Rap / R&B vocal group named after the Druid Hill Park neighborhood of West Baltimore. The group formed when they were teenagers and originally sang gospel music before transitioning to primarily R&B music. Original members Larry ‘Jazz’ Anthony (drums, keyboards, guitar), Mark ‘Sisqo’ Andrews (piano), James ‘Woody’ Green (piano), and Tamir ‘Nokio’ Ruffin (keyboards, guitar, trumpet) performed at churches, talent shows, and a summer as the main attraction at The Fudgery in the Harborplace on Light Street. There at the open-air pavilion they attracted huge crowds of customers and passersby to hear their acapella harmonizing while they made candy.
After winning several local talent contests the group traveled to New York to compete at the famed Apollo Theater, where they placed nationally. They were signed to Island records after their performance at Impact ’96, a music industry convention. Their first album “Dru Hill” was released in late 1996 and featured the Top-10 hit “Tell Me” that was also featured on the soundtrack to the film “Eddie.” In 1998 the group released a second album “Enter the Dru” (Island), and in 2002 released “Dru World Order” (Def Soul). Single releases include “Tell Me” (1996 Island), “How Deep Is Your Love” (1998 Def Jam), “These Are the Times” (1999 Island), “You Are Everything” (1999 Polygram – CD single and 12” vinyl single), “I Love You” (2003 Def Jam – CD single and 12”).
Dru Hill 1996 single – Island Records
In 1999 Dru Hill sang on Will Smith’s #1 hit “Wild Wild West” and appeared on the accompanying video along with rapper Kool Moe Dee.
Woody left in mid-1999 and the group continued as a trio.
Dru Hill embarked on a ‘Dru World Order’ project in 2000. Each of the members recorded solo projects. Woody released a gospel CD “Soul Music” (2002 Gospocentric Records). Nokio recorded a hip hop album. He also produced other groups including DMX, and worked for Def Soul, and Atlantic Records. Sisqo found great success with his “Unleash the Dragon” album that featured the hit singles “Got to Get It,” “The Thong Song,” and “Incomplete.” His second CD “Return of The Dragon” did not fare quite as well.
By 2002 Dru Hill re-formed with the original members, adding popular local hip hop vocalist Rufus ‘Scola’ Waller. They released the third album “Dru World Order.”
Album releases by Dru Hill:
1996(CD) Island Dru Hill
1998(CD) Island Enter the Dru
2002(CD) Def Soul Dru World Order
2005(CD) Def Soul Hits
