TLC (group)

TLC is a Grammy Award-winning American girl group trio. Its original lineup had three members. TLC was one of the first R&B and hip hop stars of the 1990s. They formed the trio in Atlanta, Georgia in 1991. TLC (an acronym for "T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli") consisted of Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (1971-2002) and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Lisa Pebbles was the group's manager. 

After Lopes' death in 2002, the remaining members chose to continue as a duo.

History
 Oooooooh.... On the TLC Tip, CrazySexyCool and bankrupt years (1992-1998) 
TLC's first album Ooooooohhh.... On the TLC Tip (1992) sold 4,000,000 copies in the United States. It released four singles "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg", "What About Your Friends", "Hat 2 Da Back", and "Baby, Baby, Baby". In 1994, Lopes had set her boyfriend Andre Rison's house on fire. After she was released from rehab, she was put on probation. That same year, CrazySexyCool was released. It became their breakthrough release. It sold 11,000,000 copies in the United States and was certified 8 times Platinum in Canada, Platinum in United Kingdom and 1 time Diamond in the United States. 

Rolling Stone magazine ranked the album #377 of the "500 greatest albums of all time" list. The singles "Red Light Special", "Waterfalls", "Creep" and "Diggin' on You" all entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

TLC filed for bankruptcy in 1995, despite their success of CrazySexyCool. The group owed too much money to their manager Pebbles. The albums sales were not enough to pay her back. TLC filed for a lawyer and was able to terminate the record deal signed with Pebbles. Because of the label and producer trouble, and health problems (Watkins' struggled with sickle cell anemia), TLC postponed any work on their next album.

 FanMail and 3D (1999-2004) 
Fanmail was released in 1999. The album became a hit record. The singles "No Scrubs", "Unpretty", and "Silly Ho" helped the album to reach number 1 on the Billboard 200 pop chart. The album's fourth single "Dear Lie" was not successful. The album was given positive feedback from music critics. The band began arguing with each other because of Lopes, who continued to be on tabloid magazines. Watkins married rapper Mack 10. However, her health problems were helping her to not be near recording studios. 

Lopes had begun a solo career. In 2002, Lopes was killed during a car accident in Honduras. The remainder of the group announced that they continue recording their fourth album. Lopes had recorded a few verses before she was killed.

The album, 3D was released later that year. The single "Girl Talk" was a tribute to Lopes. The other single "Hands Up" was not successful. The album's third single "Damaged" was more successful and was on the Hot 100 until 2003. 

In 2004, the reality television show R U The Girl? aired on Fox. The show was about searching for great African American singers. The show had over 4,000,000 average viewers. O'so Krispie from Atlanta was chosen as the winner. TLC later said that they never wanted to replace Lopes. They continued as a duo.

 Break and miscellaneous work (2005-present) 
In July 2013 TLC signed a new record contract. 

In 2017, the duo released their self titled fifth album TLC. 

In 2022, the group was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

 Discography 
Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip (1992)
CrazySexyCool (1994)
FanMail (1999)
3D (2002)
TLC (2017)

Awards and nominations
 Year Result Award Category Song or Album 1993  Nominated Grammy Award  Best R&B Song "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg"1996 Won  Best R&B Album CrazySexyCool Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal "Creep"Nominated  Record of the Year  "Waterfalls" Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal "Waterfalls"2000 Won  Best R&B Album Fanmail Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal "No Scrubs"Nominated  Album of the Year  Fanmail Record of the Year  "No Scrubs" Song of the Year  "Unpretty" Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal "Unpretty" Best Music Video, Short Form "Unpretty" 2003 Nominated  Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal "Girl Talk" 2004  Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal "Hands Up"1995 Won MTV Video Music Awards  Video of the Year "Waterfalls" Best Group Video "Waterfalls" Best R&B Video "Waterfalls" Viewer's Choice "Waterfalls"Nominated  Best Special Effects "Waterfalls" Best Editing "Waterfalls" Best Direction "Waterfalls" Best Cinematography "Waterfalls" Best Art Direction "Waterfalls" Breakthrough Video "Waterfalls"1999 Won  Best Group Video "No ScrubsNominatedViewer's Choice  "No Scrubs"Best Hip Hop Video "No Scrubs" Best Editing "No Scrubs" Best Direction "No Scrubs" Best Art Direction "No Scrubs"1996 Won Billboard Music Award Artist of the Year  - R&B Artist of the Year  - R&B Single of the Year  "Creep"1997 Nominated American Music Award  Favorite Soul/R&B Album  CrazySexyCool Favorite Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group  - Favorite Artist of the Year  - 2000  Won  Favorite Band, Duo or Group – Soul/Rhythm & Blues  -1996 Won Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards  Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo  "Creep" Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Group, Band or Duo  CrazySexyCool 1997  Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo  "Waterfalls"1999  Aretha Franklin Award (Entertainer of the Year)  - Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo  "No Scrubs" Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Group, Band or Duo  Fanmail2003 Nominated  Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo  "Girl Talk" Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Group, Band or Duo  3D1997 Won Soul Train Music Award Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo "Waterfalls" Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo CrazySexyCool Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video  "Waterfalls"1999  Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo  "No Scrubs" Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo  Fanmail 2003  Nominated  Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo  "Girl Talk" 2003  Nominated  NAACP Image Award Outstanding Duo or Group -

References

 Other websites 
 TLC  at MTV.com
 TLC discography at iMusic.am





Category:1990 establishments in the United States
Category:1990s American music groups
Category:2000s American music groups
Category:2010s American music groups
Category:African-American musical groups
Category:American girl groups
Category:American R&B bands
Category:American pop music groups
Category:American hip hop bands
Category:American soul bands
Category:American new jack swing groups
Category:American hip hop soul groups
Category:American Grammy Award winners
Category:Musical trios
Category:Musical duos
Category:Musical groups from Atlanta