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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
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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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