R&B supergroup TLC is set to release a new album this October to coincide with the release of their VH1 biopic, “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.” The “Waterfalls” artists are expected to release a compilation record which will include classic TLC songs, along with some new music with collaborators like Lady Gaga and Neyo. According to spin.com:
“The TLC revival is now in full swing. During a press conference on Thursday, the R&B legends confirmed they’ve inked a new record deal with Epic, the label run by Antonio “L.A.” Reid, who originally signed the Atlanta trio to LaFace Records in 1991.
“Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins reportedly said that the upcoming record will also include new songs written by Lady Gaga and Ne-Yo, as well as fresh contributions from Drake and J. Cole. Group co-founder Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas is on board as well, of course. Longtime producer Austin Green oversaw the project, which is set for an October 15 release.”
While it’s great news to hear that TLC will be releasing a new album after all these years, the group will never be the same after losing group member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez. T-boz and Chilli may however have a new person to play a similar role to the one that Left Eye used to play. Rapper Lil Mama, who plays Left Eye in the upcoming film, did such a great job in her portrayal of the role, that it has apparently left an impression on Chilli and T-Boz. According to billboard.com:
“The founding members were apparently so impressed with Lil Mama’s performance that they invited the rapper to make a special appearance with them at Saturday’s Mixtape Festival in Hershey, Penn., where VH1 is also a presenting sponsor. T-Boz noted the girls have ‘toyed around with some ideas’ for future appearances and collaborations with Lil Mama, but ‘no one will ever be a member in this group. Ever.” Something T-Boz probably wanted to make clear after the backlash the group received earlier this year when Left Eye was left off a remix for their hit song “Waterfalls.”
It will be great to hear a refresh from TLC. The group represents so much from the 90’s. They were the quintessential ‘girl power’ group, still holding records like biggest-selling-album-for-a-female-group for “CrazySexyCool.” We look forward to hearing the new album and seeing the accompanying VH1 biopic. Check out the trailer below.
