TLC
Biography
TLC, an American girl group, was formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1990. The best-known lineup consisted of Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. They went on to become one of the best-selling American girl groups of all time, having sold over 60 million records worldwide. VH1 ranked TLC as the greatest female group.
Formation and Early Years
The group was initially formed by Tionne Watkins and Lisa Lopes, who were part of a group called 2nd Nature. After Crystal Jones left the original trio, they brought in Rozonda Thomas, a backup dancer for Damian Dame, in 1991. To maintain the name TLC as an acronym for the members' names, Watkins became "T-Boz," Lopes became "Left-Eye," and Thomas became "Chilli." They signed with LaFace Records in May 1991.
Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip
TLC's debut album, "Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip," was released on February 25, 1992. The album blended funk, hip-hop, and R&B and was a critical and commercial success. It was certified quadruple-platinum in the United States and featured top-ten singles like "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg," "Baby-Baby-Baby," and "What About Your Friends."
Career Height and Superstardom
CrazySexyCool
The group's second studio album, "CrazySexyCool," released in 1994, marked the peak of their success. This album featured a more mature R&B and hip hop soul sound. Despite Lisa Lopes' diminished role due to being in rehab, the album was a massive success. It sold over 23 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by an American girl group. "CrazySexyCool" earned TLC two Grammy Awards and produced two number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100: "Creep" and "Waterfalls." The album was certified Diamond, making TLC the first girl group to achieve this milestone.
FanMail
After a hiatus, TLC returned in 1999 with their third album, "FanMail." The album, a tribute to their fans, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It featured the hit singles "No Scrubs" and "Unpretty," both of which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. "FanMail" won three Grammy Awards and was certified 6x platinum by the RIAA.
Later Years and Legacy
Tragedy and 3D
Tragically, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was killed in a car accident in Honduras on April 25, 2002. She was driving a rental car when she lost control, and the vehicle rolled over; Lopes was the only fatality. After her death, the remaining members decided to continue as a duo and released their fourth album, "3D," in 2002. The album included tracks that Lopes had recorded before her death and featured the single "Girl Talk," a tribute to her.
Continued Career and Final Album
Watkins and Thomas continued to perform as TLC. In 2017, they released their fifth and final studio album, the self-titled "TLC." The album was funded in part by a Kickstarter campaign, which became the fastest-funded pop music project in the platform's history. The group has continued to tour, cementing their legacy as one of the most influential female groups in music history. TLC's accolades include four Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and five Soul Train Music Awards.