Sisqó

Sisqó (born Mark Althavan{{ref|middlename}} Andrews in Baltimore, Maryland on November 9, 1978) is an African-American R&B and pop singer. He is best known for being the lead singer of R&B group Dru Hill, and also for "Thong Song," a novelty song from his first solo LP, Unleash the Dragon, that became an international hit and fueled a craze for thong underwear and bathing suits for women.

Biography

Early years

Main entry: Dru Hill

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Born and raised in Baltimore, Sisqó met future Dru Hill bandmate James "Woody" Green while in middle school. The two of them would later be recruited by Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin to form Dru Hill, named after Druid Hill Park in Baltimore. Larry "Jazz" Anthony was also soon added to the lineup.

Related Topics:
James "Woody" Green - Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin - Larry "Jazz" Anthony

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Releasing two platinum LPs and a number of successful singles, Dru Hill was a major R&B success during the late 1990s, in no small part because of Sisqó's flamboyant stage personality. In between Dru Hill albums, Sisqó wrote the first two hit singles for labelmate Mya, and appeared with her on the first one, "It's All About Me".

Related Topics:
1990s - Mya

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Solo career

After Woody left the group in 1999 to pursue a solo career, it was decided that the other three members would do the same. Sisqó was the only member besides Woody to actually release a solo LP (Jazz recorded a solo LP that was shelved, and Nokio never finished his). Sisqó's solo debut. Unleash the Dragon, was released on Def Soul Records in November 1999. Unleash the Dragon sold moderately at first, until the February 2000 release of its second single, "Thong Song". A runaway hit, "Thong Song" and its follow-up, "Incomplete," were major hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, with "Thong Song" making it to #3, and "Incomplete" going all the way to #1. The success later got Sisqó a Doll made of himself by Play Along Toys in 2001.

Related Topics:
1999 - Unleash the Dragon - Def Soul Records - November - February - 2000 - Thong Song - Billboard - Hot 100 - Doll

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Conflicts within the group prevented Dru Hill from reuniting as planned in late 2000, and Sisqó set about recording a second solo LP. During this period, Sisqó branched out into television, hosting the dance competition program Sisqó's Shakedown on MTV, and film, taking on supporting roles in the films Get Over It with Kirsten Dunst and Snow Dogs with Cuba Gooding, Jr.. Although his second LP, Return of Dragon, released in June 2001, eventually went platinum, its singles "Can I Live" and "Dance With Me" performed far below expectations, and by 2002, Sisqó was back with Dru Hill, who released their third LP in late 2002.

Related Topics:
Television - MTV - Film - Kirsten Dunst - Cuba Gooding, Jr. - Return of Dragon - June - 2001 - 2002

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Personal and miscellaneous

Sisqó's vocal style has a lot in common with that of K-Ci Hailey from the R&B group Jodeci. His trademarks are his eclectic hair styles, which have included a bleached blond Caesar, a platinum-colored Caesar, blond cornrows, and a neon red dyed Caesar. Sisqó's flashy style has led to a widespread and longtime rumor that he might be gay or bisexual, allegations which he has consistently denied.

Related Topics:
K-Ci Hailey - R&B - Jodeci - Blond - Caesar - Cornrows - Neon - Red - Gay - Bisexual

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Sisqó has one daughter, Shaione, with his high school girlfriend. He was recently dating singer Samantha Mumba.

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The name "Sisqó" was Andrews' nickname from his old neighborhood in Baltimore, as his childhood friends thought his light curly hair made him look Latino.

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