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Adina Howard: The Original Freak Who Redefined R&B Sex Appeal
Written By: Jewels Alexandria
(3 Minute Read)
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Adina Howard was the original freak. She put the sex in sex appeal and made R&B music unapologetically naughty. Her seductive dance moves and curvy body inspired countless women to embrace their inner desires—and drove men absolutely wild. When I think of the ’90s Freaknik, I imagine her debut hit Freak Like Me blasting from every woman’s Jeep Wrangler, or T-Shirt & Panties setting the mood before every late-night sensual encounter.
She was the soundtrack many ’90s kids weren’t allowed to listen to—let alone watch her music videos. The album cover for Do You Wanna Ride? was so provocative, I’m sure many teenage boys had their own fun with it. If you ever wonder what the ’90s really felt like, just play a song by Adina Howard.
The ’90s felt like outdoor barbecues, summer every day, pool parties, sunny afternoons with an easy breeze, and a dope track playing in the background. You just had to be there.
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Howard paved the way for female R&B vocalists by boldly singing about more than just love or heartbreak. She wasn’t afraid to express her strong desire for sex—subjects rarely heard from R&B women on the radio back then. As she once said, “I had a sex drive like a teenage boy.”
Many women hid their cravings, fearing the label “hoe.” But not Adina. She made it cool. She said exactly what she wanted to ensure satisfaction—and what she would not tolerate. If that isn’t woman empowerment, I don’t know what is.
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Thirty years later, R&B singers like Jhené Aiko and Jazmine Sullivan, unafraid to showcase their own sexual appetite, are clearly carrying the torch from Adina’s book, exuding confidence in every lyric.
Now, at 51, Adina Howard is still performing her classic tracks and unapologetically displaying the same sexual energy that drove men crazy decades ago. She even released an album in 2017 titled Resurrection. Her hit singles continue to play at many Black events, cementing her legacy as one of the best.
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Here are your flowers, Ms. Howard.
August 21, 2025