The UB Video Interview: Sisqó Talks New Documentary, Secret Garden and Dru Hill 25
Sisqo`is nearly a 30-year music veteran who thus far has had a career that many of the brightest and most successful singers of today can only dream of.
It started when four childhood friends from Baltimore – Sisqó, Nokio, Jazz, and Woody took the music industry by storm in the ’90s as Dru Hill. With a combination of old school vocal harmonies and effortless charisma. And when their debut album produced four top charting singles – “Tell Me”, “In My Bed”, “Never Make a Promise”, and “Five steps.”
As the voice behind a vast list of Dru Hill classics and the earth shattering smash single “The Thong Song”, which he caused an international mania of epic proportions, are just some of the hit records that have secured Sisqo’s place in music history. Responsible for a jaw dropping thirty million records sold worldwide.
He’s had roles from “Sisqo’s Shakedown” (MTV); “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” (ABC); “I Love the New Millennium” (VH-1); “Gone Country” (CMT); “Keith Sweat’s Platinum House” (Centric); “Celebrity Big Brother” (UK); and films “Get Over It”, “Pieces of April”, “Surf School”, and the immensely popular “Show Dogs” starring Academy Award Winner Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Admired by several fellow superstar artists, Sisqo` has written for and recorded with industry heavyweights Mya (It’s all About Me), DMX (What These Bitches Want), and Lil’ Kim (How Many Licks). Arguably the most popular musicians on the planet at the beginning of the new millennium, Sisqo` won an astonishing six Billboard awards in 2000–Male Artist of the Year, Male Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year, R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, New R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, R&B/Hip-Hop Male Artist of the Year, and R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Artist of the Year, as well as MTV’s Best Hip-Hop Video for “The Thong Song”.
As for Dru Hill they positioned themselves as a group destined for major success.
But despite a bounty of top ten hits, the group was bedeviled by clashes with their record label, and internal and health problems within the group ultimately resulted in te departure of two members.
“Thong Song” was never meant for Sisqó, but once he heard the track he couldn’t let it go. Although the music was originally intended for Michael Jackson, producers Tim & Bob were won over by Sisqó‘s enthusiasm and fresh ideas. But Def Jam wasn’t sure that a song about thongs would sell and almost left it off the “Unleash The Dragon” album.
Vice documents the “Thong Song” era in the new “The Story Of..” now on YouTube and Vice.
Sisqó who resides in Minnesota, chatted with UB‘s Aries and Tishelle, also currently in and from the Twin Cities. Sisqó talks about the new “Thong Song” Vice doc and how he even learned new things regarding that era.
Sisqó also touches on his upbringing in Baltimore and his reasons for being apart of the new “Secret Garden” remake with Shawn Stockman, Raheem DeVaughn & Omar Wilson.
Sisqó also breaks news to UB regarding Dru Hill’s 25th Anniversary next year and plays an hilarious edition of The UB Lyric Game!
