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Post by aDRUfan4LiFe on May 19, 2003 22:41:21 GMT -4
BlackBeat Magazine. *That used to be my mag back in the day!* lol Lil' HIM (Kim)is on the cover. ;)Hope I didn't offend you CC!
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Post by CarolinaCutie on May 19, 2003 22:51:21 GMT -4
Lil' HIM (Kim)is on the cover. ;)Hope I didn't offend you CC! Nobody and I mean NOBODY talks about the Queen B without gettin' stung ::bzzzzppp::!!! PHBBBBBTTTTTT!!!!! Hee Hee--naw girl, I'm juss messin' with ya! ;D But yeah...I gotta pick that up! I bought the poster issue of Black Beat with Dru a few months back, but before then I had kinda slacked up on buying it.
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Post by aDRUfan4LiFe on May 19, 2003 23:07:07 GMT -4
;D I didn't buy the issue, I just got the scans from the internet!
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Post by Xaimara on May 20, 2003 19:38:38 GMT -4
Where? On one of the mailing list or a fan site?
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Post by aDRUfan4LiFe on May 20, 2003 22:00:35 GMT -4
I got the scans from the previous article of Dru hill in Blackbeat in a yahoogroup. Someone sent me them. But for this new issue, I haven't seen it yet.
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Post by Xaimara on May 20, 2003 23:11:57 GMT -4
Oh ok. I thought you had the scans of the new one. I bought the other black beat. It had a nice big poster and the same info in the interview that all Dru fans know about them already.
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Post by aDRUfan4LiFe on May 24, 2003 20:25:46 GMT -4
Here's the article Part 1
Time sure flies when you're making moves in the ever changing music industry. Baltimore natives Sisqo, Nokio, Woody, Jazz and Scola could certainly tell you a thing or two. As the super-soulful, urban R&B quintet Dru Hill, they've made quite a name for themselves since their breakthrough debut (remember Tell Me?) from 1995. Since that time,they've racked up a couple of platinum certified LP's, a slew of instantly infectious R&B/Pop radio hits, loads of media exposure and a loyal fan base. With that kind of momentum going for them, they've performed for Nelson Mandela; collaborated with the likes of Will Smith and Mariah Carey; and even ventured into various solo ventures. After a brief group hiatus, during which Sisqo scored and international smash ("Thong Song"), Nokio delved into production and A&R, Woody recorded a contemporary gospel cd, Jazz made contributions to a few soundtracks, they converged for Dru World Order- with new member Scola in tow. After releasing the first single, the classic textured "I Should Be, the disc soared past gold status, making way for a successful return to form. Now with "I Love You" working the national charts, the fellas are more than ready to take it all the way. What do they have up their sleeves? How do they manage to keep things together when other groups are breaking up? During a long talk, we found out it's all about keeping things in perspective.
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Post by aDRUfan4LiFe on May 24, 2003 21:00:07 GMT -4
Part 2 BB: I remember seeing you guys at an LL Cool J concert here in NY, right before DWO reunion CD came out. When it was announced that the members of Dru Hill were in the house, the crowd went crazy. Then, you hit them off with a litte impromptu "In My Bed," while the DJ played the Jermaine Dupri remix.
Sisqo: Yeah, that was really something. Nokio: That was real cool. You know, it's just cool to be able to [you know] go away, come back, and still be relevant in a lot of peoples lives. Like, with our music, we would always get the fans that would be like, "I was going through this and I was going through that. But I heard your song and it helped me get through whatever."
BB: I knew from the reaction you guys got that folks were ready from some more Dru Hill.
Sisqo: Yeah, they've been really receptive, so we just tried to stay as humble as possible. You know, do what we need to do and just keep singing. We're all about the music. If we never win another award I couldn't give a rat's a**. I wanted so bad to receive a grammy or an American Music Award, and now none of that means anything to us anymore. It's all really about the fans. We never win any awards. You know, we won't lose any sleep. As long as the fans are satisfied with what we're doing, we're happy.
So, after not being together as a group for a while, how long did it take to recorded Dru World Order?
N: It took us about three weeks to really to really get down the skeleton of what we wanted to do. We had done that before we even went to the label. Then, once we had done that, it took a few more months just dealing with scheduling and stuff like that. You know, just getting with different people. Then we went to Jamaica and recorded the album. We recorded the other part in California. We started out at Sisqo' s house, so we got a litte traveling and a little experience out of the whole thing, too.
