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Allure is a New York-based female R&B girl group that formed in the early 1990s as a quartet, now a trio. Original members were Alia Davis, Linnie Belcher, Lalisha McClean and Akissa Mendez .

Allure got their chance when they met Poke of the Trackmasters production team, who gave them an audition in 1996. He was impressed and signed the girls to Trackmasters bestowing them with 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.

They were the first group to be signed to Mariah Carey's Crave Records. They released their debut self-titled album in 1997. The album featured the gold-selling single "Head Over Heels" (featuring Nas) (US #35), "All Cried Out" (featuring 112), a Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam cover and their biggest hit to date (US #4), and finally "Last Chance".

After being released from Mariah Carey's label, Allure signed with MCA Records in 2000, eventually issuing their second album "Sunny Days" in 2001. That album went unnoticed due to an almost invisible promotion campaign, yielding two singles: "Enjoy Yourself" (of which the remix featuring former collaborator LL Cool J), and "Kool Wit' Me" which was produced by Allstar. Soon after, member Linnie Belcher left the group, and they signed with NBA player Ron Artest's newly formed label, Truwarier Records, distributed by Lightyear Entertainment.

In 2002 they appeared in the Tom Jones' Mr. Jones album, in the song "The Letter". The album was produced by Wyclef Jean, Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis and Jones himself.

Late 2004 saw the release of their third album, aptly titled "Chapter III", in reference to their lineup change and this being their third album. It didn't become a big hit, seeing how it was on an independent label, although it did receive considerable press due to Ron Artest's suspension from the NBA that year. Two singles were released as well, 2004's "Uh Oh" featuring reggae artist Elephant Man, and 2005's "I Think I'm In Love" featuring rapper Joe Budden.

In late 2005 it was announced that Allure were finally returning to the UK after a 7 year absence from the charts. They had two hits in the UK, "Head Over Heels" which reached #18 and "All Cried Out" which managed a #12 peak. The band have been released through Truwarier Record's license deal with UK independent label NiceTunes and release their new single, a double 'a' side of "Hate 2 Luv U" and "Uh Oh" featuring Elephant Man on February 6, 2006. Their album "Chapter III" was released in the UK for the first time on January 30, 2006 and contains a UK exclusive track "You Are The Man" as well as a bonus remix of "Hate 2 Luv U".

Raphael Saadiq's The Way I See It album is satisfying for both old school heads and today's hip music buyers: his background as a musician, singer and songwriter is steeped in a love for R&B married with a commitment to making his own brand of expressive soul music. The Way I See It has the kind of smooth musical flow associated with great records made by pioneering producers at famous R&B companies like Motown, Invictus and Brunswick. From the foot-tapping opening track, "Sure Hope You Mean It" to the head-shaking reflective closer "Sometimes," Raphael delivers a present day potent ode to a bygone era. Loyal Tony! Toni! Tone! fans will particularly appreciate "100 Yard Dash," which Raphael describes as "a juke joint, Booker T.-type groove. I reflected back to my first T!T!T! albums when I was singing in a high tenor voice." Raphael grins when talking about the hypnotic "Love That Girl": "Man, that's all about the swing...the way girls swing their hips! It's the type of song that will make people move and that shuffle beat reminds me of those ladies I used to see playing drums in church!" With its Motown-flavored tambourine-featured beat, "Never Give You Up" is what Raphael calls "my three generations song. It includes C.J., this youngster from Baltimore that I'm working with and Stevie Wonder. Now comes The Way I See It, a masterful collection of new material that speaks to Raphael Saadiq's deep love for rhythm and blues.