Quote
How Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes's R&B trio wrestled their album from Matthew Knowles (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/14/how-lisa-left-eye-lopes-rb-trio-blaque-wrestled-their-album-from-matthew-knowles)
There was a moment, around the turn of the millennium, where everything went Blaque. Discovered by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, the teen three-piece perfected the slinky stutters of that era's R&B pop, with imagery that repacked Missy Elliott's third-eye Afrofuturism for a gel pen-loving generation. As a kid-friendly TLC, Shamari DeVoe (née Fears), Brandi Williams and Natina Reed shared their predecessors' intolerance for scrubs. If men featured in their videos, they were eyeballed like pick'n'mix and then discarded, unworthy of being in their orbit.
Blaque's boldness – down to their homemade bubblewrap look – turned out to be their special sauce. With 1.5m debut album sales and tour dates with 'NSync and TLC, they were poised to become 00s pop's next mammoth girl group. Second album, Blaque Out!, however, was scrapped (it showed up on iTunes a decade later), while its feisty lead single Can't Get It Back flopped and became a hit for Mis-Teeq instead. Then, following the death of Left Eye in 2002, Blaque lost their biggest cheerleader. "I definitely felt let down by the industry," says DeVoe, also a cast member on Real Housewives of Atlanta. "There was a point where I lost my passion to ever want to sing again."
After Reed's tragic death in a road accident in 2012, fan clamour for another unreleased Blaque album, 2003's Torch, began to grow. Encouraged by a petition, the group won back the rights to their recordings from one-time manager Matthew Knowles, and the album finally came out last month. "It feels really good to finally release it," says Williams. "And with us able to own these songs now, and our fans still wanting to hear them, I actually think this is perfect timing."
Despite its of-the-time production, Torch is a way more fun and inventive R&B album than recent releases from Blaque's millennium-era peers such as Ciara or Usher. Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and Linda Perry contribute, and Missy Elliott brings an out-of-the-box spirit to five tracks. The album closes with Her Name Is, a tribute to Left Eye. "Lisa was so much to us," says Williams. "She was a true friend, a big sister, a mother figure. For us to lose her at such an early time in our career was just a devastating blow."
Blaque are now planning a string of US shows as a two-piece, as well as brand new music soon. "Twenty years ago, you had to have a major label behind you," says Williams. "Now, artists are able to put their careers in their own hands. Shamari and I are really interested in taking the independent route." In a career marked by label disputes and personal tragedy, Blaque have weathered the knocks and are ready to thrive again. "I wanna make sure that we continue to keep Natina's legacy alive," says DeVoe. "We're doing this for Natina and Lisa."
QuoteThere was a moment, around the turn of the millennium, where everything went Blaque
n
Quote from: Kaeli. on June 14, 2019, 06:38:50 PM
QuoteThere was a moment, around the turn of the millennium, where everything went Blaque
n
:plzstop:
Blaque was destined for greatness. It's a shame it fell apart for them.
They really had Potential
They honestly could have been bigger. All their singles had crossover appeal IMO
If we're being honest.. Blaque should've been bigger than Destiny's Child.
Quote from: BowDown on June 14, 2019, 07:05:36 PM
If we're being honest.. Blaque should've been bigger than Destiny's Child.
There was nothing honest about this statement, hon.
somebody always gotta take shit too far
I'm taking about the original DC4, not DC3.
girl you could be talking about the DC4 with Farrah and STILL be wrong
stfu
As am I...
:udontlookok:
Quote from: Gilgamesh. on June 14, 2019, 07:04:40 PM
They honestly could have been bigger. All their singles had crossover appeal IMO
!!!!!!!
Fuck anyone who disagrees with me btw.
Damn, ALL the girls were running to Linda Perry back then :dead:
Blaque's version of "Cant Get It Back" >>
meh. There was nothing unique about these girls.
They could have been a better GROUP than DC4 imo. They didn't have a Bey with extraordinary talent but a group doesn't necessarily mean that. Take Bey away and what do you have..
some of this is news to me :-o
Quote from: Gilgamesh. on June 14, 2019, 07:04:40 PM
They honestly could have been bigger. All their singles had crossover appeal IMO
!!!!!
They smashed right out the gate
The label really fucked this girls. They really made two good albums with good production just to not use. Don't make sense. Wouldn't the label want their money back?
Quote from: Darius. on June 14, 2019, 06:42:48 PM
Quote from: Kaeli. on June 14, 2019, 06:38:50 PM
QuoteThere was a moment, around the turn of the millennium, where everything went Blaque
n
:plzstop:
mcmcc
C
C
C
C
C
Quote from: Kaeli. on June 14, 2019, 07:06:30 PM
somebody always gotta take shit too far
always smh
Really enjoyed their debut
like a lot..
Matthew sabotaged these girls. I had no clue he was their manager.
