Sisqo's L.A. Hideaway - singer

Ebony, Oct, 2001 by Lynn Norment

Dru Hill member is making his solo mark in entertainment with two hot albums, movies, television, two new groups and his own clothing line

SISQO plays hard, works hard and lives large. On stage, in videos and on TV, he is a chameleonlike trendsetter with proven ability to influence pop culture--with blond or braided hair, hip athletic and urban gear, and with catchy song phrases and fancy dance steps.

That edgy, energetic style also characterizes Sisqo at home. On this picturesque, sunny California day, the 25-year-old entertainer is cooling out at his upscale "bachelor's pad" in the San Fernando Valley, a short drive from Los Angeles. In the midst of a worldwide promotional tour for his new album, he is at his West Coast home (he also has a house in Baltimore) for only a few days before he heads off to Japan.

It is a 5,500-square-foot, Mediterranean-style gated villa on a hilltop. There are four bedrooms, living room, kitchen, den and sunroom, all with a view of the terraces with swimming pool and outdoor whirlpool, and the hills and valleys beyond. A terrace actually sits atop a separate building that houses a large home-gym that Sisqo has turned into a recording studio. Adjacent to the studio and perched on the side of a hill is a tennis and basketball court.

Housed in the multiple-vehicle garage is part of his fleet of luxury cars, which includes a Bentley, a Lexus, and Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz sport-utility vehicles.

Sisqo tries to chill out, but his hyperactive mind won't let him. It is evident the wheels are still turning as he ponders the issues pertinent to his life and livelihood. His new album, Return of Dragon, sold more than 2 million copies worldwide in the first two months. Yet, in Sisqo's mind, the big question is whether it will top the 5 million sold by his 1999 Unleash the Dragon, whether there will be another "Thong Song" hit like the summer 2000 party anthem that put him on the music map as a solo artist. Also on his mind are the recording projects to he released by his two groups this winter, his upcoming movie and the launch of his Dragon Collection clothing line. Despite his renowned love of thongs and the women who wear them, despite his playful bad-boy image, he is a bright and brilliant star and businessman with multiple talents and boundless energy.

On this beautiful California afternoon, Sisqo tries to sit still in his den while he talks about his music career and his family.

Even though he was filming a movie and hosting a show on MTV at the time, he wrote 50 percent of the new album as opposed to 90 percent of his previous project. "It sold 5 million, which is good," he says of the first album. "But I felt that people kinda overlooked the actual album and went straight for `Thong Song.' There were a lot of powerful ballads on that album. Consequently, he says, the new album has more up-tempo songs "because my singing ballads might be too much. I'd rather keep the music up-tempo." True to his heart, this album has some great songs that might rival "Thong Song."

Yes, Sisqo prefers women who wear thongs. "But they don't have to wear them all the time because I realize they are uncomfortable," he says. "If we're going out and she's dressing up to look cute, then I prefer thongs. But if we're just lying around the house, she can wear the comfortable ones."

When asked if it is true that during his concerts, women actually throw thongs on the stage, he says: "Yes, and they throw themselves at me with the thongs on. And it's not really a bad thing, either."

At this time, the bachelor says he is not pondering marriage, nor is he looking for a "celebrity relationship," as it was reported in one publication. "I have a significant other," he says, preferring not to name the object of his affection. He says the misquote resulted from a statement he made "that it seems that if you are planning to be a superstar, you have to have a celebrity relationship or get in trouble with the law. And I was like, `I don't plan on getting in trouble with the law, so I figure I'll go for the celebrity relationship.'

"So just to clear that up: I'm not looking for a celebrity right now," he emphasizes. "I can't play the field forever, you know. I've been out there and nobody's been checking. Nobody was really making me feel like that was the direction I wanted to go in. But now I have somebody who I like to really call my best friend."

Just what kind of thong-wearing woman does the "Thong Song" man prefer for himself?. "First of all, she has to be a diva," he answers. "When I say diva, I mean I like females who take a lot of pride in their physical appearance. But it doesn't stop there. I'm around pretty girls all the time. I'm at the point in my life where it's `so you're pretty, but what else?' You gotta be fly, but you gotta be, like, supersmart, too. Because I've got a high IQ and [I'm] always thinking, and if you ain't swift, you ain't gonna be able to keep up with me. And I don't like a woman I can walk over. I like a strong female, somebody who reads and who likes technology. Somebody who is affectionate, hardworking."