1999 Rewind: Remembering Sisqo’s Unleash the Dragon

Are y’all ready to party like it’s 1999? We all love the 90s here at Soul In Stereo, so it’s only right to revisit albums that are marking 25 years in 2024. 1999 Rewind looks back at all your old faves and see how well they hold up.

By 1999, Dru Hill was one of the biggest forces in R&B. But when we got word that lead singer Sisqo was dropping his solo album, it caught us by surprise. It seemed kinda premature considering the massive roll the group was on. But it was certainly the right place and time, as Sisqo’s debut became one of the biggest and most successful albums of the era. Derrick Dunn of reviewsanddunn.net joins me as we talk about a Song of Thongs and Dragons.

Y’all know what it is – let’s talk about your initial thoughts when you heard this album.

Derrick: My initial reaction to the album was one of surprise. When I first saw the ad announcing Sisqo’s solo debut in early fall 1999, I couldn’t help but feel it was a bit too soon, especially considering Dru Hill’s success with their second album. However, Sisqo had already shown his solo stardom by singing the hook to “Wild Wild West” that summer. The album was a pleasant surprise, especially since it was ballad-heavy and stayed close to the Dru Hill sound.

Edd: By 1999 I was a card carrying Dru Hill stan, so there was no way I was missing out on Sisqo’s debut album, even if I wasn’t all that blown away by the first single “Got to Get It.” It was a good song, it just didn’t reach the highs of Dru Hill’s classic singles. That didn’t stop me from copping the album, a good bit before ThongAMania would sweep the country the following summer. But long before y’all were stuttering along with Sisqo about th-th-thongs, I was captivated by this LP’s album cuts. I wore this album OUT, and it’s probably my favorite release of 1999.

Talk about your pick for best song!

Derrick: “Incomplete”

Music purists know Sisqo wasn’t the first one to record “Incomplete.” However, Sisqo’s performance was so powerful that every note he sang resonated with us. I’ve always felt that the sign of a good ballad is that you can change the words around and make it a song about a departed friend/family member or a gospel song, and Incomplete ultimately achieves that.

Edd: “Incomplete”

Derrick knows. Sisqo’s heart-wrenching performance is the x-factor that transforms “Incomplete” from typical dreary 90s ballad to a fiery, star-making vehicle. If there was any doubt that Sisqo could make it on his own as a solo star, this one silenced critics (for a little while, at least).

What was the best video from the project?

Derrick: “Thong Song”

Despite the song becoming a victim of its own success, I can’t deny the sheer fun and entertainment in the “Thong Song” video. It’s a nostalgic reminder of the carefree times we all enjoyed.

Edd: “Thong Song”

Can YOU do a one-handed cartwheel while endless women try to distract you with their hind parts? I doubt it. Sisqo’s videos were quite the spectacle in this era, from dancing on rooftops to FIGHTING A POWER RANGERS MONSTER (no surprise why that video never saw release). But “Thong Song” was the appropriate mix of debauchery and entertainment. When you think of Sisqo, you think of this video.

Which album cut should have been a single?

Derrick: “Addicted”

Thinking about the song that should have been a single is challenging because Unleash the Dragon has some strong album tracks. That said, though, I would have to say “Addicted” had Quiet Storm staple written all over it, and a Nokio-produced remix with a verse from Jazz singing would have been crazy.

Edd: “Is Love Enough”

This is a tough one because most of these songs have single potential, which is why this album is so potent. “So Sexual” is incredible but it might be a little racy for airwaves (they were still a little cautious about that stuff even in the late 90s). Derrick is right that “Addicted” would be a solid choice, but “Incomplete” already had the Quiet Storm section on lock. I’ll go with “Is Love Enough” – the 90s were all about that Jerry Springer-styled drama and having Sisqo go back and forth with the ladies of LovHer would make a memorable video. Ah, the 90s, we were so ridiculous.

What’s the best vocal performance on the album?

Derrick: “Incomplete”

“Incomplete” is his best vocal performance on the album.