They had potential to be bigger than what they were. At least a SWV/Xscape success type of mess.
They really did. After Bring It On things should've taken off even more
Quote from: Scott. on June 15, 2019, 12:31:12 AM
They had potential to be bigger than what they were. At least a SWV/Xscape success type of mess.
I think Lisa wanted them to fill the void TLC would leave if they broke up (which at that time I know Lisa contempalting anyway) so she probably wanted them to be bigger than those groups. Thinking about it, their only deepfried single was 808...
and FUCK Matthew with soemthign rusty, I had no idea this nigga was to blame for why their music was shelved until now :uhh:
BLaque was done when blaque out got shelved
And i hate when hoes cant tell the truth. Lets not forgot how many times natina left them hanging while kurtupt was trying to make her the next rap kwee.
Blaque aint tlc or the spice girls. They shouldve replaced natina n kept it pushing.
Natina was nobodys coko, bey, left eye etc. the group wouldve worked fine without her. Is she even on bring it all to me?
I think she says "wuh" during the verses
Quote from: Gilgamesh. on June 15, 2019, 05:23:49 AM
I think she says "wuh" during the verses
nggggggggggggggggggggg
Quote from: Hashtag::.::whipthatWHOLEass on June 15, 2019, 05:22:48 AM
BLaque was done when blaque out got shelved
And i hate when hoes cant tell the truth. Lets not forgot how many times natina left them hanging while kurtupt was trying to make her the next rap kwee.
Blaque aint tlc or the spice girls. They shouldve replaced natina n kept it pushing.
Natina was nobodys coko, bey, left eye etc. the group wouldve worked fine without her. Is she even on bring it all to me?
Oop.
I didn't know about this tea.
QuoteDespite its of-the-time production, Torch is a way more fun and inventive R&B album than recent releases from Blaque's millennium-era peers such as Ciara or Usher.
dhggggghhhhhh not them throwing random shade
:dead: :dead: :dead:
Quote from: Gilgamesh. on June 15, 2019, 05:23:49 AM
I think she says "wuh" during the verses
dhhhghhhhhhhhhhhgg
Quote from: addomate on June 15, 2019, 10:43:14 AM
QuoteDespite its of-the-time production, Torch is a way more fun and inventive R&B album than recent releases from Blaque's millennium-era peers such as Ciara or Usher.
dhggggghhhhhh not them throwing random shade
:dead: :dead: :dead:
I caught that too. :plzstop: :plzstop:
Quote from: Gilgamesh. on June 15, 2019, 05:23:49 AM
I think she says "wuh" during the verses
:plzstop:
She does the intros to welcome the group and stuff. A little Alibis in the background to keep the party going.
I don't think they had potential tbh. They were doomed from the start
they didn't carve a lane for themselves and were essentially TLC's understudy's. And none of them were really stand outs
Quote from: Kaeli. on June 15, 2019, 12:39:25 PM
I don't think they had potential tbh. They were doomed from the start
they didn't carve a lane for themselves and were essentially TLC's understudy's. And none of them were really stand outs
!!!
They were cute but they were way too reminiscent of TLC while TLC was still hot. Blaque's debut single came in the middle of the Fanmail era.
Blaque was the disney version of tlc on their debut mess
Then they wanted to be more gritty.
Same shit with 3LW. Went from the round the way mess to sex kittens and baby whores on the sophomore.
Quote from: Boomer, LLC on June 15, 2019, 12:46:44 PM
Quote from: Kaeli. on June 15, 2019, 12:39:25 PM
I don't think they had potential tbh. They were doomed from the start
they didn't carve a lane for themselves and were essentially TLC's understudy's. And none of them were really stand outs
!!!
They were cute but they were way too reminiscent of TLC while TLC was still hot. Blaque's debut single came in the middle of the Fanmail era.
Yeah. Lisa came up with the space futuristic theme for FanMail but turned around and gave it to her group. It didn't make sense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKhObXhyOvg
but BITCH :flamebroiled: :flamebroiled: :flamebroiled:
Not Matthew :kii: of course he was behind it
:uhh: so weird. Did he not wanna make money?
Quote from: 1RIG on June 16, 2019, 12:22:27 PM
Not Matthew :kii: of course he was behind it
:uhh: so weird. Did he not wanna make money?
don't mean to follow you around the board but I'm really wondering how big Drais booch is n can't stop dreaming about fucking him
Quote from: loveguru1000 on June 16, 2019, 12:31:06 PM
Quote from: 1RIG on June 16, 2019, 12:22:27 PM
Not Matthew :kii: of course he was behind it
:uhh: so weird. Did he not wanna make money?
don't mean to follow you around the board but I'm really wondering how big Drais booch is n can't stop dreaming about fucking him
hey! It's all good
He has a really nice ass actually. I don't share personal photos of someone else tho 💙💙