Following the lukewarm response to Sisqo’s second album in 2001, Dru Hill returned with a new member Scola in 2002 for the vastly underpromoted Dru World Order. The group would spend the next eight years touring and eventually add new member Tao for its fourth album InDRUpendence Day this week’s Second Listen Sunday pick.
Eight years is an eternity in the music business, but Dru Hill had four lead singers, so how would they sound in the age of streaming? The group reunited with past collaborators Keith Sweat, Nate Mooring, and Wirlie Morris, so the potential was there. Initially, I didn’t care for the album as The album’s first half was filled with secondary Will I Am-style beats. The songs sound better suited for Justin Bieber or Bruno Mars instead of a group like Dru Hill.
However, I now realize what Dru Hill was going for, and I won’t fault them for trying to branch out since that sound was the famous sound at the time. The CD starts to pick up with “Remain Silent,” which is the signature Dru Hill slow jam vibe I like. “State of Emergency” follows and is another mood setter while Sisqo & Jazz both have a chance to shine on “Back To The “Future’ & “Love MD.” The album’s final ballad, “Away,” still sounds fresh and would feel right at home on any streaming Black-led series. The album ends with a decent cover of Tears For Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.”
While InDRUpendence Day is my least revisited Dru Hill album, I respect them for trying something new. Besides, Dru Hill has album tracks from its three albums that are better than some people’s biggest hits running streaming in 2023.
Final Grade: C
InDRUpendence Day is available on most streaming platforms sans Apple Music.
This week’s Second Listen Sunday pick takes us back to 2006 to revisit “So Amazin’,” the third album from Christina Milian. Arriving in stores on April 19 of that year, the project was produced largely by Cool & Dre, sans one song, and saw the singer earn writing credits on nine of the album’s songs.
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I want to showcase love for Rahsaan Patterson and his album track “Can We Wait a Minute” from his self-titled debut album, released in 1997.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to take a trip back to 2000 and show some love to the R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo and their third album, “X,” which was released in stores on December 5, just in time for a holiday stocking stuffer. Arguably, the group suffered from the sophomore slump with their second album, as only two singles were successful.