Dru Hill

This article is about the contemporary R&B group. For the American football player, see Drew Hill.

Dru Hill is an American R&B group, whose repertoire included soul, hip hop soul and gospel music. The group was founded in Baltimore in 1992 and is still active. Dru Hill recorded seven Top 40 hits, and is best known for the R&B number-one hits "In My Bed", "Never Make a Promise" and "How Deep Is Your Love". Its original members were lead singer Mark "Sisqó" Andrews, Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin, Larry "Jazz" Anthony and James "Woody" Green. The group achieved popularity in the 1990s.

Dru Hill
Background information
Also known as	Legacy, 14K Harmony, Storm
Origin	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres	R&B^[1]
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Island Records (1995–1999) Def Soul (1999–2005) Kedar Entertainment Group (2009–2015) Empire (2017–Present)
Members	Sisqó Nokio Jazz Scola Tao Smoke Black
Past members	Woody
Website	www.druhillonline.com

Signing to Island Records through Haqq Islam's University Records imprint, the group released two successful albums, Dru Hill and Enter the Dru, before separating for a period from late 1999 to 2002, during which time Sisqó and Woody released solo albums. Dru Hill was influenced by the Dragon and Asian culture, as displayed in their wardrobe and logo. While Woody's album Soul Music was a moderate success in the gospel music industry, Sisqó's debut album, Unleash the Dragon, and its hit singles, "Thong Song" and "Incomplete", were major pop successes, and established Sisqó as a household name outside of Dru Hill. Sisqó's second album, Return of Dragon, did not perform as well.

In 2002, by then part of the Def Soul record label, the group reunited and added fifth member Scola to the lineup for their third album, Dru World Order; after that album underperformed the group met with New Label President L.A. Reid about a follow-up. Due to the group's failure to produce any new music featuring Sisqo (he chose not to lend his vocals to new recordings), Def Jam cited the group as non-productive and destructive and dropped the group from Def Soul. In 2009, the group signed to Kedar Entertainment Group and released their fourth album, InDRUpendence Day, the following year, with new member Tao taking the place of the again departed Woody.

History

Early career

The members of Dru Hill are natives of Baltimore. The group became known getting jobs at The Fudgery, a local fudge factory at Harborplace at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, beginning a store tradition of singing and performing to entertain guests while making fudge.^[2] The group's name comes from Baltimore's Druid Hill Park, which is commonly shortened in the local vernacular to "Dru Hill".^[3]

Between their first and second albums, Dru Hill contributed "We're Not Making Love No More", a number 2 R&B and number 13 pop hit, to the Soul Food soundtrack. "We're Not Making Love No More" was written and produced by producer Babyface. Dru Hill and rapper Foxy Brown recorded "Big Bad Mama", a remake of Carl Carlton's 1981 hit "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)", which was the main single for the soundtrack to the 1997 Bill Bellamy film Def Jam's How to Be a Player. The group was also instrumental in writing and producing for new University artist Mýa, whose first two singles "It's All About Me" and "Movin' On", were co-written by Sisqó, who also performs guest vocals on "It's All About Me".^[4]

In 1997, Dru Hill filed a lawsuit against Island Records, seeking a release from its contract, after an Island employee hit one of the group's managers, Keith Ingram, over the head with a pool cue.^[5] It was discovered that the employee in question had a criminal record. At an October 1997 deposition hearing, Eric Kronfeld, president and chief operating officer of Island's parent company PolyGram, was asked why he had hired such an individual. His response was that if he were not to hire African-Americans with criminal records, then "there would be virtually no African-Americans employees in our society or in our industry."^[6]

Kronfield's remarks set off a wave of controversy when word of them reached the media in November. The Reverend Jesse Jackson became personally involved, publicly stating that the Dutch-based PolyGram had "a pattern of race and sex exclusion."^[5] Jackson met with PolyGram chairman Alain Levy and several other executives, who issued a public apology for Kronfield's statement, and replaced Kronfield as president with Motown Records' chairman Clarence Avant.^[7] By the end of the month, Dru Hill had settled with Island Records, and issued a joint statement with the label, stating in the agreement that they would remain on the label.^[8][9]

Enter the Dru

Dru Hill's third Top 20 pop hit came in the form of 1998's "How Deep Is Your Love" (Pop #3), which was included on the soundtrack to the Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker film Rush Hour. The single "This Is What We Do", featuring a guest rap from Method Man , set the tone for the group's second album, Enter the Dru.^[10] The album featured several other mid-tempo tracks in the vein of "How Deep Is Your Love", as well as the R&B Top 5 single "These are the Times" (Pop #21), co-written and co-produced by Babyface, and featuring guitar work from Atlanta-based session guitarist and former Earth Wind & Fire member Dick Smith.