BB: Nokio, you've made a name for yourself as a behind the scenes music executive, producing and dabbling in A&R. Will you be wearing those hats while your out working with Dru Hill?
N: Oh no. I got a good camp of producers that I work with[you know]; I got them working,some up and coming guys, just teaching them the stuff that I learned. The next project that I find I wanna A&R, I'm gonna still do that. You know, getting iinto the management side. It's like we really got a chance to brand our name like Coca-Cola or a Pepsi, or something like that. So, right now,it's just continuing tha branding over and over again. We're just doing as much stuff as we can do and diversifying, so when you think of Dru Hill, you're thinking, "Alright, man! They've got the record business part down, and they got the production part down. It's so the name will continue to have value long after we ain't doing the"Bankhead Bounce" no more. (He laughs.)
More coming later... ;D
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Post by aDRUfan4LiFe on May 25, 2003 16:56:52 GMT -4
BB: Speaking of your outside projects, you worked with the group 3rd Storee. Did you notice any similarities between them and Dru Hill when you guys first started? Or did you find that they were totally different than Dru Hill?N: I noticed that we were an influence in their lives, and that was cool. I remember the first time that I was taking them to vocal training, when I first went out to LA to start working on their project, and they were singing "In The Still Of The Night" in the car accapella. That's one of the songs we used to sing in high school, just messing around for the girls. So, I could definitely see the same kind of hunger and the same kind of individuality that we have as a group. But I know that they had a lot more stuff to offer than just, "Yeah we're another Dru Hill."BB: Speaking of Dru Hill, it wasn't hard to tell that you guys were going for classic Dru Hill flavor with Dru World Order, even though I know you guys are capable of playing with other styles.S: Our music progresses. On the one hand, we'll sing a song like "How Deep Is Your Love" and on the next we'll sing a song from the play Aida, like the one that was on my album. Then we jump from that to singing the "You Are Everything" remix. So, for being gone for so long, I guess the label didn't think to show more of the progression that we have. It may have confused the consumer, so they tried to keep it pretty classic.In keeping it classic Dru Hill, some good songs didn't make the CD. When you boys first played DWO for me, I distinctly remember great songs like the Neptunes-produced "Sweet Lies" and another song called "Yesterday."S: Yeah those were tight. And then we did a U2 cover. I don't know if I should say the name.(I wanna hear! ) BB: A U2 cover?S: Yeah, I don't know if I should say the name because it might put me in a compromising position. But it was a dope joint and [you know] hopefully we can put it out. But, you know, the industry has changed so much; everybody is really focusing on making sure people stay in there lane. But I definitely can believe that I was one of those artist that can step out of their lane and still have success, which may piss some people off or whatever. I don't know.BB: Who cares?S: That's exactly what I say, "whatever." I just want to sing, I don't care.BB: Let's talk a bit about those times when we don't see you guys. Nokio, even though I know you're kind of laid back, you look like someone who liked to get it crunk. (lol) But I don't see you out at a lot of parties in NY.N: Naw man; I never really did that. In the beginning, it was because of the fact that I knew I was new in the business. So, it was where a lot of stuff was happening the way that it did for us. I didn't want to get caught up and not be focused on what I need to be focused on. I go to the stuff that I know is important to go to. I hang out every once in a while, but I like to stay in the studio and keep it moving.BB: Well, it certainly keeps you out of trouble.Oh yeah. That's the way that you know if the stuff you might hear about me is for real or boo-boo because nobody don't see me. It's not like you can say, "Yeah I saw Nokio a Pathmark." Or, "I saw him go through the drive through at Wendy's.Where did the song "Men Alway's Regret" come from?N: That's some true-to-life stuff! I just thought that it ain't about being extra sensitive or anything like that; it's stuff that happened for real. A lot of times, we might take for granted the fact that we might have some women in our lives that will let you go through your little phases and everything you know you need to get through to be the man they want you to be. But, meanwhile, when they find out that we're sitting back waiting for them to say what they gotta say, they're like, "Yeah well, its cool. I'm alright; I'mma be here." Then from that point on, it's like a countdown to destruction. You don't know what they are gonna do from that point. They're still sitting there smiling in your face, you think everything is cool and meanwhile they're over there doing something else-whatever it is. It gets to where you regret getting over it. So [It's like], just to keep yourself safe if anything happens, in the end you can say that you were doing everything that you were supposed to do and it wasn't you're fault. If you do something, you gotta realize that you have to be ready for whatever is coming after that.Whew!!!!!!! More later....
