R&B bad-boy Sisqo will be working overtime this weekend when he heads down to Miami to film the video for his "Thong Song," for which he's got a rather ambitious goal in mind. The Dru Hill crooner wants the clip for his ode to skimpy undees to be even better than his favorite video of all time: Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

"Everybody puts 'Thriller' on a pedestal and never tries to outdo it," he says. "But I think, especially with the different things I'm doing with the dance choreography, I might have probably one of the best videos ever done."

Sisqo says the video for the second single from his debut solo album, Unleash the Dragon, will feature cameos by 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake, L.L. Cool J, Redman, Method Man and DMX. Plus, artists on his own Dragon Records imprint, female group Lovher, rappers Make It Hot and Kid, will also pop up in the clip.

"It's kind of a Spring Break kind of thing," he offers, describing the theme of the video. "Of course I have a really elaborate dance sequence. And me and all the dancers are doing this one particular stunt that's never been attempted by a group of dancers before. You have to see it. It's kind of hard to explain. It's an acrobatic kind of thing."

More than a thousand people will crowd onto the beach for the video, and Sisqo promises it will include plenty of pyrotechnics and laser lights. Perhaps the most exciting technology, though, is one best explained by Sisqo himself: "We're using special camera effects to accentuate the thong, so it won't be just a booty video. We figured out a responsible way to feature the thong without offending anybody."

JENNY ELISCU
(January 27, 2000)