InDRUpendence Day is the fourth studio album by American R&B group Dru Hill, released on July 27, 2010[5] under Kedar Entertainment Group. The album was supposed to be released on June 8, 2010, but it was pushed back. The album is the group's first release with new member, Tao, and is also their first album in eight years since their previous album, Dru World Order.[6] The album released three singles: "Love MD", "Remain Silent" and "Back to the Future". "Love MD" is the only single that had a music video released. Despite the lack of charting singles and the fact that it was their first album in 8 years, the album was still moderately successful, reaching #30 on the Billboard 200.
| InDRUpendence Day | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 27, 2010 (Release history) | |||
| Recorded | June 2008–March 2010 | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul | |||
| Length | 56:43 | |||
| Label | Kedar Entertainment Group | |||
| Producer | Kedar Massenburg, Dru Hill and Kevin Peck (executive) Wirlie Morris, Nathan Mooring, Jason "J-Hott" Scott | |||
| Dru Hill chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from InDRUpendence Day | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| Slant Magazine |  [3] |
| USA Today | [4] |
Background
editThe album was confirmed in 2009 following the addition of new member Antwuan "Tao" Simpson in 2008 - after winning a talent contest called "Dru Idol" to become the group's fourth member.[7] The group toured as a trio prior to the addition of Tao. "Our harmony is so intricate that in order to keep the integrity of what's going on the record and still perform for the fans, it's almost impossible to do with just three people," Sisqo explained in an interview with MTV. "Most of the time you have to have that three-part harmony structure while the other person is singing lead. Sometimes our harmony is so intricate, we might have to stop singing lead to make sure the integrity of the harmony is there... We didn't feel it was right to cheat the people out of that." "It's a great addition Tao brings to the group," Jazz offered. "His register is a little higher than normally what's been presented in the Dru Hill sound. It's just hot, man. This record is crazy." "People have been accepting me in the group. You get your haters here and there, but for the most part, it's a dream," Tao said.[8]
Sound
editThe sound for InDRUpendence Day is "what you're used to hear from us. It's the harmonies, the melodies. We're singing about relationships," Nokio said. "As businessmen and writers and producers, we made sure we tried to incorporate what's going on now without becoming what's going on right now."[8]
Release and promotion
editInDRUpendence Day was released on July 27, 2010, preceded by the single "Love MD".
Listening party
editThe "InDRUpendence Day" album listening party was held on March 30, 2010 at Le Lupanar in New York City.[9]
Reality show
editThe group's reality show "Platinum House" premiered on June 28, 2010 on Centric. It's about the group starting over and coming back together recording and writing music. The show focuses on their daily lives and this album.[8]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shut It Down" | Nathan Mooring | 3:51 |
| 2. | "Do It Again" | Nathan Mooring | 3:40 |
| 3. | "She Wants Me" | Wirlie Morris | 4:04 |
| 4. | "Whatcha Do" | Wirlie Morris | 3:47 |
| 5. | "Below Zero" | Wirlie Morris | 4:09 |
| 6. | "Can't Stop" | Jason "J-Hott" Scott | 3:39 |
| 7. | "Remain Silent" | Wirlie Morris, Keith Sweat | 3:48 |
| 8. | "Makin Luv" | Jason "J-Hott" Scott | 4:27 |
| 9. | "State of Emergency" | Wirlie Morris | 3:43 |
| 10. | "Back to the Future" | Wirlie Morris | 3:50 |
| 11. | "Love MD" | Wirlie Morris | 4:06 |
| 12. | "Away" | Wirlie Morris | 4:45 |
| 13. | "Rule the World" | Starr Strukk | 4:05 |
| 14. | "If You Fall" (iTunes bonus track) | Jason "J-Hott" Scott | 4:09 |
| 15. | "Guitar" (iTunes bonus track) | 4:14 | |
| 16. | "Wind" (Black Angel Down snippet) | 1:32 | |
| 17. | "How Deep Is Your Love" (Black Angel Down snippet) | 1:37 | |
| 18. | "The End" (Black Angel Down snippet) | 1:34 |
Charts
edit| Chart (2010)[10] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 30 |
| U.S. R&B Albums | 10 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | July 27, 2010 | Kedar Entertainment | CD, Download |
| Canada | July 30, 2010 | Kedar Entertainment | CD, Download |
References
edit- ^ "iTunes - Music - Love MD - Single by Dru Hill". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "InDRUpendence Day - Dru Hill". Allmusic.
- ^ Cataldo, Jesse (2010-07-30). "Dru Hill: InDRUpendence Day". Slant Magazine.
- ^ Jones, Steve (2010-07-27). "Dru Hill, InDRUpendence Day: On the Comeback Trail". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
- ^ Date: 05/19/08. "Dru Hill Adds Summer Tour Dates Plus New Album on Horizon". Singersroom.com. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "New Music from Dru Hill - If You Fall". Mog.com. 2010-12-27. Archived from the original on 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
- ^ "Dru Hill Indrupendence Day:New Dru Hill Songs Music Tracks". Rnbmusicblog.com. 2009-07-20. Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
- ^ a b c Reid, Shaheem (2010-03-30). "Dru Hill Welcomes New Member On InDRUpendence Day - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
- ^ "LIFE". LIFE. 2012-02-19. Archived from the original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
- ^ "Indrupendence Day - Dru Hill". AllMusic. 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2012-02-25.