Enter the Dru eventually sold two million copies by 1999 and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200.^[11][12] That year, Dru Hill recorded a version of "Enchantment Passing Through" for the soundtrack to the Broadway musical Aida, which was also featured on Sisqó's album Unleash the Dragon.

Sisqó released his debut Unleash the Dragon LP, and had a minor hit with his first single, "Got to Get It" featuring Make It Hot. His second single, "Thong Song", became a major hit during the spring of 2000, and his third, "Incomplete", became a number-one hit during the summer.

Dru World Order

Dru World Order was released on November 26, 2002, two years after its original planned release date. Nearly all of the album's tracks were produced by Nokio, who sung lead on the tracks "She Said" and "Men Always Regret". Producers such as Bryan Michael Cox, Eric "Nealante" Phillips and Kwamé also made contributions. Most of the album's tracks featured Sisqó, Jazz, Woody, and Scola sharing the leads, including the lead single "I Should Be...". "I Should Be..." was a Top 30 pop hit and a Top 10 R&B hit.

Def Soul released a greatest hits compilation, Dru Hill: Hits, on October 11, along with a corresponding DVD collection of the group's music videos. Both collections included Sisqó's biggest solo hits, "Thong Song" and "Incomplete", alongside the Dru Hill songs.

Woody's and Scola's departure

In early 2008, the original quartet version of Dru Hill began touring alongside fellow 1990s acts Tony! Toni! Toné!, Bell Biv Devoe, and a former producer on their first album Keith Sweat. The group held a contest in their native Baltimore for a replacement for Woody, settling upon a new singer, Antwuan "Tao" Simpson. The group never said why they did not keep Scola in the group, although it was later stated by Nokio that "five people [mess] up the money".^[13]

InDRUpendence Day

InDRUpendence Day is Dru Hill's fourth album, released on July 27, 2010. It features the group's new member, Tao, who was Woody's replacement. The album has released three singles: "Love MD", "Remain Silent" and "Back to the Future". It was released under the label Kedar Entertainment.

New lineup and The Second Coming

Jazz left the group in early 2018 to work on his solo album and Tao left in early 2019 to work on a solo project because he did not like the direction Dru Hill was going.^[14]

In August 2018 a new album, The Second Coming, was announced. It was to feature two new members from the group Playa, Smoke and Black, who started performing with them after Jazz left the group.^[15] The album was to be released under Dru Hill, LLC and Empire Distribution.^{[citation needed]} The first single from the album, "What You Need", was released in February 2020.^[16] Later that month, Nokio confirmed on Magic 95.9 that he has left Dru Hill to spend time with his family.^[17] A comeback of the band with the new lineup, Sisqo, Smoke, and Black, was hinted in March 2020.^[18] By 2021, Nokio, Jazz, Tao and Scola returned to the group, gearing up to celebrate their 25th anniversary, making them a seven-man group and leaving Woody as the only member no longer active in the group.

Television appearances

Dru Hill had their own television show titled Keith Sweat's Platinum House. It debuted June 28, 2010, on Centric.^[3] It focused on their fourth album, InDRUpendence Day, and depicted the progress of returning as a full group, and their work to create new music.^[19]

The original premiere on July 14, 2009, on the main BET Network was postponed, but aired later on Centric.

Members

Current members

• Sisqó – (1992–present)
• Nokio – (1992–2020; 2021–present)
• Jazz – (1993–2018; 2021–present)
• Scola – (2001–2008; 2021–present)
• Tao – (2008–2019; 2021–present)
• Smoke – (2018–present)
• Black – (2018–present)

Former members

• Woody – (1992; 1994–1999, 2002–2008)

Discography

Main article: Dru Hill discography

Studio albums

• Dru Hill (1996)
• Enter the Dru (1998)
• Dru World Order (2002)
• InDRUpendence Day (2010)

Filmography

Television

• All That (1996-1997)
• Moesha (1997)
• The Parent 'Hood (1997)

TV specials

• Breaking Out: The Alcatraz Concert (1998)
• 24 hours with Dru Hill (1999)
• Keith Sweat's Platinum House (2009)^[20]
• Unsung (2020)^[21]

Tours

Headlining

• Enter the Dru Tour (1999)^[22]

Featured act

• Budweiser Superfest 97 (1997)^[23]
• No Way Out Tour (1998)^[24]
• Budweiser Superfest 98 (1998)^[25]
• Keep the Faith Tour (1999)^[26]
• Luv U Better Tour (2003)^[27]
• Game Changer Tour (2015)
• The 20th Anniversary Tour (2017)^[28]
• The 25th Anniversary Tour (Sisqo, Nokio, Jazz, Scola, Tao, Smoke, Black) (2022-2023)

As supporting act

• Evolution Tour (supporting Boyz II Men) (1998)^[29]

