criminal justice. Our mind and our bodies are still mysterious in a lot of ways.”
She had collaborations on her new album, inviting a host of friends and producers to add to the chemistry of the spirited, funk infested Diva cocktail, brewed specifically to Adina‘s eclectic tastes.
The sexy “Crank Me Up,” featured then labelmate Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott. Adina co-wrote and co-produced the track, which in Adina‘s words, was about “taking oneself higher both mentally and physically.”
A special guest appearance by one of our favorites, Bizzy Bone from the multi-platinum Bone Thugs & Harmony on “Personal Freak,” another album highlight. The track captures the sizzling chemistry between the two.
Another trademark Adina single, actually came from a surprise source. The playful “T-Shirts & Panties,” features actor/comedian Jamie Foxx, who co-wrote the song with Billy Moss. The song was also featured on the “Woo” soundtrack, starring Jamie Foxx.
“This one might raise some eyebrows,” she stated at the time. “It’s funny that people have problems with lyrics sometimes. I think there is a double standard when it comes to women. In this country we glorify women and their bodies, even on television. In movies you get the double standard of seeing the woman’s body during a nude scene but seldom that man. I’m singing about it. So what’s the problem? With this album I’m straightforward about all the aspects of my personality. There are a lot of women out there who think like me, who are strong, but don’t have a voice.”
The album was shelved by Sylvia Rhone and Elektra and later released via Rhino Records in 2021.
In 2010, Adina enrolled in Culinary school, temporarily putting her singing career on hold to pursue her passion for cooking. While she was working towards her Associate’s degree in Culinary arts, she worked as a line cook at a Triple-A Four Diamond Resort in Chandler, AZ.
In August 2011, Adina officially became a chef.
Resuming her singing career in 2013, Adina released “Switch” which was to be the lead single off of her studio album, “The Switch Up.”
The single won “Best Dance/Club Single of the Year” in our yearly UB Honors in 2013. “First I want to say thank y’all for my first award! I’m just saying,” Adina told UB in 2019. “I was so stoked, I was like yes I finally won something (laughs).”
Aside from singing and songwriting, Adina has appeared in independent films such as “Casanova’s Demise,” “Poke the Sleeping Bear” (Winner of Best Short, 2008 Solstice Film Festival) and the “Relaxer.”
Plus she appeared in the stage plays “Man of God”, ”Do You Trust Your Best Friend” and the stage reading “For All My Girls.”
Adina Howard has evolved as a woman and an artist.
With her album “Resurrection” in 2017, she sampled “Freak Like Me” on the single “Nasty.”
Her socially conscience lead single “Blasphemy” was the nostalgic cadence of Lift Every Voice/Black American National Anthem woven into the melody. The urban battle cry encourages one to wake up and recognize the God within.
Adina Howard has been able to garner both male and female fans indicates she’s touching a nerve out there. “I want to be multi-faceted. I want people to respect my success, but I also want to be free to be who I am. I’m talking about projects beyond the music business, as well. One of the things I hope to do some day is open up a homeless shelter. It’s always been one of my goals. I also have thought about living outside of this country for awhile, I’ve thought about Japan or Europe. I love it here but I want to explore other cultures.”
Always willing to experiment, Adina has never been limited by boundaries, especially self imposed ones.
After a period away from the spotlight, Adina made a return in 2022 with “Keep Lookin.’”
(CHICAGO – FEBRUARY 1995: Singer Adina Howard signs autographs at Pepmo’s Music World in Chicago, Illinois in February 1995. Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
Adina is also a successful entrepreneur, launching her own wine brand, Indelible. It reflects her artistic vision and passion for quality.
By openly embracing her sensuality and challenging traditional expectations of women in R&B, Adina paved the way for future generations of artists such as; Megan Thee Stallion, Teyana Taylor and Chloe Bailey, who continue to push the boundaries and celebrate female empowerment.
This month Adina Howard released her new single “I Overstand” via Indelible Enterprises/Taylor Mayde Ent, on her official website. Check out the single with an Introduction from Adina!
