There was a singer who shall remain nameless set the tone for the nineties slow jams. However as nineties R&B fans know there were tons of singers who provided quality albums and tracks when it came to making a playlist via audiocassette. Lincoln Browder, better known as Link, was one of the singers.
Before releasing his debut single, “Whatcha Gone Do,” Link burst onto the scene after writing LSG’S “My Body” which we all know is a classic. That said, his debut CD Sex Down holds no punches. The theme of this CD is SEX, and he cleverly pulls off his tales of sensuality with radio-ready hooks.
“I Really Wanna Sex Your Body,” “Gimme some,” “Sex Down “and “911 0024” were all single-worthy. While some of the up-tempo, material is not as strong, the slow cuts on Sex Down are pure ear candy, and I can only imagine how many babies were made from the album. I must also shout out composer Darrell “Delite” Allamby, working hand in hand with Link on the production.
To my surprise though, my favorite song on the project is the ballad “Spill,” which finds a ladies’ man realizing he is in love for the first time. I am surprised this was not a single or given to a more prominent artist at the time because it has hit potential written all over it with the endearing lyrics. If you have never heard the album Sex Down, I highly encourage you to check it out on your favorite streaming platform.
Final Grade: B
This past Friday marked the 40th anniversary of “The Voice,” a.k.a. Whiney Houston’s self-titled debut album hitting stores. So, in that regard, it was only right to give Nippy her flowers for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
For this weekend’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to take a trip to Motor City and show some love to soul singer Dwele. It was 2005, and I was living in the UK as part of my Air Force enlistment. Dwele had just released his second album, “Some Kinda,” enjoying some chart success with the lead single “I Think I Love U,” by Mike City.
The remainder of the album maintains a classic R&B vibe, showcasing the group’s signature sound. One of the standout tracks is “Maybe Tomorrow,” featuring the iconic Phyllis Hyman. It transforms difficult circumstances into positive outcomes—essentially making lemonade from lemons.