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
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.