Dru World Order
Way cool Baltimore R&B posse Dru Hill have it all--boy band sentiments, Motown harmonies, hip-hop handles, and, with the release of <I>Dru World Order</I>, one of the snappiest album titles around. While songs like "Never Stop Loving You," "I Love You," and "Old Love" make it clear the combo isn't about to mess with a winning formula of canoodling, come-hither ballads, <I>Dru World Order</I> takes some detours. The hypnotically rhythmic "No Doubt" jumps with a vaguely Eastern-meets-Caribbean vibe bound to have custom SUVs quaking on the Interstate. Queensbridge emcee <I>N.O.R.E.</I> adds dope rhymes to the ghetto-fabulous "On Me," while Dru Hill's Def Soul labelmate Chinky, of R&B quartet <I>LovHer</I>, adds airy, silken female vocals to the ridiculously catchy, pop-damaged "She Said." And if a dude can't make it to second base while a knock-kneed love song like "I Do (Millions)" plays in the background, then there's no hope. <I>--Kim Hughes</I>