Unleash the Dragon
1999 studio album by Sisqó
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Unleash the Dragon is the debut solo studio album by American R&B singer Sisqó of Dru Hill, released on November 30, 1999, on Def Soul Records. Sisqó recorded the album during Dru Hill's hiatus. It includes the hit songs "Got to Get It", "Incomplete", and "Thong Song". Previously, Sisqo had been the lead singer of the group Dru Hill. Recorded by Island Records, the group released two albums certified platinum by the RIAA: Dru Hill (1996) and Enter the Dru (1998). In 2003, the album was certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of five million copies in the United States.[1]
| Unleash the Dragon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 30, 1999 | |||
| Recorded | 1999 | |||
| Studio | Metalworks (Mississauga, Ontario) | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 51:03 | |||
| Label | Def Soul | |||
| Producers | Tim & Bob, Warryn Campbell, Al West, Baby Dave, Nokio the N-Tity, One Up Entertainment, The Co-Stars, Shep Crawford, Dru Hill, Dutch, N8 & Kiehl | |||
| Sisqó chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Unleash the Dragon | ||||
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The album also garnered Sisqó two American Music Award nominations for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist. In addition he received three nominations including Best New Artist and Best R&B Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2001.[2]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [3] |
| Robert Christgau |  [4] |
| MTV Asia | 7/10[5] |
| Muzik | [6] |
| Q | [7] |
| Rolling Stone | (mixed)[8] |
| The Source | (favorable)[9] |
AllMusic editor Michael Gallucci wrote that "loaded with whispered bedroom moans, which have become late-'90s R&B clichés, Unleash the Dragon is short on any real songs to justify the pointless replay of these familiar grooves [...] Once the beats – which borrow heavily from the contemporary R&B playbook – are programmed, there's little for Sisqó to do but coast along the grooves, with all the conviction and commitment of a soul robot."[3]
Track listing
Credits taken from the album's liner notes.[10]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Unleash the Dragon" (featuring Beanie Sigel) |
|
| 3:53 |
| 2. | "Got to Get It" (featuring Make It Hot) |
|
| 2:54 |
| 3. | "Is Love Enough" (featuring LovHer) |
| Campbell | 4:33 |
| 4. | "2nite" (Interlude) | Tamir Ruffin | Nokio The N-Tity | 1:21 |
| 5. | "How Can I Love U 2nite" |
|
| 5:08 |
| 6. | "Your Love Is Incredible" |
|
| 4:10 |
| 7. | "So Sexual" |
|
| 3:58 |
| 8. | "Thong Song" |
| 4:16 | |
| 9. | "Incomplete" | Crawford | 4:34 | |
| 10. | "Addicted" |
|
| 4:48 |
| 11. | "Dru World Order (Interlude)" (Dedicated to Dru Hill) |
|
| 1:20 |
| 12. | "Enchantment Passing Through" (performed by Dru Hill) | Dru Hill | 5:43 | |
| 13. | "You Are Everything (Remix)" (Dru Hill featuring Ja Rule) |
| 4:16 |
Notes
Sample credits[10]
- "Is Love Enough" contains an interpolation of "Cry for You", written by Donald DeGrate, Raymond E. Jones, and Robert Jones.
- "Thong Song" contains an interpolation of "Livin' la Vida Loca", written by Robi Rosa and Desmond Child.
Personnel
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Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[36] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[37] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| France (SNEP)[38] | Gold | 100,000* |
| Germany (BVMI)[39] | Gold | 150,000^ |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[40] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[41] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[42] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000^ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||