Dru Hill

About Dru Hill

Dru Hill came out of Baltimore in the mid-90s with a specific approach to R&B that felt both retro and contemporary. The group — Sisqó, Jazz, Nokio, and Woody — started singing in local talent shows and at Fuddruckers, which is somehow both extremely random and perfectly on-brand for that era. Their harmonies had that church-trained precision, but they weren't afraid to get theatrical with it.

Island Records signed them in 1996, and their self-titled debut landed the following year. "Tell Me" was the song that broke them into rotation, showcasing the kind of vocal layering that made them stand out in a crowded field. But it was "In My Bed" that really established what they did well — that remix with Jermaine Dupri turned a solid album cut into something that defined their sound. The So So Def version became the bigger hit, which tells you something about late-90s R&B politics. "Never Make a Promise" gave them their ballad credibility.

The second album, "Enter the Dru" in 1998, went straight to number one. "How Deep Is Your Love" became their biggest single, the kind of song that was inescapable if you were near a radio or watching BET. "These Are the Times" showed they could do the heartfelt group ballad without overselling it. The album went double platinum, and they seemed positioned to be one of the defining R&B groups of the era.

Then Sisqó went solo. "Unleash the Dragon" in 1999 turned him into a pop phenomenon, mostly because "Thong Song" became an absurd cultural moment. His bleached hair and dragon aesthetic were everywhere for about eighteen months. The solo success created the predictable tension. When groups splinter like that, the math rarely works in their favor.

They tried to regroup in 2002 with "Dru World Order," but the momentum had shifted. Woody had left, replaced by Scola. The album had its moments — "I Love You" got some play — but the landscape had changed. Usher was dominant, and the group harmony thing that felt fresh in 1996 was now competing with a different template entirely.

The years since have been the standard story of reunion attempts and nostalgia tours. They've released music sporadically, cycling through lineup changes and independent releases. Woody came back, then left again. There was a 2010 album called "InDRUpendence Day" that most people didn't hear.

These days they're part of the 90s R&B touring circuit, playing festivals and themed cruises where people want to hear "In My Bed" exactly as they remember it. Sisqó still performs "Thong Song," because of course he does. They're respected among people who care about that era of vocal groups, even if the comeback narrative never quite materialized. Sometimes being remembered for doing something well is enough.

Dru Hill shows feature a lot of singing along to those major hits—the crowd knows every word to the ballads. Energy is more controlled than chaotic, with people genuinely lost in the nostalgia. Tight harmonies translate well live. Sisqó appearances boost the vibe considerably.

Known for In My Bed, We're Not Making Love No More, Never Make a Promise, How Deep Is Your Love, All the Places (I Will Kiss You)

See Dru Hill Live