UB has Interviewed Adina Howard Multiple Times, Check Out Some of Our Favorite Quotes!
2014 | UrbanBridgez.com: I know you’re working on The Switch Up project, tell us what we can expect from it when it drops? Adina Howard: The Switch Up (laughs). Me switching it up technically, is the reason why I named it The Switch Up. Since it’s been a long time since people have gotten new music from me, I wanted to make sure that I gave them something fresh. Something that would differ from what they’re use to.
UrbanBridgez.com: Do you have an estimated time you plan to have it released? Adina Howard: Not at this moment, but we do know it will be this year for sure. Interesting thing is when you set dates, they tend to change up on you. Life happens, so when life happens you have to adjust.
UrbanBridgez.com: Will there be another single before then? Adina Howard: Yes, we’re looking at what the label will continue to do to promote Switch. Even though it came out in September, we didn’t really get the push it should have. A lot of it has to do with the video, then the other aspect is it really getting pushed at radio. It’s one thing to have internet radio, but at the end of the day people still love traditional radio. There’s nothing like traditional radio even though we have satellite and internet radio. When you’re sitting at your desk or in your car, you have accessible to you traditional radio. Not the technology that we have today.
UrbanBridgez.com: You updated fans recently with your Life After episode, were you happy with the ending result & what aired? Adina Howard: I was pleasantly surprised. I was very very pleased with how they put it all together.
UrbanBridgez.com: How was the shoot for that very iconic (but under-seen) “Welcome to Fantasy Island” cover? Adina Howard: I loved it! I love snakes, so to be around that particular one. I thought it was amazing and absolutely beautiful. I would do it all over again.
UrbanBridgez.com: Can you tell us some of your favorite songs you’ve recorded? Adina Howard: Closer off of the new album, What Do I Do from the UK compilation Independent Soul Divas 2 and T-Shirt and Panties.
UrbanBridgez.com: What dream artists would you love to collaborate with? Adina Howard: There are so many I would love to collaborate with. I think one of mine would be Tech N9ne, he’s so fly to me and so underrated.
UrbanBridgez.com: There would be so much energy on that track. Adina Howard: I know! You have to out it out there for me.
UrbanBridgez.com: For sure! Do you prefer touring overseas or in the United States more? Adina Howard: I prefer Overseas. More money, but the fans really appreciate American artists a lot more than American’s appreciate their own. It just always seems to be that way. You know how when you’re from some place, they’re like, she ain’t no big deal. Or I went to school with him, he’s not all of that. So it’s not that appreciation that exists like it does overseas. Like when you’re in a Foreign Land, they’re like Oh My God! We love you so much, and appreciate you.
UrbanBridgez.com: “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” was a pretty big hit for you as well. How was it like grooving with the famous Jackie Chan in the video? Adina Howard: It was different. He wasn’t that personable, I don’t know if it was my energy or where he was at the time in his career. It was cool to work with him but it was one of those things where it wasn’t the most mind blowing thing.
UrbanBridgez.com: Any plans to do some more acting in the future? Adina Howard: I would love love love to do more acting. I especially have a desire to do theater. So that is something that I would love to do.
UrbanBridgez.com: With the experience of having a daughter now, have you thought about having more children? Adina Howard: Wow, you know what having my 14 year old is a beautiful experience. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. My husband and I are working on bringing a baby in the world. My 14 year old is my step-daughter, so I haven’t actually given birth to kids. I know people are mind blown by that, like how you a freak like me and have never been pregnant (both laugh). It’s called contraception, if you don’t want babies you can sure avoid them.
2019 | Adina Howard: First I want to say thank y’all for my first award! I’m just saying. (2013 UB Honor winner of Best Dance/Club Single of The Year for the single “Switch.”)
UrbanBrigez.com: Our pleasure, it was so well deserved. Adina Howard: I was so stoked, I was like yes I finally won something (laughs).
