Enter the Dru

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Enter the Dru
Enter the Dru cover
Studio album by Dru Hill
Released October 27, 1998
Recorded 1998
Genre R&B
Length 65:52
Label Island Black
524542
Producer Hiram Hicks (executive)
A. Haqq Islam (executive)
Dru Hill (also executive)
Kevin Peck (executive)
Kenneth Crear (executive)
Nokio the N-Tity
Baby Dave
Babyface
Warryn Campbell
Dutch
David Foster
Daryl Simmons
Damon Thomas
Professional reviews
Dru Hill chronology
Dru Hill
(1996)		 Enter the Dru
(1998)		 Dru World Order
(2002)

Enter the Dru is a 1998 album by American R&B vocal group Dru Hill. The group's second LP, Enter the Dru (named after the Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon) was released through a production deal with University Music by Island Black Records in October 1998.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The album includes the singles "These Are the Times" and "Beauty", as well as "How Deep Is Your Love", issued as a single for the soundtrack of the Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker motion picture Rush Hour. Unlike the previous LP Dru Hill, vocal duties rest almost exclusively with Dru Hill's two main lead singers, Sisqó and Jazz. Woody is given the solo number "Angel", and the album closing "What Are We Gonna Do" features all four members on lead vocals. Also present on the album is a cover of The Dells' 1969 recording "The Love We Had (Stays on My Mind)". Much of the album is produced by the group itself, with additional production by Warryn Campbell, Babyface, and others.

Two featured artists appear on the album: New York rapper Method Man appears on "This is What We Do", while Chinky Brown Eyes (a singer later a part of Sisqó's girl group LovHer) appears on "Real Freak".

[edit] Background

Six months after the release of this album, Woody quit the group to pursue a career as a gospel musician. After his defection, Dru Hill recorded a hip hop styled remix to "You are Everything", featuring raps from Dru Hill member Nokio and New York rapper Ja Rule. This single, as well as a remix of "Beauty" featuring R&B singer Case, performed below expectations.

By this time Island Records had been merged with Def Jam Records, who managed to re-sign Woody for one more Dru Hill album, with the allowance that he and the other members of the group would each record a solo album. The plan was to release all four solo albums within a year's time, and then have the group reform in 2000. However, Sisqo's first solo album, Unleash the Dragon, was a significant success; as a result, the follow-up to Enter the Dru, Dru World Order, was not recorded and issued until 2002.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Enter the Dru" (Interlude) (Andrews, Evans) – 0:53
  2. "Real Freak" (Andrews, Evans) – 3:34
  3. "How Deep Is Your Love" (Andrews, Campbell, Cousins, Cousin, Ruffin) – 4:03
  4. "This is What We Do" (featuring Method Man) (Andrews, Carter, Cousin, Ruffin, Smith) – 4:21
  5. "Holding You" (Anthony, Cousin) – 4:28
  6. "I'm Wondering" (Campbell, Cousin, Ruffin) – 4:18
  7. "You are Everything" Andrews, Cousin – 4:35
  8. "I'll Be the One" (Simmons) – 4:26
  9. "Nowhere Without You" (Interlude) (Andrews, Green) – 1:08
  10. "One Good Reason" (Brown, Stacy) – 4:03
  11. "Angel" (Interlude) (Campbell, Green) – 1:33
  12. "Angel" (Campbell, Green) – 4:24
  13. "What Do I Do with the Love" (Warren) – 4:46
  14. "Beauty" (Roche, Ruffin, Weatherspoon) – 4:32
  15. "These are the Times" (Edmonds, Thomas) – 4:09
  16. "The Love We Had (Stays on My Mind)" (Callier, Wade) – 5:35
  17. "What Are We Gonna Do" (Cousin, Crawford, Ruffin) – 5:04

[edit] Personnel

  • Lead and background vocals: Sisqó (Mark Andrews), Jazz (Larry Anthony), Nokio (Tamir Ruffin), and Woody (James Green)
  • Guest vocals: Chinky Brown Eyes, Method Man
  • Vocal arrangements: R. Brown, Guy Roche, Sisqó
  • Bass: Alex Al, Ronnie Garrett, Michael Thompson
  • Guitars: James Harrah, Michael Hart Thompson
  • Piano: Warryn "Smiley" Campbell, Alex Al, Greg Phillinganes
  • Keyboards: David Foster, Greg Phillinganes, Guy Roche, Daryl Simmons, Ralph Stacy, Damon Thomas, Phil Weatherspoon
  • Drum Programming: Greg Phillinganes, Guy Roche, Daryl Simmons, Ralph Stacy, Damon Thomas, William "P Sound" Thomas
  • Synclavier: Simon Franglen
  • String arrangements and conducting: Larry Gold, Sisqó
  • Arranging: Guy Roche, Sisqó
  • Strings: Cameron Stone
  • Engineering: Paul Boutin, Greg Burns, Felipe Elgueta, Tom Bender, Mick Guzauski, Thom "TK" Kidd, Kevin Lively, Mario Lucy, Manny Marroquin, Ted Reiger, Jason Rome, Thom Russo, Rafa Sardina, Jon Smeltz, Aaron Sprague, Ralph Stacy, Storm, Moana Suchard, Dylan Vaughn, Pascal Volberg, Joe Warlick
  • Mixing: Bonzai, E'lyk, Jon Gass, Mick Guzauski, Thom "TK" Kidd, Manny Marroquin, Jon Smeltz, Storm, Pascal Volberg
  • Mastering: Chris Gehringer
  • A&R: Matthew Schwartz
  • Production coordinator: Ivy Skoff
  • Grooming: Heba Thorisdottir
  • Stylistic advisors: Laurie Chang, April Roomet
  • Photography:Tracy Lamonica, Beth Coller, John Garcia
  • Wardrobe: Julieanne Mijares

[edit] Chart and singles history

Title Information
"How Deep Is Your Love"
"These are the Times"
"You are Everything"
"You are Everything" [Remix]
  • Non-album, featuring Ja Rule
  • Later issued as a bonus track on Sisqó's first solo album, Unleash the Dragon
  • Produced by Sisqó and Baby Dave
  • Def Soul single 562021, May 18, 1999
  • Music video directed by Martin Weisz
"Beauty"
  • Album-only track
Name Chart (1996-1998) Peak
position
Enter the Dru U.S. Billboard 200 2
Enter the Dru U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 2
"How Deep is Your Love" U.S. Billboard Hot 100 3
"How Deep is Your Love" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 1
"These are the Times" U.S. Billboard Hot 100 21
"These are the Times" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 5
"You are Everything" U.S. Billboard Hot 100 27
"Beauty" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 24
"Beauty" U.S. Billboard Hot 100 79
"The Love We Had (Stays on My Mind)" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 48