Blaque

Lore & Background

Blaque originated in 1994 when Shamari Fears formed a girl group with a rotating lineup, eventually including Natina Reed. After Reed left due to her father's objections to secular music, the group reformed as Intrigue, adding Brandi Williams in 1995. Reed later returned and, with talent scout Ronald Lopes (brother of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes), formed Blaque in 1996, named after Lopes' company Blaque House. Left Eye mentored the group, leading to a deal with Columbia Records.

The group's debut album Blaque (1999) produced the platinum-selling lead single "808," which reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the hit "Bring It All to Me" featuring JC Chasez, which peaked at number 5. In 1999, Billboard named Blaque the 4th Best New Artist of the year. They toured as opening acts for 'N Sync and TLC's FanMail Tour, and appeared as cheerleaders in the 2000 film Bring It On.

After their second album Blaque Out was shelved and the group dropped from Columbia, they signed with Elektra Records following Lopes' death in 2002. They released three less successful singles in 2002-2003. The group attempted a comeback in 2012, but it was cut short by Natina Reed's accidental death in October 2012. In 2019, their intended third album Torch was released under Blaque/The Move Entertainment.

Reader's Guide

Blaque's significance lies in their brief but impactful late-1990s success as a girl group, achieving platinum status with their debut album and scoring multiple charting singles. Their hit "Bring It All to Me" became an international pop staple, and their appearance in Bring It On cemented their place in early 2000s pop culture. Despite lineup changes, label issues, and the tragic death of member Natina Reed, the group's music continued to resonate, leading to the eventual release of their long-delayed third album Torch in 2019. Their legacy reflects the challenges faced by R&B girl groups in an era of shifting industry dynamics, and their story highlights the role of mentorship from established artists like Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Blaque's work remains a touchstone for fans of late-1990s pop and R&B.

Did You Know?

• Blaque was named after the production company Blaque House, owned by Ronald Lopes, brother of Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.
• Their debut album Blaque sold more than 1 million copies and was certified Platinum.
• The group appeared as cheerleaders in the 2000 film Bring It On.
• Their intended third album Torch was released in 2019, over a decade after it was completed.

From Buutz to Blaque: A Group Forged Through Reinvention

Shamari Fears first assembled a girl group in 1994, pulling in a rotating cast of members that included her Atlanta high school classmate Natina Reed. A producer seeking an urban-country vocal act took the young women under his wing and dubbed them Buutz, but Reed's departure—prompted by her reverend father's objection to secular performance—forced a reset. Fears then partnered with vocal coach and manager Cynnamyn Robinson, who recruited a new member and rebranded the ensemble Intrigue. Under Robinson's guidance the girls trained in dance, acting, and studio technique, and in 1995 twelve-year-old Brandi Williams joined. Despite their growing skill, a record contract remained elusive. The breakthrough came when Reed, singing jingles for extra income after her parents' divorce, caught the ear of Ronald Lopes, brother of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and co-owner of Blaque House Productions. Lopes managed Reed, hired her to write for TLC, and at her suggestion reassembled the trio under the name Blaque in 1996. Left Eye personally mentored the group, arranging demos and photoshoots, and within six months she secured them an audition before Sony CEO Tommy Mottola, who offered them a deal with Columbia Records.

Platinum Momentum: The Debut Era

Columbia Records moved quickly to produce Blaque's self-titled debut, enlisting hip-hop production duo Trackmasters—Jean-Claude Olivier and Samuel Barnes—as executive producers alongside Left Eye and Cory Rooney. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 53 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart at number 23, eventually earning Platinum certification from the RIAA. Its lead single "808" climbed to number 8 on the Hot 100 and received Gold certification, while the follow-up "I Do" underperformed at number 73 on the R&B chart, though its music video earned an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Editing. The third single, "Bring It All to Me" featuring JC Chasez, became the group's signature hit, peaking at number 5 on the Hot 100 and holding the top of the Rhythmic chart for six consecutive weeks. Billboard recognized the trio as the fourth-best new artist of 1999, and the song landed at number 30 on the 2000 Year-End chart. Beyond the studio, Blaque opened for 'N Sync and TLC's FanMail Tour in 1999, and in 2000 they starred as cheerleaders in the film Bring It On, contributing the track "As If" to its soundtrack. A remixed version of "Bring It All to Me" with added rapping by 50 Cent also appeared in that movie.

Shelved Dreams and Sudden Loss

The group's momentum shattered when Columbia shelved their second album, Blaque Out, in 2001 and dropped them for unexplained reasons. The video for the intended lead single "Can't Get It Back" was never released, and the album eventually leaked online. Things grew darker on April 25, 2002, when manager Ronald Lopes died in a car crash in Honduras. The trio signed with Elektra Records and began work on a new project after Reed welcomed a son. An alternate version of Blaque Out appeared on iTunes in May 2007 before being pulled; the full album returned in December 2011. The members pursued solo paths—Fears signed with Darkchild, and Williams landed a solo deal and sang the hook on Nelly's "Grillz." In 2005 the three reunited to record Private Show, originally titled Beauty, but the project was worked on sporadically through 2009. A reality series, Blaque In the House, was filmed but never picked up. The group released four tracks on YouTube before disbanding in 2008. A 2012 reunion at the Left Eye Music Festival in Decatur, Georgia, rekindled hope, but Reed's accidental death on October 26, 2012, after being struck by a car near Atlanta, ended the group once more.

Torch: A Long-Overdue Chapter

Blaque's intended third album, Torch, carried collaborations with Missy Elliott, songwriter Linda Perry, and producer Rodney Jerkins, signaling the group's ambition to evolve their sound. Yet the project languished for years amid the group's disbandment and Reed's tragic passing. In 2019, Torch finally saw the light of day under the label Blaque/The Move Entertainment, giving fans a long-awaited conclusion to a story that had been interrupted by circumstances no one could have planned. Looking back across their career, Blaque's charting years spanned 1999 to 2004, with their self-titled debut selling over one million copies and earning Platinum certification. Outside the United States and Canada, the group was known as Blaque Ivory, a distinction that reflected their international reach. Their legacy is one of remarkable highs—a platinum album, a top-five single, a Billboard new-artist honor, a starring role in a major film—followed by a string of setbacks that included a shelved record, a lost manager, an unreleased album, and the loss of a member. The 2019 release of Torch stands as both a testament to their resilience and a reminder of the road not taken.

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