Edd: “Incomplete”

Yeah, hands down it’s “Incomplete.” I know Sisqo has a reputation for going overboard with his vocals at times, but “Incomplete” is just the right amount of passion and power. Yeah, he still goes crazy, but it’s justified crazy.

And what’s the most underrated song on the album?

Derrick: “Addicted”

Replaying the album, I would say “Addicted” is the most underrated song. It’s a slice of 90s R&B at its finest.

Edd: “So Sexual”

The short answer is “anything that wasn’t a single.” But I’ll go with “So Sexual” since I rarely hear it mentioned. The latin influence is subtle but strong and you can really see Babyface’s fingerprints all over it. It’s so well done.

Sisqo’s follow-up solo projects never reached the level of this one. What went wrong?

Derrick: In my opinion, Sisqo’s solo career is one of the biggest blunders in R&B. I believe the issue stems from him becoming a victim of his success with the “Thong Song.” This track won over the pop crowd and his naysayers, which may have inflated his ego. By the time his second album was released, R&B was evolving, and he seemed to think he was the best thing since sliced bread. As a result, he struggled to find a sound that suited him.

Edd: I’m still not sure how the bag was fumbled so badly. After dropping one of the best surprise projects of the 90s, barely two years later we get one of the most disappointing albums of the 2000s. Honestly, I just think they rushed the sequel. Instead of taking a year or so to build a unique and forward-thinking follow-up, we got a quick cash grab to keep up with the “Thong Song” craze. His solo career never recovered and, sadly, Dru Hill as a unit was never the same either.

If you could give another Dru Hill member a solo run, whom would you pick and why?

Derrick: Jazz

The one person from Dru Hill who deserved a solo run was Jazz. Sisqo is on record saying that Jazz was the best singer in the group, and it’s a shame we never got a chance to hear him on a major label debut, crooning songs from some of the legendary R&B producers.

Edd: Jazz

If you were outside with us in the 9-9 and the 2000, we ALL were rooting for Jazz. In fact, a Jazz solo project seemed inevitable after he released “Here with Me” on the Nutty Professor 2 soundtrack – and it was good! But sadly, that solo project never materialized. It’s truly one of the great “what ifs” of that era.

Sisqo had massive hits with DMX and Lil Kim. Is there a rapper you would have loved to see him collaborate with in his prime?

Derrick: Looking back at how massively popular he was in 2000, I’m surprised Def Jam didn’t try to put him on a single with Jay-Z for The Dynasty album. However, Ludacris and Sisqo could have made some magic.

Edd: Maybe it was the Nokio  or DMX connections, but I always thought Eve and Sisqo would have made a formidable duo circa 2000. Eve’s smooth delivery with Sisqo screaming like a madman in the background – sounds crazy but I guarantee it would have worked. I would have loved to hear him backing up Big Pun as well.

Who is a modern-day writer or producer you would love to see Sisqo collaborate with?

Derrick: The producer is D’Mile, and the writer is Lucky Daye.

Edd: Same and same. D’Mile is a perfect fit for Sisqo’s style of R&B and I think Lucky’s pen could pull some of that 90s magic out of our boy. I wish we had that duo when Return of Dragon dropped. Lawd, help was needed!

How does Unleash the Dragon rank among Dru Hill’s group efforts?

Derrick: I place Unleash the Dragon right behind the group’s first two albums

Edd: If I haven’t made it clear enough, I LOVE this album and even when I put my biases aside, I think Unleash the Dragon holds up very well among not only Dru Hill’s best work, but the best albums  of the 90s as a whole. It doesn’t beat Dru’s magnificent debut, but I think it eclipses all their other releases, yes, even their beloved sophomore record. The production and performances are bit more dynamic and its energy can’t be matched. I still can’t believe a project this good didn’t make Sisqo a megastar but oh well. At least we had the Summer of Thongs.

Whom do you agree with, Derrick or Edd? Let us know below and share your Sisqo memories below.