Adina Howard

Adina Howard
Born November 14, 1974
Origin Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Genres R&B, hip hop
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, restaurateur
Years active 1994–present
Labels Mecca Don/EastWest Records (1994-1997)
Mecca Don/Elektra Records (1997-1998)
Rufftown Records (2003-2005)
Arsenal Records (2006-2008)
Monarchy Records (2013-2014)
SMG/Sony Red (2014-)
Website AdinaHoward.com
Adina Howard Twitter

Adina Howard (born November 14, 1974) is an American singer, and songwriter[1] She rose to fame during the mid-1990s with her debut album, Do You Wanna Ride? and her debut single, "Freak Like Me." Howard is known for her sexual image and provocative songs. Some of her other minor hits include "What's Love Got To Do With It?" (w/Warren G), "(Freak) And U Know It," "Nasty Grind," "Freaks" (w/Play-N-Skillz & Krayzie Bone) and "T-Shirt & Panties" (with Jamie Foxx).

Career

Do You Wanna Ride? and the hit success of "Freak Like Me"

Her debut album Do You Wanna Ride?, featuring the Platinum-certified hit single, "Freak Like Me," was released in 1995 and was certified Gold by the RIAA. Her follow-up singles included "My Up and Down" (#32 R&B, #68 Hot 100) and "It's All About You" (#58 R&B).

In 1996, she collaborated with Warren G for the Police Story 3: Super Cop soundtrack with the single "What's Love Got to Do with It" which featured a sample of the Tina Turner hit. The single was another hit for the two, peaking at #36 on the Hot 100, #32 on R&B, and #2 on the UK charts. The music video also featured Jackie Chan in a cameo. Also that year, she collaborated on a track with Somethin' for the People titled "Damned If I Do" which appeared on the soundtrack for A Thin Line Between Love and Hate as well as their self-titled debut album. She also recorded the track "For the Funk" for the Sunset Park soundtrack.

Welcome to Fantasy Island and acting

In 1997, she geared up for the release of her second album, Welcome to Fantasy Island (originally titled Portrait of a Lady).[2][3] It garnered critical raves and a moderate hit with the lead single, "(Freak) And U Know It," but was shelved by Elektra Records in 1997. The album was leaked to the internet a few years later and promotional copies sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay.

One of the shelved album's tracks, "T-Shirt & Panties" (a collaboration with Jamie Foxx) ended up on a soundtrack the following year. It was originally slated for the soundtrack to his film Booty Call but it eventually ended up on the soundtrack to the 1998 feature film Woo. It was released promotionally as a single, and the remix featured Cam'ron and Charli Baltimore.

Also this year, she collaborated with Cydal on a track titled "Chocolate (Cuties & Condoms)" which was released as a single for the Bulletproof soundtrack. The track was also included on their debut album Cydalwayz the following year.

During this time, she made her feature film debut in the independent film High Freakquency, starring Deon Richmond and John Witherspoon.

In 2002, she filmed her second movie role, in the still-unreleased Casanova's Demise for director Tigre Hill.[4]

New label and The Second Coming

By 2004, Howard released her third album The Second Coming on Rufftown Records. A video for the first single, "Nasty Grind", played on BET during early morning hours. The album sold poorly due to lack of promotion and only managed to gather 40,000 copies on store shelves and she was later sued by the label.[5] A second single, "(Outside) The Club" was slated to be released, along with a remix album The Second Coming: Remixed & UnCut but both were cancelled following her departure from the label.

Later that year, she collaborated with Play-N-Skillz and Krayzie Bone for the track "Freaks" which sampled her hit single "Freak Like Me." The single appeared on the Play-N-Skillz album The Process and became a hit, peaking at #52 R&B and #69 on the Hot 100 (her first-charting single in 7 years).

She released an official mixtape album (with DJ RIP) featuring new songs, remixes, and unreleased tracks titled Let You Hit through SoundJewelz.com on August 5, 2005.[6]

Private Show

In 2006, she announced that a new single "Phone Sex" was going to be released, but the following year, the song "L.O.V.A." was released digitally as her lead single. Additionally, a song titled "Hips" was announced to be her second single. Also in 2007, she released a jewelry line titled "Vixen Vintage."[7]

Her fourth album, Private Show was delayed many times by Arsenal Records, almost to the point of being shelved.[8] However, it was released on June 26, 2007 along with a promotional single "Picture This." As of 2008, the album has sold 4,000+ copies.[9] Following the album's release, a remixes EP for "My Hips" (appears as "Hips" on her album) was released on iTunes & other digital services in December.[10] A third official single, "Tease" was slated to be released, but as Howard parted ways with the label shortly after the album's release, it was cancelled.

