Allure

New York-based urban soul vocal group Allure, the first band signed to Mariah Carey's Crave Records, released their debut album in 1997 with cameo appearances from Nas, L.L. Cool J, Raekwon, 112, Q-Tip, and Carey herself. Despite strong promotion and collaborations, the album achieved moderate success, hinting at the group's commercial potential rather than fully realizing it. Allure's origins trace back to the early '90s when Alia Davis, Lalisha McLean, and Akissa Mendez formed the group while studying at LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in New York. With the addition of Linnie Belcher, Allure secured management connections leading to a deal with Track Masters and later Crave Records.

Allure's debut single "Head Over Heels," featuring a rap by Nas, gained moderate R&B success in April 1997, followed by their self-titled debut album the next month. Despite the star-studded collaborations and strong industry connections, the album's commercial impact was modest, suggesting potential for future success for the group.