(They didn’t call the then-burgeoning producer “Nasty On Key In Octave” for nothing.)ĭru Hill can get raunchy at times, but “These Are the Times” is the opposite. The ethereal song sounds like a dream sequence and is a nod to Nokio’s stellar pen and keen ear for melodies. “Beauty,” penned in part by Nokio, is a soft and sensual ode to a beautiful but elusive crush. The single propelled the album, Enter the Dru to double-platinum status. The song sees them trying to reconcile with the lover they spurned, and while the Jodeci influence can be heard throughout their music, it’s especially rich here. There was a lot of pressure on Dru Hill’s second album, but “You Are Everything” quickly dispelled any concern.
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It saw the group singing about what they knew best – how to be in love – with melodies as strong as ever.Ĭlick to load video Sophomore Success (“You Are Everything,” “Beauty,” “These Are The Times”) Meanwhile, “I Should Be…” is one of the best songs from 2002’s Dru World Order, which peaked at #25 on the Hot 100 and #6 on the R&B chart. This melancholy song finds the group singing about the short time we have on Earth and cherishing moments with loved ones while we still can. If it wasn’t clear before that this group was rooted in gospel music, then “5 Steps” drives that point home via the powerful choral arrangements in the hook. The mellow syrupy tune went straight to number one and stayed at the top of the charts for weeks. In the song’s accompanying video, which tackles incest, he saves his lover from her abusive father. In the song, Jazz is promising to always protect the love of his life. His mellifluous tenor carries the song and his falsetto riffs at the end are the cherry on top. “Never Make A Promise” was Jazz’s time to shine. Sisqo’s vocals lead this standard tale about suspicion of infidelity, but the steamy video ended with a twist that was unexpected for that time – Sisqo walking in on his girlfriend cheating with another woman. It spent three weeks at number one on the US R&B chart and peaked at number four on the US pop chart. The video was also a treat, as they introduced their most famous dance move, the Dru Hill bounce, an energetic hop on both feet, one at a time, to the mid-tempo rhythm.Įven heartthrobs get their hearts broken, and “In My Bed,” the second single from their eponymous debut, was a scandalous tale of the sort. “Tell Me,” which first appeared on the soundtrack of the 1996 film, Eddie, peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the R&B chart. They came in hot with their debut single “Tell Me,” a melodious promise to deliver hot steamy love at all times. Dru Hill’s quintessential R&B songs (“Tell Me,” “In My Bed,” “Never Make A Promise,” “5 Steps,” “I Should Be…”)ĭru Hill’s breakthrough was fueled by tantalizing love songs and signature dance moves. The focus in this introduction, however, is Dru Hill’s best songs from 1996 until 2002. Despite the shifts in line up, though, they’re still making music. The quartet became a trio at times, or a quintet, and then eventually back to a quartet. There were label and group member changes throughout the years. Listen to the 25th anniversary edition of Dru Hill’s self-titled album here.ĭru Hill’s road through stardom wasn’t always smooth, especially after their sophomore album in 1998.
That’s where many first saw their signature dance moves, like the Dru Hill bounce.
Dru Hill also provided unforgettable visuals to match their tunes. They were in their late teens and early 20s when they entered the world stage, but they crooned grownup tales of love and sex. Their debut album, Dru Hill, dropped in 1996 and went platinum on the strength of singles like “Never Make a Promise,” “In My Bed,” “Tell Me,” and “5 Steps.” The group often drew comparisons to Jodeci and Boyz II Men – influences they were happy to claim – and like many of the greats before them, their rich complex harmonies, rooted in soul music, met at the intersection of gospel, blues, hip-hop, and R&B. They created a massive buzz after a few years, and landed a record deal with Island. The quartet got their start at local and regional talent shows. In 1992, high school friends Mark “Sisqo” Andrews, Larry “Jazz” Anthony Jr., Tamir “Nokio” Ruffin, and James “Woody” Green formed a group eventually called Dru Hill, after Druid Hill Park in their native Baltimore. You can not discuss the best 90s R&B songs without mentioning Dru Hill.
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