In 2008, she appeared in the short film Poke the Sleeping Bear which won the Grand Jury Award at the 2008 Solstice Film Festival.[11]

On September 25, 2009 a UK compilation Independent Soul Divas 2 was released on Lola Waxx Records. This compilation album featured "What Do I Do," a song recorded by Howard in 2008. The album version is different than the version that was originally included on Howard's MySpace page.

Culinary school, marriage to date

In 2011, she started work on her Culinary Arts degree, a cookbook, a new album and a restaurant in Austin, Texas.[12] She graduated from the Le Cordon Bleu with an Associates in Culinary Arts in October 2012.[13][14]

In 2012, Howard released two buzz singles online: "2 Close" and "Ooh Wee." She collaborated with rapper Ruffa on the track "I Want You" for his Coming to America album which was released on July 31, 2012.[15]

On January 16, 2013, Howard wrote on her Twitter account that her new single "Better Than Ever" would be released soon.[16][17] She premiered a snippet of the single on January 28 on her official YouTube page.[18] A longer version premiered on March 6 on the mixtape DJ Jump Off's R&B Madness Volume 4.[19]

Additionally, she signed a new record deal with Monarchy Records in April 2013.[20][21] She also filmed an episode of TV One's Life After in April,[22] and it is set to premiere during the Fall 2013 season on October 2.[23] In July, she announced that she will be releasing an EP next, ahead of her forthcoming fifth studio album.[24]

On December 3, 2013 it was announced that Howard be the resident chef on Wednesday nights at Michael's Cafe and Supper Club in Phoenix, Arizona.[25][26] She completed her run at the end of December.[27]

In June 2014, it was announced that Howard had landed the lead role of April in Derrell Lawrence's touring stage play "Do You Trust Your Best Friend?" and is set to make her stage debut in October in Washington, DC.[28] She later confirmed that her role had been changed to Olivia in the play.[29]

She announced in November 2014 that she signed a new label deal with SMG/Sony Red[30] in addition to news of a new single "Bad 4 Me" set for release in December.[31] Howard is also set to appear on Centric's new docu-series "Being" in early 2015.[32]

She released a cover of Amy Winehouse's "Love is a Losing Game" in January 2015 to media outlets.[33]

A documentary,[34] Adina Howard 20: A Story of Sexual Liberation will be released on May 6, 2015.[35]

Currently she is asking fans for donations to cover video and promotion cost for her new single "Bad 4 Me". CLICK ON LINK TO DONATE: http://www.gofundme.com/mk6o2o?fb_action_ids=10204963880754498&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_ref=undefined&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B842384209137261%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.shares%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%22undefined%22%5D

Personal life

She announced in mid-2011 that she got engaged and that fans could attend the wedding engagement party.[36] She married Sherman Jordan on October 3, 2011.[37]

In January 2013, she stated that she has a daughter.[38] In a radio interview in July 2013, she mentioned her daughter is 14 years old[39] and is from her husband's previous relationship.[40]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1995 Do You Wanna Ride? 39 7
  • US: 1,300,000+
 Platinum
1997 Welcome To Fantasy Island
  • Released: Unreleased
  • Label: Mecca Don/EastWest Records
 — — — —
2004 The Second Coming — 61
  • US: 47,000
 —
2007 Private Show — — —
2015 The Switch Up — — — —

Mixtapes

Year Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
2005 Let You Hit
  • Released: August 5, 2005
  • Label: SoundJewelz.com
  • Format: CD
 — — — —
2013 Welcome to Fantasy Island
  • Released: May 19, 2013
  • Label: DatPiff.com
  • Format: Digital
 — — — —

Singles

Year Title US US R&B UK Singles Chart[41] Album
1995 "Freak Like Me" 2 2 33
Do You Wanna Ride?
"My Up and Down" 68 32 -
"It's All About You" - 58 -
1996 "What's Love Got to Do with It" (with Warren G) 32 36 2 Supercop soundtrack
1997 "Chocolate (Cuties & Condoms)" (with Cydal) - - - Bulletproof Soundtrack
"(Freak) And U Know It" 70 32 -
Welcome to Fantasy Island
"T-Shirt & Panties" (with Jamie Foxx) - - -
Woo Soundtrack
2003 "Nasty Grind" - 95 -
The Second Coming
2004 "Freaks" (with Play-N-Skillz & Krayzie Bone) 69 52 - The Process
2007 "L.O.V.A." - - -
Private Show
"Hips"/"My Hips" (Re-Release) - - -
2013 "Switch" - - -
The Switch Up
2015 "Bad 4 Me" - - -

Videography

Year Title Director
1995 "Freak Like Me" Hype Williams
"Freak Like Me (Slow Wind Remix)"
"My Up and Down"
"It's All About You" ABoyNamedFuture
1996 "What's Love Got to Do With It?" (with Warren G) Joseph Kahn
1997 "[Freak] And U Know It" Francis Lawrence
2003 "Nasty Grind"

