Black Flames

This late-’80s vocal quartet took a then-novel approach, combining hip-hop fashion using a sweet sound that took its cues from such ’70s groups as the Stylistics as well as the Chi-Lites; they also had popular using a cover from the Chi-Lites’ “Are You My Girl?” This process was slicked up and considered precious metal by such 1991 phenomenons as Boyz II Guys and Another Poor Creation.