''Welcome to Fantasy Island'', is the second album from American R&B singer/songwriter

Adina Howard Adina Marie Howard (born November 14, 1973) is an American singer and songwriter. She rose to fame during the mid-1990s with her debut album, ''Do You Wanna Ride?'' and her debut single, "Freak like Me". Some of her other minor hits include "Wh ...

. The album was due for release on July 29, 1997, but the album was then shelved. It later received an unofficial release (excluding "

T-Shirt & Panties "T-Shirt & Panties" is a song by American recording artist Adina Howard. It was written by Jamie Foxx and Billy Moss. Background Howard was working with producer Billy Moss at the time on her ''Welcome to Fantasy Island'' album, when Jamie Foxx d ...

" and "Crank Me Up" which were included on her ''The Second Coming'' release under Rufftown Records) on May 19, 2013 through the mixtape site DatPiff.com. Despite the album never being originally released in 1997, it did however spawn two hit singles, " (Freak) And U Know It" and "

." In January 2021, it was announced that Rhino Records had acquired the rights to the album and it was finally released onto digital audio platforms on February 19, 2021.

Background

After the success of her debut album ''Do You Wanna Ride?'' in addition to her hit soundtrack single "What's Love Got to Do With It?" with

Warren G Warren Griffin III (born November 10, 1970) is an American rapper and producer known for his role in West Coast rap's 1990s ascent.Steve Huey"Warren G: Biography" ''AllMusic.com'', Netaktion LLC, visited May 8, 2020. Along with Snoop Dogg and N ...

, Howard began work on her sophomore album. During this time, her record label Mecca Don/EastWest Records merged into Elektra Records, headed by label exec

Sylvia Rhone Sylvia Rhone (born March 11, 1952) is an American music industry executive. Since 2019, she is the chair and CEO of Epic Records, a label owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Rhone served previously in senior positions at Vested In Culture, Unive ...

. She gained more creative control with the project (originally titling it ''Portrait of a Lady''), being able to hand-pick the songs and working with an array of popular artists such as her then-labelmate

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...

, Bizzy Bone of Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony,

DJ Quik David Marvin Blake (born January 18, 1970), better known by his stage names DJ Quik or Da Quiksta, is an American rapper and producer, known for his production in the G-funk style of West Coast hip-hop. Blake has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, ...

Timbaland Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He has received widespread acclaim for his innovative production work and distinc ...

Ginuwine Elgin Baylor Lumpkin (born October 15, 1970), better known by his stage name Ginuwine, is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. He began his career as a member of Swing Mob in the early 1990s. Signing to Epic R ...

, K-Ci Hailey of

Jodeci Jodeci ( ) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B quartet consisting of members DeVanté Swing, Dalvin DeGrate, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci (singer), K-Ci, and K-Ci and JoJo, JoJo. Formed in 1989 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jodeci's members began their mu ...

, and

Jamie Foxx Eric Marlon Bishop (born December 13, 1967), known professionally as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, comedian, and singer. He became widely known for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 biographical film '' Ray'', for which he won the ...

. Similar to her debut album, where she recorded a cover of the R&B classic "You Don't Have to Cry," she recorded a cover of the hit

Vanity 6 Vanity 6 was a short lived American female vocal trio that gained popularity in the early 1980s. They were protégés of musician Prince (musician), Prince. Led by singer Vanity (singer), Vanity, they are known for their song "Nasty Girl (Vanity ...

song "Nasty Girl" for the album. However, it eventually did not make the final album tracklist. Originally set for release on July 29, 1997, the album was preceded by the release of the lead single " reakAnd U Know It" which was produced by

. The song was serviced to radio on May 20, with the music video directed by

Francis Lawrence Francis Lawrence (born March 26, 1971) is an Austrian-born American filmmaker and producer. After establishing himself as a director of music videos and commercials, Lawrence made his feature-length directorial debut with the superhero thrille ...

. The single ended up peaking at #70 on the Hot 100, and #32 on R&B (marking her 4th Top40 R&B hit). It also included a B-side track called "Swerve On" featuring Menajahtwa. The album was later pushed back to September 16. A second single, "T-Shirt & Panties" (which Howard originally wanted as the lead) was planned, and ended up being included on the soundtrack to ''Woo'' and released as a single off that project. A remix produced by

DJ Clue Ernesto Shaw (born January 8, 1975), better known as DJ Clue, is an American disc jockey (DJ), record producer, radio personality and record executive. Early life DJ Clue was born in Queens, New York City to Panamanian and Jamaican immigran ...

and featuring

Cam'ron Cameron Ezike Giles (born February 4, 1976), better known by his stage name Cam'ron, is an American rapper, record executive, and actor from Harlem, New York City. Beginning his career in the mid-1990s as Killa Cam, Giles signed to Lance "Un" ...

and

Charli Baltimore Tiffany Lane (born August 16, 1974), better known as Charli Baltimore, is an American rapper and reality television personality. Her stage name is taken from Geena Davis's character in the film ''The Long Kiss Goodnight''. Career Charli Balti ...

was produced. However, despite no formal support from her label, the song became an underground hit and remains one of Howard's most popular songs to perform. As the album received critical acclaim from such publications as SPIN ("...a sleek, danceable artifact of hip hop-inflected craftmanship."), All Music ("...Howard's second album is a more consistent record than its predecessor, boasting a better selection of songs and grooves.") and VIBE ("...Like an album-length version of the Isley Brothers' booty-call classic "Between the Sheets," Welcome to Fantasy Island offers tracks that are smooth enough to soothe the take-charge woman."), Howard soon faced label issues. As album delays and creative differences with her label happened (including conflict with then-Elektra Records CEO

), Howard soon found her album being shelved, and her departing from the label to get away from the music industry. To date, Howard remains proud of the album and its cover. "Personal Freak" featuring Bizzy Bone eventually received an official digital release on his 2014 album ''Revival'' (original version), and then his 2016 compilation ''Confessions''. In June 2018, a promo single surfaced for "Crank Me Up" which was revealed to have been in consideration as a single by Elektra Records. It was also included on a promotional compilation titled ''Elektra's Fallbreakers Sampler 1997''.
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Track listing

#"Welcome to My Queendom" - 1:01 #" (Freak) And U Know It" - 5:15 #"Personal Freak" (feat.

Bizzy Bone Bryon Anthony McCane II (born September 12, 1976),Whitburn, Joel (2008) ''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2006'', Record Research, , p. 97 better known by his stage name Bizzy Bone, is an American rapper, singer and the youngest member o ...

) - 4:40 #"All About U" - 4:27 #"Crank Me Up" (feat.

) - 4:20 #"Sexual Needs" - 4:49 #"Could've Got Away" - 3:43 #"Another Level (Interlude)" - 1:41 #"

" (feat.

) - 4:51 #"I'll Be Damned If I Apologize" - 4:08 #"Don't Come Too Fast" - 5:38 #"Take Me Home" - 4:19 #"Lay Him Down" - 3:44 #"Ain't No Need" - 4:13 #"Satisfied (Outro)" - 1:45

References

{{Authority control 1997 albums Adina Howard albums