UrbanBridgez.com: Where did the inspiration for Blasphemy come from? I love that song. Adina Howard: Thank you! It was looking at what’s going on in society with our people.
I mean we’ve come such a long way and to fall so far behind, is really sad to me. The lack of comradery and lack of unity & compassion. The respect for one another is what provoked that song. I grew up in a era where we came together more often than not. We supported each other, more often than not. We were a community, we were a neighborhood, we looked out for one another. We had parents and neighbors who looked out for other parents children. You know what I mean. I literally grew up in an era where we knocked on the door and asked to borrow sugar. So to be able to do that and someone willing to open the door and loan you something and not have a problem with it. In return it was the same thing. To look at where we came from and to be where we are today, it’s a sad state of affairs. I thought that Blasphemy would be very appropriate to express that.
UrbanBridgez.com: Tell us about any memorable moments you had when sharing your story for this Unsung episode. Adina Howard: For me it has to be, having my 92-year old Grandmother on the show.
UrbanBridgez.com: What do you want people to get out of the episode of Unsung, after knowing your story? Adina Howard: I really want people to get a clear understanding of who I actual am. Where I’ve been and why I’m still here.
UrbanBridgez.com: What does Unsung mean to you? Adina Howard: It means being able to tell my story. To get out there, to end speculation and to hear from people who actually know what happened. So for me it brings clarity and understanding.
UrbanBridgez.com: There’s a story about Brandy in the episode. I don’t want to give it away for those not aware. But I do want to ask, your thoughts on Brandy and or her music today? Adina Howard: You know, I don’t have any thoughts on Brandy. But I will say this, I think she is a very talented young woman. I’ve always loved her voice and the past is exactly that.
UrbanBridgez.com: You really did set a tone in the industry with with sexual lyrics and image at that time. Were you ever afraid in the beginning of how it would be perceived by the masses? Adina Howard: Those who matter, don’t mind. And those who matter, don’t mind. So no for what, why would I be scared? I was bullied in school as a child. So what I learned in that process of being bullied that it doesn’t matter what people think about you. Because no matter what there is always going to be someone in this world that doesn’t like you. So to go out into the world fearing what people will think, is setting yourself up to have anxiety. There just are people that no matter what you do and how you do it, just are not going to like you. So to that, I say fuck em.
UrbanBridgez.com: Resurrection is such a solid body of work, what was you goal when you set out to record what is now considered your return LP? Adina Howard: To just do music that I love and to express my creativity. To do it in this day and age and in a manner in which I could do it without having others telling me how I should do it. So I was allowed to operate outside of the box.
UrbanBridgez.com: How did T-Shirt & Panties come about? Adina Howard: Jamie approached me about the situation. We were in the studio and I think he just thought that song would be appropriate for Adina Howard. You know being I was saying be a freak like me (laughs). Jamie approached me in the studio while I was working with a gentleman name Billy Moss. He just really went over to the keys and was like hey I got this song idea an it goes like this. Then he sang some of it, because it wasn’t completely finished. When I heard what I heard, I said get it done and send it my way. Within two to three days, the song was done and I fell in love with it.
UrbanBridgez.com: Like us all! Adina Howard: Right! (both laugh)
UrbanBridgez.com: You’re doing a lot of spot dates with some more heavy hitters of the 90s. How have those shows been going for you? Adina Howard: Amazing! Its nice to be on stage and share it with family. To see them and to see how they’re all prospering and growing. I don’t have time to be hating on folks.
UrbanBridgez.com: Chef Adina Howard, I have to know what is your favorite dish to cook? Adina Howard: Oh my gosh, you know it’s very hard to say. Because I just like to cook and feed people. So more often than not I just cook to feed people and make their favorite dish.
UrbanBridgez.com: What’s next for Adina Howard? Adina Howard: Movies, music an television. new music is coming this year. I definitely want to do more theater. More of a Broadway type situation. Books and inspirational speaking as well. That’s something that I truly desire to do. I have a passion for speaking to people and uplifting. So that’s on the menu for the future.
Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with “Do You Wanna Ride?”