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Post by CarolinaCutie on May 25, 2003 18:43:20 GMT -4
LOL--thankx for what you have posted so far...this is good reading!
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Drulady03
Silver Member
Mmm Mmm Good!
Posts: 542
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Post by Drulady03 on May 25, 2003 21:46:21 GMT -4
lol Thankies so much girl ;D
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Post by aDRUfan4LiFe on May 25, 2003 23:57:52 GMT -4
BB: That's very true.
N: I've always been in strong relationships since I've been in the business. Like, I was running around doing whatever I had to do. So whatever I was doing, I had to accept the fact that the same thing might happen to me. If you can do that, then you'll be cool. It can't be like, you're jumping off doing your own thing, then when your girl jumps off, you're like,"I'm saying [though] why you gotta do that?" Because you were doing the same thing and she was tired of it. She could say, "If you're doing something. then I'm going to do the same thing too, and we can talk about it later.
BB: That must have weighed heavily on your mind for you to jot down a whole song about it.
N: It was Christmas Eve one year, and it was the first Christmas eve by myself- without someone there or nothing. I just started writing the song. We'd been together for like 12 years.
BB: Whoa! I think a twelve years of a relationship would get a song or two out of me too.
N: Yeah, I done seen it all when it comes to the relationship stuff. You're just better off in the beginning, if you're going to be in a relationship, to do what you gotta do and let everything else fall in place. If you ain't ready for it be honest about it and don't be wasting a lot of peoples time.
BB: So, you're one of those people in the music industry who can actually keep a relationship going, even with the scheduling that you guys have? Some people just sidetrack the whole relationship thing; they say they're too busy. How do you handle that kind of thing?
N: I don't know, man. I'm all about whatever time that I can make with whoever I'm with to be together. Whether it's a week or an hour, that's important if we're gonna be together, because everything is already hectic as it is. If you're gonna make that committment to somebody and really say, "Yo this is what I'm gonna do, it's like a job [almost]. You gotta put that time in. It's like, "I'm going to be at this airport,; I've got five hours on the layover. Could you jump in a cab and meet me and hang out with me for a little while before I leave?" It's about whatever it is that you gotta do to keep it going, because it's already hard enough. It's especially like that if you're somebody in the music business dealing with somebody else in the music business. The rumors and stuff are going to come and you've got to have a strong relationship to deal with that stuff. A lot of times, it may not even be the fact that rumors are true that messes up a relationship. It's the fact that sometimes you get tired of hearing a bunch of rumors. I'm just tired of that.
The last part~~tomorrow...
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Post by aDRUfan4LiFe on May 26, 2003 16:57:54 GMT -4
BB: From what I hear, you certainly don't have any problems dating within the music industry.
N: I've had a girlfriend- or a couple- since I've been in the business. Whether it's an artist, an executive or whatever. When you're doing that kind of stuff, you really gotta have somebody who can totally understand what goes down, for real, so that you don't take if for something it's not. "You love your music more than you love me!" It's like, "C'mon now, that's not fair.
BB: When you're not working, do you find it easy to slip out of this whole music industry mode and slip right into normal mode? Can you move around by yourself like a normal person?
N: Yeah, I do it everytime we finish doing what we gotta do. It's like punching the clock. When I wake up in the morning at 9am, I gotta start being "Mr. Dru Hill Man". So, let me get ready for that. When we're done at like 10 or 11 at night, I know it's time to take this uniform off. I'm going home; I'll see you later.
So, can you actually go out to a movie or the supermarket?
N: Oh yeah! A lot of times people don' t know it's me anyway. They're like, "Oh man, he's too short. I saw him on MTV; he don't look like Nokio."
(If you are a fan, you probably would notice him!)
What can you guys tell me about Dru Hill today that may not have been true about Dru Hill before?
S: Man, I think what's different is that we're not really chasing any demons. We're not chasing awards, we're not chasing accolades and we're not chasing record sales. We're just doing what we do best and that's sing and perform. I think everybody has grown into their own and we basically have that same kind of hunger that we had in the beginning. Of course, we've also grown musically, as well as young men. When we started, we were teenager, and now we're young men- young business men. We all have different business endeavors; we're living more business minded. Nokio executive produced Dru World Order and we just have more control over the situation now.
---The end!
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Post by VaPy on May 26, 2003 17:50:27 GMT -4
Yeaaaah! Thank you CC!
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Post by CarolinaCutie on May 26, 2003 18:53:05 GMT -4
No need to thank me...adrufan is the one who posted this article. She's the one who deserves all the thanks.
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