Allure
Allure began when Alia Davis, Lalisha McLean and Akissa Mendez were studying at the LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. The girls wanted to expand their musical experience by forming a group and recruited Linni Belcher, Davis' friend to join. The girls got their first drive for a music career after winning a talent show together, singing a song written by one of their friends.
The girls then met Poke of the Trackmasters production team, who gave them an audition. He was impressed and in 1996, signed the girls to Trackmasters and gave them their name, Allure. It was through his help that the girls were able to become the first group signed to Mariah Carey's Crave Records under the name of Allure.
The group's self-titled debut album was released in 1997 and managed to go gold. The album's first single, 'Head Over Heels' featuring Nas had a fair showing, reaching #17 on the R&B charts. The group had their biggest hit with the album's second single and cover of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam's track, 'All Cried Out' which reached #4 on the Hot 100 and went gold. The album's third single was 'Last Chance.'
Crave Records folded in 1998 and the girls were signed in 2000 by MCA Records. They released Sunny Days in 2001 to little promotion. The album failed to make a significant impact and Linnie Belcher left the group. Despite the album's limited success, the single 'Enjoy Yourself' reached #50 on the R&B charts. The album's second single, 'Kool Wit Me' did not chart. The girls then were signed by Ron Artest's label, Truwarier Records.
The new lineup released Chapter III in 2004. The album wasn't a large hit, as expected from an independent album. It did receive some promotion though through Ron Artest's suspension from the NBA. It featured two singles, 'Uh Oh' featuring Elephant Man, and 'I Think I'm In Love' with Joe Budden.