Awards and nominations

• American Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1998	Dru Hill	Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group	Nominated
		Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist	Nominated
2000		Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group	Nominated
2003		Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group	Nominated

• Soul Train Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1998	Dru Hill	Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo	Won
	In My Bed	Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo	Won
1999	Enter the Dru	Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo	Nominated
2000	Beauty	Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band, or Duo	Nominated
2003	I Should Be...	Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo	Nominated

• Kids' Choice Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1999	Dru Hill	Favorite Group	Nominated

Notes

1. "Dru Hill | Biography & History". AllMusic.
2. . The Fudgery. Archived from the original (ASP) on January 6, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
3. Gonzalez |, Michael A. (May 1, 2010). "The Kings of Dru Hill". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
4. "Mya With Special Guest Sisqo - It's All About Me". Discogs. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
5. Brown, Ann (March 1998). "Taking stocks of the Wall Street Project: Jackson-led group marks King holiday with three-day conference – Jesse Jackson's project to monitor racism in corporate US holds gala on January 15, 1998, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday". Black Enterprise. Retrieved November 5, 2006.
6. "Dru Hill Suit Thickens And Settles?" MTV.com, November 12, 1997. Retrieved November 5, 2006.
7. "PolyGram Apologizes for Racist Executive, Jesse Jackson Councils", MTV.com, November 13, 1997. Retrieved November 5, 2006.
8. "Dru Hill Settles Suit", MTV.com, November 21, 1997. Retrieved November 5, 2006.
9. Rosen, Craig (November 29, 1997). "Island, Dru Hill reach settlement on lawsuits". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 48. p. 78 – via EBSCOHost.
10. Hopkins, Tracy (October 3, 1998). "Dru Hill shows new dimensions on Island's 'Enter.'". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 40. p. 28 – via EBSCOHost.
11. RIAA certifications for Dru Hill. Retrieved from Recording Industry Association of America February 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine website by way of database search, on May 24, 2007.
12. "allmusic ((( Enter the Dru > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". Allmusic. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
13. Behind The Music Tales (June 29, 2008). "Dru Hill sing Lately and respond to departure of Woody..." Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2019 – via YouTube.
14. "Tao Soprano Discusses Leaving Dru Hill, How He Got Start With Group, Solo Project (Exclusive)". YouKnowIGotSoul. May 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
15. Thompson, Desire (August 10, 2018). "Dru Hill Adds R&B Veterans Playa To Group, Announce New Album: Exclusive". Vibe. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
16. Marie, Erika (February 11, 2020). "Dru Hill Returns 10 Years Later With "What You Need" Single From "The Second Coming"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
17. "EXCLUSIVE: Nokio Comes Home, Says He Left Dru Hill [Video]". Magic Baltimore. February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
18. Findlay, Mitch (March 22, 2020). "Sisqo & Dru Hill Tease Comeback On The Breakfast Club". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
19. . September 17, 2010. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
20. TV News Desk (June 1, 2010). "Centric's KEITH SWEAT'S PLATINUM HOUSE Premieres 6/28". Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
21. SHALMAR BROWN (February 23, 2020). "TV One's 'Unsung' premieres tonight with untold Dru Hill story". Steed Media Group (SMG). Retrieved February 24, 2020.
22. Viacom International Inc. (March 17, 1999). "WOODY EXITS DRU HILL FOR SOLO CAREER AS TRIO PLANS TOUR". MTV. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
23. Viacom International Inc. (August 5, 1997). "BONE THUGS, DRU HILL, AALIYAH, MARY J. BLIGE, GINUWINE SET DATES". MTV. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
24. Viacom International Inc. (February 6, 1998). "PUFFY, DRU HILL, MASE, BUSTA, LIL' KIM TO HIT THE ROAD". MTV. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
25. Viacom International Inc. (May 13, 1998). "L.L. COOL J, K-CI & JOJO AND DRU HILL GET THE HOOK-UP FOR SUPERFEST". MTV. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
26. Viacom International Inc. (February 16, 1999). "FAITH EVANS REACHES TOP FIVE WITH WHITNEY, PLANS TOUR WITH DRU HILL". MTV. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
27. Prometheus Global Media, LLC. (May 13, 2003). "LL Cool J, Dru Hill Plan Summer Tour". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
28. Mario McKellop (March 29, 2017). "BOYZ II MEN ANNOUNCES DATES FOR EVOLUTION TOUR". AXS (company). Retrieved November 14, 2019.
29. Viacom International Inc. (April 3, 1998). "Dru Hill announces 20th anniversary US tour". MTV. Retrieved November 13, 2019.

References

• Furman, Leah (2001). Sisqó: The Man Behind the Thong. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-28199-4.
• Willman, Chris (January 26, 2001). . Entertainment Weekly.

External links

• Official website