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1998 High Freakquency Adina Film debut
2002 Casanova's Demise Sonia Unreleased Film
2008 Poke the Sleeping Bear Rolanda Winner of Best Short at 2008 Solstice Film Festival
2013 Life After Herself (2 Episodes "Adina Howard" "CeCe Peniston") Docu-Series
2015 Being Herself Docu-Series
Adina Howard 20: A Story of Sexual Liberation Herself Documentary

Stage

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2004 A Man of God Sarah[42] Stage debut
2014 Do You Trust Your Best Friend Olivia[43] Originally scheduled to play April[44]

Awards and nominations

Year Result Award Category Work
2013 WIN[1] UB Honors Best Dance/Club Single of the Year
Switch
2014 Nominated[45] Shorty Awards Singer

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/2013/12/18/ub-honors-2013-and-the-winners-are/
  2. ↑ Takiff, Jonathan. "Entertainment & the Arts | June Tunies - The Month's New Cds Include En Vogue, K.D. Lang - And More | Seattle Times Newspaper". Community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  3. ↑ Billboard - Google Books. Books.google.com. 1997-05-03. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  4. ↑ "Dan Gross | 'Judge Alex' takes case". Philly.com. 2007-01-24. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  5. ↑ "RnB Fan Fic - Adina Howard Bein' Sued!". Rnbfanfic.proboards.com. 2005-02-24. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "News about Adina Howard from". Tabs-database.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  8. ↑ "News | 'Freak Like Me' R&B Singer Adina Howard Releases New CD". Singersroom. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Caulfield, Keith. "Ask Billboard: Michael Jackson, Adina Howard, The Beatles". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "Poke the Sleeping Bear (2008)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  12. ↑ Odienne Dina Chisolm (2011-09-30). "Then and Now Interview With Singer Adina Howard | Juicy Magazine". Juicymagonline.com. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  13. ↑ "Twitter / adinahoward: My graduation ceremony is Oct". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  14. ↑ "Twitter / adinahoward: Me and some of my former". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  15. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Coming to America by Ruffa". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  16. ↑ "The Queen of Seduction Adina Howard debut new Music 03/09 by LOTLRADIO THE QUIET STORM". Blog Talk Radio. 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  17. ↑ "TUESDAY Ladies Night - with Guest Adina Howard 03/13 by NexxLegacy". Blog Talk Radio. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  18. ↑ "Better Than Ever Snippet.wmv". YouTube. 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  19. ↑ "Various Artists - R&b Madness Vol. 4 Hosted by DJ J-BOOGIE & DJ JUMP OFF // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  20. ↑ "Platinum Selling Recording Artist Adina Howard Joins Monarchy Records". PRLog. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  21. ↑ "Twitter / adinahoward: Hello beautiful people. Wanted". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  22. ↑ "Twitter / banananosekid: @adinahoward Hey hon. I'm doing". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  23. ↑ "News | Adina Howard, Shirley Murdock Tapped For 5th Season of 'Life After'". Singersroom. 2013-08-15. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  24. ↑ "Twitter / adinahoward: @jayhawkpr1de Absolutely, but". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  25. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=619854084742866&set=a.210049275723351.51626.195595933835352&type=1
  26. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/events/186283178241513/?ref=22
  27. ↑ https://twitter.com/adinahoward/status/429416094986928128
  28. ↑ http://instagram.com/p/pMXVzVMtLv/
  29. ↑ https://twitter.com/adinahoward/status/514121116349374464
  30. ↑ https://twitter.com/adinahoward/status/532687299587629056
  31. ↑ https://twitter.com/adinahoward/status/532678084269707265
  32. ↑ https://twitter.com/adinahoward/status/530775897914503168
  33. ↑ http://www.centrictv.com/music/articles/2015/01/26/adina-howard-covers-amy-winehouse-s-love-is-a-losing-game.html
  34. ↑ http://saintheron.com/news/new-documentary-revisits-adina-howards-legacy/
  35. ↑ https://twitter.com/RebelLifeMedia/status/562271157823758337
  36. ↑ "Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  37. ↑ "Gift Registry - Bed Bath & Beyond". Bedbathandbeyond.com. 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  38. ↑ "Twitter / adinahoward: Just finished having a wonderful". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  39. ↑ "Adina Howard is on the LCandjack Radio Show 07/06 by LC AND JACK | Entertainment Podcasts". Blogtalkradio.com. 2013-07-06. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  40. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi2eFFpjoJA
  41. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 261. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  42. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVwG2_0gfcY
  43. ↑ https://twitter.com/adinahoward/status/514121116349374464
  44. ↑ http://www.doyoutrustyourbestfriend.com/#!adina-howard/c931
  45. ↑ http://shortyawards.com/adinahoward/

External links