NBA star Artest adds Allure to his label
At a time when female R&B groups are few and far between, the trio Allure is returning to the scene. New York-raised childhood friends Alia Davis, Lalisha McLean and Akissa Mendez are polishing "Chapter III", their debut for NBA star Ron Artest's Truwarier Records, which will be released September 28.
Both Allure and Artest are well-known in their respective circles. Allure scored a No. 9 R&B/No. 4 pop hit in 1997 with "All Cried Out", featuring 112. Artest plays for the Indiana Pacers and was named National Basketball Assn. defensive player of the year for 2003-2004.
"By the time I'm 30, I hope to be doing music full time," the 24-year-old athlete says. Artest, who also raps, grew up in New York's Queensbridge housing project, home to Nas and Mobb Deep. He began writing and producing tracks four years ago while playing with the Chicago Bulls. "After games in Chicago, sometimes I would go to the studio for 10 hours," he recalls.
Truwarier has a staff of 13 with offices in Connecticut, New York and Indiana, plus three studios. Additional divisions include publishing and management. "Running a label is hard work," Artest says. "People may say it takes away from my game. But I have love (for music) and can take on the stress that comes with it."
Other Truwarier artists include Challace and rapper Braska. Allure will feature Braska on its album, along with Joe Budden and Prodigy from Mobb Deep. Truwarier is Allure's fourth label. Its first, Mariah Carey's Crave, folded after the release of the group's self-titled debut. After appearing on the Columbia soundtracks to "The Best Man" and "Runaway Bride", the group segued to MCA. That label issued the trio's second album, "Sunny Days", but shuttered soon after.
"We can still laugh," Davis says of Allure's label travails. "Thank God for shows overseas. But we've also learned our lesson, and now we write. So to us, this is our first album because people will get a true taste of who we are." In fact, the trio wrote lead single "I Think I'm in Love".
Following in the entrepreneurial footsteps of athletes like New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest, Artest exudes confidence in his musical venture. "I had a chance to get involved with investors, but I put my own money up. It's a gamble, but I'm sure I'll win." (Reuters/Billboard)
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