Sisqó

Sisqó
a.k.a. Mark Andrews

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THE SISQO KID
With a Hit Single and a New MTV Show, This R&B Sensation's Dance Card Is Full
The solo career of flamboyant Dru Hill front-man Sisqo has soared with the success of his multi-platinum UNLEASH THE DRAGON. Taking a break from his stint on the sold-out, Spring 2000 tour with teen popsters 'N Sync, the dynamic Baltimore bad boy spoke with Barnes & Noble.com R&B and rap editor Tracy E. Hopkins about his chart-busting "Thong Song," Dru Hill's upcoming record, his MTV show, and his budding movie career.

Barnes & Noble.com: Are you surprised by how well your solo career has taken off?

Sisqo: As far as the "Thong Song" is concerned, I knew it was a hit but I didn't know it would be a smash. The difference between a hit and a smash is that a group of people like a hit, but everyone knows and likes a smash. Especially due to the content of the song, I didn't expect everyone to like it.

Barnes & Noble.com: Why do you think the song blew up?

Sisqo: I think it was the cleverness of how I masqueraded talking about a female's underwear. I think everyone is applauding how I got such a racy topic past the censors. There are a lot of ways I could have described a girl with a nice butt other than "dumps like a truck."

Barnes & Noble.com: How did the "Thong Song" originate?

Sisqo: My cousin, who plays the lead role in Mya's new video, was describing this date he had. He said when his girl turned around she had on a thong, thong, thong, thong, thong. And needless to say, I busted out laughing. So from then on, we'd repeat that line whenever we saw a girl with a thong on. It was contagious. It was really catchy, so I decided to write a song about it. One of the biggest songs of the decade started as a joke.

Barnes & Noble.com: On Black Entertainment Television's 20th anniversary special, you gave your last televised performance of the "Thong Song." Why?

Sisqo: I just felt like there's not too much different I can do with the song [in a live performance]. I never want to be an artist who steps onstage and the audience is going "Ah, here he comes again." So I felt that the best thing for me to do professionally was to go out on top and cut off the televised performances right there. And BET seemed like the fitting place to do it, considering that my career started on that network. Even though I'm getting a lot of MTV love right now, and I have new show on MTV called "Sisqo's Shakedown" that will be running this summer, I wanted to give BET something special for helping to keep my career alive.

Barnes & Noble.com: Tell me more about "Sisqo's Shakedown."

Sisqo: It's a dance show, and the grand prize is a big cash reward and an opportunity to be in the next Dru Hill video. The show started airing in June.

Barnes & Noble.com: Who are your biggest musical influences?

Sisqo: Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, and Jodeci. But for my solo album, I was more in tune with the pop culture. Whoever was the hottest artist, that's who I was studying to try and outdo. Whoever was on top of MTV's TRL countdown, I bought their music. I bought Backstreet Boys' MILLENNIUM, Christina Aguilera's album, and Britney's album. I wanted to find out what it was about their music that attracted so many people. Why is it that they could sell five to ten million records, when Dru Hill was stuck at two million? I felt Dru Hill was just as talented. Maybe we were just missing something along the way. But [with UNLEASH THE DRAGON], I think I figured it out. I'm not exactly sure what "it" is, but I think that just being privy to the music and finding what I liked in it gave me the ear to figure out what the broader pop market likes to hear.

Barnes & Noble.com: What are your all-time favorite albums?

Sisqo: The Michael Jackson HISTORY album is one of my favorites, mainly because it is a compilation of hits from THRILLER, OFF THE WALL, and DANGEROUS. I also love all of Jodeci's albums and the second Boyz II Men album, II. I listen to a lot of hip-hop too, like Jay-Z, DMX, the Lox, Lil' Kim, and some of the dirty South, Hot Boys stuff. I just like hot music.

Barnes & Noble.com: How old were you when you knew you wanted to be an entertainer?

Sisqo: From what my mother tells me, I knew I wanted to be in the spotlight since I was two. I didn't specifically want to be a singer. I just knew that I wanted to be in the spotlight, and I was determined to keep going until I reached my goal.

Barnes & Noble.com: You got your start singing while working at a shop called the Fudgery in Baltimore's Inner Habor. Do you go back and visit?

Sisqo: I go back whenever I get a chance. About three or four months ago, I did an ABC special for Teen People magazine, and we filmed there so people outside of Baltimore could finally see what the whole Fudgery experience is about. Britney Spears and 'N Sync are on the special as well.

Barnes & Noble.com: How'd you land on the 'N Sync tour?

Sisqo: The guys wanted to have me on the tour, and our managers had lunch and worked out the logistics. So far, the tour has been really fun, and it doesn't hurt that we all get along. Unfortunately, I won't be able to finish the tour because I'm shooting a movie this summer. It's a Miramax comedy called "Getting Over Allison," and it costars Kirsten Dunst. For my first film, I wanted to do a film with a lot of dialogue instead of doing an action or a horror movie because I wanted people to take me seriously as an actor. I know that takes time, but I figured this would be a good start.

Barnes & Noble.com: So you'll be like the next Will Smith?

Sisqo: I have actually patterned my career after Will's career. He's sort of a mentor to me. We formed a bond when we did the song for the "Wild, Wild West." He tells me when I'm doing things right and if I'm going a little too far. He's a good role model for a young black man like me, and he's been a blessing to have in my life. Hopefully I can follow in his footsteps and have as much success as he's had in movies.