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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1999)
1 t • Page 4 <Jbv ÇpirUani» ffibeeruer Focus April 14,1999 old on and prepare to blast off perience,” says Brandi. “He’d give us to the future world of music. A lectures about the music business,” says Shamari. Track Masters, Michael bold new group named Blaque will Anthonv and Sadiq "The Beat Freak take listeners to places never before traveled. Helm ed by three young provided additional production wiz women - Shaman Fears, Brandi Will ardry to Blaque. T he group penned five of the iams and Natina Reed - Blaque ex album ’s 12 cuts. Recorded in C hi plores uncharted grooves with their cago, A tlanta, and New York under self-titled debut album for Columbia the watchful eye of Lopez, Blaque Records. The innovative collection explores a variety of sounds, from blends soulful R&B with a funky al the haunting R&B ballad “Release ternative vibe. M e” to the laid-back hip hop feel of "We go where other groups are “ Leny.” Besides c o n ju rin g up a afraid to go,” advises Natina. "We’re unique musical approach, Blaque straight out of the year 2080” And it’s also dishes out positive messages. no wonder. Blaque came to Columbia via one of contemporary music’s pio “ R ainbow D riv e,” for ex am p le, speaks of a tim e when all races neers, Lisa "Left Eye Lopez of the come together while “Stay By Your group TLC. Blaque, which stands for Side” is about the unbreakable loy Believing in Life and Achieving a Quest for Unity in Everything, was alty of friendship. “We’re a positive conceived by Lopez and is signed to group. We believe in peace and love,” says Shamari. Left Eye Productions. Brandi, 16, was always surrounded Each member of Blaque has a dis by m usic w hile growing up. H er tinctive sound. Brandi’s vocals are as grandfather, Bobby Rogers, was a sweet and pure as a baby’s breath. member of the legendary Motown S ham ari delivers pow erful soul group Smokey Robinson and The stylings while Natina handles all of the Miracles. Her father was a profes rap installments. sional singer as well and her aunt is The first single, the R. Kelly-pro R&B songstress Cherelle. “I’ve always duced “808”, is just a taste of the loved music. I never said I wanted to Blaque expression. A funk-driven tune written by Blaque, “808 imparts be anything else. I never said I want to be a doctor, a lawyer. I always a slow infectious beat with just the right mix of rhythm and rhyme. wanted to be a singer.” Natina, 18, on the other hand, had “Working with R. Kelley was an ex H D a n c e h a ii R eggae Natina, Brandi and Shamari, the girls of Blaque S tars Tanto Metro & Devonte placed him in frequent collaboration with dancehaii reggae’s leading star, Beenie Man. The rich, resonant voice of Tanto Metro’s partner Devonte first reached a wide audience at Ghetto Splash 96, a free concert held in Kingston, Jam aica that drew thousands of hardcore dancehaii fans. Since then, Devonte has gone on to release several successful singles through his as sociation with the Shocking Vibes team. With the international success of their single “Everyone Falls In Love,” frequent Beenie Man collaborators T anto M etro (M ark Wolfe) and Devonte (Wayne Passley) are quickly making inroads in the U.S. dancehaii and reggae communities. “Everyone Falls In Love,” which features the strik ing vocal contrast of Tanto Metro’s bass-rooted toasting and Devonte’s sweet alto, has already begun receiv ing heavy radio airplay in Miami and San Francisco, while The Box has the video in steady rotation nationally. Tanto M etro’s dancehaii career began in 1982, when he began his ap p re n tic e sh ip at age 13 w ith M etrom edia, a leading Ja m aican sound system run by his mentor, leg endary reggae artist Peter Metro. He was invited to join the Shocking Vibes crew in 1986, and soon recorded his first hit, the anti drug anthem “Stop It”. A talented singer, deejay and dancer, Tanto M etro’s skills have • ' vi much so that while in eighth grade, she drum m ed up a story about a re cording career. “1 told everyone I had a deal and was looking for people to join my b an d ,” says Sham ari, 18, who listens to R&B, alternative rock, rap and gospel. Destiny brought the three together. Before relocating to Atlanta, Shamari and Brandi lived in the same Detroit neighborhood but their paths never crossed. Natina, who moved to the Peachtree City from New York City, an d S h am ari atten d e d the same school, meeting when both joined an urban country group called Butz. numerous career goals as a child. “1 wanted to be Miss America, a veteri narian, a movie star,” says Natina who often played drum s in her uncle’s church. Her father was also a preacher. As a youngster, she modeled and as she got older Natina began writing rhymes and making up jingles that led to her recording career. “I had been friends with Lisa (Lopez) but we never really talked about music until one day when she heard my jingle for Now & Later (candies),” says Natina, who took Lopez’s advice and pursued music. Natina’s also written jingles for Sprite. Dreams of a music career filled S h a m a r i ’ s when she hooked up with another group called Intrigue. But it wasn’t until an audition at Left Eye Produc tions that they all met. M anaged by W right E n tertain m ent G roup, Blaque is ready for group comparisons. “Listeners will know the difference. Blaque is more urban/pop alternative. It’s a totally d ifferen t vibe,” ex p lain s N atina. Says Brandi, “Nobody looks like us. We’re very futuristic.” Fashion Forward and musically advanced. T hat’s the philosophy be hind Blaque. Three young women out to make history. 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