In Essence

In Essence

Company type	Music group
Industry	Music
Founded	1993 in Toronto, Canada
Defunct	2006
Headquarters	Toronto , Canada
Area served	Canada, United States
Products	Music albums, singles
Number of employees	5 (members)

In Essence (also known as I.E.) was a Canadian R&B ensemble consisting of five members, originating from Toronto. Active between 1993 and 2006, their work resonated with listeners across Canada and the United States. Their 2004 release, The Master Plan, earned them a prestigious Juno Award.

History

Formed in Toronto in 1993, the group included lead vocalist Dru, along with Pops, Smooth, Que, and Touch. While visiting New York City, they established connections with Funkmaster Flex and his management team, which resulted in a contract with Franchise Entertainment in 2001. Their single "You Will Never Find" gained traction in the US market and was featured on Funkmaster Flex's compilation The Mix Tape, Vol. IV.

In Essence later signed with ViK. Recordings / BMG Canada and released The Master Plan in 2003. This album featured the unique a cappella piece "Who We Are." The group was honored in April 2004 with the Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for this album.

June of the same year saw them winning a MMVA for Best R&B Video for their track "Friend of Mine." Additionally, they received a SOCAN #1 Award and were nominated twice at the Canadian Radio Music Awards.

After the band's tenure concluded, Dru embarked on a solo path, releasing The One in 2008 and On the Brink in 2011.

Discography

• New Invention (1995)
• The Master Plan (2003)