Allure

Allure, an American R&B girl group, formed as a quartet in the 1990s in Long Island, New York. The original members included Alia Davis, Lalisha Sanders, Akissa Mendez, and Linnie Belcher. Davis, Sanders, and Mendez met while attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School in New York City, and later added Belcher from Julia Richman High School. After two years of rehearsals, they secured management connections that led them to Track Masters. Ultimately, they signed with Mariah Carey’s Crave Records in 1997.

Their debut single, “Head Over Heels” featuring Nas, was released in February 1997, reaching number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100. This was followed by “No Question” with LL Cool J. The group’s self-titled debut album, “Allure,” was released on May 6, 1997. Their most significant hit, a cover of “All Cried Out” featuring 112, peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 9 on the R&B chart. This success led to their album achieving Gold certification by the RIAA, marking a strong start to their career. Belcher departed from the group in 2001.

Following the dissolution of Crave Records, Allure signed with MCA Records in 2000, releasing “Enjoy Yourself,” which reached number 50 on the Billboard R&B chart. Their sophomore album, “Sunny Days,” was released in November 2001, opening at number 68 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart. In 2004, the trio signed with NBA player Ron Artest’s Tru Warier Records, releasing their third album, “Chapter III,” which included collaborations with Elephant Man and Joe Budden. In 2008, Allure established their own label, A.L.A. Recordings, releasing the EP “Patiently Waiting” that year and their fourth album, “Time’s Up,” in 2010. In 2014, they released the single “Butterflies” featuring MC Shan, and in 2018, “Like I Do” featuring Dejha B, demonstrating ongoing artistic output.