Enter the Dru

Enter the Dru
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
Michael Gallucci, Allmusic link
Dru Hill chronology
Dru Hill (1996) Enter the Dru (1998) Dru World Order (2002)

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

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 and 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".

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.

Track listing

1. "Enter the Dru" (Interlude) (Andrews, Evans) – 0:53
2. "Real Freak" (featuring Chinky Brown Eyes) (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

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

Chart and singles history