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 Dru World Order, 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, Dru World Order 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 N.O.R.E. adds dope rhymes to the ghetto-fabulous "On Me," while Dru Hill's Def Soul labelmate Chinky, of R&B quartet LovHer, 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. --Kim Hughes