Normani Makes a Proper Return Showing Off Her "Wild Side" With Cardi B

It was Summer 2019 when Normani Kordei Hamilton last electrified the masses with her debut single “Motivation.” The song was lukewarm but it was the accompanying visual which really sold it. That’s the thing with Normani, it’s her electric stage and visual presence that is the defibrillator to any song that she is attached to.

Following that lead single we were ready for her solo debut album to be released. Unfortunately, the album never came then a further delay was caused by the global pandemic. As talented as she is, we would be lying if we weren’t worried about her missing her window of opportunity. Well, 2021 has opened that window for Normani once more.

It was a short Instagram clip, posted on February 13, 2021, that displayed the beauty in a gold silk two-piece moving sensually to a snippet of one of her own songs singing, “Take me for ride boy, show me your wild side boy…” However, it was another five months before we would hear and see the finished product of that song.

With a swift archiving of her Instagram posts except the one mentioned before, Normani had an imminent announcement. Much to the delight of her audience “Wild Side” was finally announced and with none other than Cardi B listed as a feature. Oh her team was sending a clear message about solidifying her place in the industry. So was the song and video worth the wait? In short, hell fucking yes.

The song which samples the late Aaliyah’s 1996 hit “One In a Million” is one sonically appealing smooth R&B jam. Is it the type of song that will be a mainstream success, no but this is where the help of Cardi B comes in. Oh, please don’t misunderstand what we’re trying to say. Normani can hold her own but it is no secret that at this point Cardi B is a public favorite which translates to streaming numbers which then translates to money which finally translates to her label giving her the red carpet treatment for everything that she is attached to. We expect this song to be a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Now let’s speak about the video which in one word is fabulous. The camera angles and scene transitions flowed like cream moving through a funnel. Sean Bankhead did an amazing job with the choreography as each and every scene was executed to visual perfection. Now, with that being said does the visual match the song, yes and no. Yes because Normani exudes sex appeal through her movement and the song is also sexy. No because as a friend of mine summed it up so perfectly, “She is literally giving Destiny’s Child “Lose My Breath” choreography to Beyonce’s “No Angel.”

In conclusion, Normani delivered and surpassed her first effort both in sound and visual presentation. We absolutely love “Wild Side” and hope this packs enough fuel to launch her into a solo career of longevity. We do hope that her next single is an uptempo cut, one that will perfectly complement the high energy choreography that she loves to give. Normani, welcome back gorgeous.