Allure (1997) Allure

This debut by an all-female R&B quartet with four-part harmonies reminiscent of En Vogue is the first album on Mariah Carey's Crave Records. Like Carey, Allure's crossover success can be attributed to its blend of R&B with hip-hop beats, and to an album that includes both hot dance tracks and smooth ballads. The album gets an added boost from production by the Track Masters (Poke and Tone) and guest appearances by L.L. Cool J, Nas and Raekwon.

The lead-off single, "Head Over Heels," lays Allure's vocals over the MC Shan classic "The Bridge." Popular samples abound, giving the music an instant appeal. "Anything You Want" uses the O'Jays' "Cry Together" for its background, and "No Question" builds on Mtume's "Juicy Fruit." Paying further tribute to the old school, Allure teams up with 112 for a remake of Lisa Lisa's "All Cried Out."

Download this album via ZSHARE: http://www.zshare.net/download/517638883ce99304/

Track Listing
1. Introduction
2. Anything You Want
3. You're Gonna Love Me
4. Head Over Heals - (featuring Nas)
5. No Question - (featuring LL Cool J)
6. All Cried Out - (with 112)
7. Story, The
8. Come Into My House
9. When You Need Someone
10. Give You All I Got - (featuring Raekwon)
11. I'll Give You Anything
12. Wanna Get With You
13. Last Chance
14. Mama Said

Mariah Carey Launches Summer Krush Series

Mariah Carey helped launch the second annual Samsung AT&T Summer Krush last night (July 31) with a five-song set at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles.

Portions of Carey's brief concert appearance, which featured a guest appearance by rapper Young Jeezy for the song "Side Effects," were broadcast last night on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Other songs performed by the pop diva included a medley of "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time"/"Touch My Body," "I'm That Chick," "Shake It Off" and "We Belong Together."

Carey, whose upcoming tour is currently being routed, appeared last night in support of her newest album, "E=MC2," which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 in April, and has sold 1.1 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

As previously reported, Gavin Rossdale, LeAnn Rimes, Nelly and Nas are scheduled to appear in various cities across the United States as part of the Samsung AT&T Summer Krush, a free summer concert series designed to highlight Samsung's music-centric BlackJack II mobile phone.

Additionally, Smashing Pumpkins have been tapped to perform in Orlando, Fla., on Aug. 22 and Good Charlotte will appear in San Francisco on Sept. 16.

A limited number of free tickets for the concerts will be available through radio promotions, artist fan clubs, street teams and online registration at samsungsummerkrush.com. Each show will feature music by Los Angeles-based DJ Matthew Sullivan.

Nas Dethrones Lil Wayne Atop Billboard 200

One rapper replaces another atop The Billboard 200 this week, as Nas' untitled Def Jam album dethrones Lil Wayne's Cash Money/Universal set "Tha Carter III." Nas' album sold 187,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, becoming the rapper's fifth No. 1 here.

Nas' prior album, 2006's "Hip-Hop Is Dead," also debuted at No. 1 but sold 354,000 over Christmas week. Meanwhile, after three non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, "Tha Carter III" slips to No. 2 with a 15% sales decrease to 105,000.

The Decca soundtrack to "Mamma Mia!," the film adaptation of the hit theatrical musical based on ABBA's songbook, experiences an 89% sales boost after the movie hit theaters Friday (and earned the highest grossing weekend opening ever for a musical); it climbs 7-3 with 91,000. Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" (Capitol) slips 2-4 with 90,000 (-20%), while the Jonas Brothers-led soundtrack to Disney's "Camp Rock" descends 3-5 with 78,000 (-12%).

Though it slips 5-6 on the chart, Kid Rock's "Rock N Roll Jesus" (Atlantic) continues to resurge with the help of the Hot AC/Adult Top 40 single "All Summer Long," selling 73,000 with a 20% sales increase.

John Mellencamp's Hear Music debut "Life Death Love and Freedom" bows at No. 7 with 56,000, his fourth top 10 album. It's his 19th charting record overall, stretching back to the Aug. 18, 1979, debut of "John Cougar."

David Banner debuts right behind at No. 8 with his third straight top 10 studio album, "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (SRC/Universal), shifting 52,000. His previous set, 2005's "Certified," peaked at No. 6.

NaS On Track For Fifth No. 1 Album Next Week

Nas' new Def Jam album may not have a title, but it will have a home at No. 1 on The Billboard 200. The veteran rapper is on course to notch his fifth topper on the big chart, as he leads Nielsen SoundScan's Friday Building chart with 113,000 copies.

That total represents un-weighted sales at nine leading music merchants, through close of business Thursday. Those accounts -- Trans World Entertainment, Apple, Best Buy, Circuit City, Borders, Starbucks, Target, Anderson Merchandisers and Handleman Co. -- account for about 80% of the U.S. album market. Anderson now services all Wal-Mart stores.

Nas' interim total is a tad behind the 116,000 that another rapper, Rick Ross, rang on "Trilla" on the Friday Building chart in March, on the album's way to a chart-topping total of 198,000.

The artist's last No. 1 album, "Hip-Hop Is Dead," arrived in late December 2006, selling 354,000 copies during Christmas week.