Iconic, mid-to-late ’90s R&B boy band Dru Hill is making its next stop on the “Year of the Dru” tour in the city of Tucson. For band member Sisqó “The Dragon,” the group’s upcoming performance signifies the near ending of the tour — and they fully intend to finish on a high note.
“Tucson is actually drawing near to the end of the tour and you know what they say, you’ve got to finish strong — and that’s what we plan on doing,” he said.
Dru Hill will perform at the Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheatre on Friday, July 10, at 8 p.m. Rather than following a static setlist, Sisqó said the group plays different songs across its discography — ensuring that each new show is different from the last. One of the band’s greatest hits is “How Deep is Your Love,” which debuted in 1998 and was featured in the “Rush Hour” movie soundtrack. Dru Hill’s collection of songs also includes, but is not limited to, “In My Bed,” “Never Make a Promise” and “The Love We Had.” According to Sisqó, no two Dru Hill songs sound the same.
“We do the best that we can to give our people the opportunity to listen to a variety of music,” he said. “It shows our musical range.”
The boy band has been performing since the mid-1990s and, according to Sisqó, still retains many of its original members. He said that some of the group’s musical inspirations include boy bands that came before them — New Edition, The Temptations, Boyz II Men, Four Tops and Jodeci. The Dragon explained that while he and his bandmates did not know each other before getting signed, they forged strong bonds across their 30-year career.
“We kind of grew up together and looked at each other as brothers,” Sisqó said. “Sometimes we get along, sometimes we don’t, but it’s always love — it’s like a marriage.”
He explained that he and his brothers primarily concerned themselves with keeping the integrity of their music alive. If they succeeded to that end, Sisqó said, all else would naturally fall into place.
According to Sisqó, the resurgence of interest in throwback music has introduced Dru Hill to a younger generation. He recalled taking his children backstage at a Tyler, the Creator concert, where they were surprised the rapper recognized him.
“I took them backstage to meet Tyler and their minds were blown that he knew who I was,” Sisqó said. “After that, they asked for a vinyl and they wanted to hear all of my music.”
While Sisqó never expected that being considered “old-school” would be good, he said he has discovered it “is the greatest thing in the entire world.”
As the concert date in Tucson approaches, Sisqó said that he is thrilled to deliver a performance that even long-term, die-hard fans will feel surprised by.
“We want you to take away from the experience that Dru Hill is unlike any other group you’ve ever seen,” he said. “Even if you’ve seen us once before, I can almost promise you that whatever we’re performing this time is nothing like what we did last time.”
