Rozonda Thomas Talks TLC's Future And The Resurgence Of '90s Music

The legacy R&B group TLC are back with their first album in 15 years. Surviving members Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins triumphantly cut the eponymous set independently, helped by a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign. But it's bittersweet.

"We're pretty clear that this is the last TLC album," Thomas affirms. "That's why we're so excited about this - making the music and how involved the fans have been with us, because we know that it's the last record. It's not the last of TLC, but it's definitely the last studio album."

In 2017 TLC stand as the best-selling US girl group. While the Spice Girls surpassed them globally, the Atlantans scored the Grammys. TLC's line-up crystallised with Thomas, a former dancer, Watkins and femcee Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes - initially TLC's main writer and conceptualist. As manager, Perri "Pebbles" Reid hooked up the trio with LaFace Records, established by her then-husband LA Reid and Babyface. And so TLC would be associated with the 'Hotlanta' urban explosion alongside Usher and OutKast. They teamed with an emerging - and eclectic - producer in Dallas Austin (Austin and Thomas coupled-up, having a son). 

The saucy New Jill Swing combo debuted with 1992's Ooooooohhh... On The TLC Tip. They caused a sensation with their image alone - Lopes wearing a condom as an eye patch. Crucially, TLC espoused a streetwise feminism, presaging Destiny's Child. "I definitely feel like we were a part of that whole 'girl power' thing, 'cause that's naturally who we are and what we believe," Thomas says. "So, if that rubbed off on a lot of people, then that's great - 'cause we're still that way. It's just authentically us." TLC blew up globally with 1994's CrazySexyCool - home to their socially-conscious mega-hit Waterfalls. 

But there was drama. Watkins battled sickle-cell disease. Meanwhile, Lopes found herself in a toxic relationship with footballer Andre Rison, culminating in her burning down his mansion and facing arson charges. Her lawyers alleged that she was a victim of domestic violence. Then, shockingly, the year after CrazySexyCool, TLC filed for bankruptcy. The three fought their management, LaFace, Austin, and each other - Lopes deemed by TLC as 'crazy', frustrated at being sidelined. Still, TLC resurfaced with No Scrubs - and a third smash album in FanMail. They inspired David Bowie's Thursday's Child. Tragically in 2002 Lopes, on retreat in Honduras, died in a car crash. TLC issued 3D in tribute, but it floundered. 

TLC experienced a revival with VH1's popular bio-pic. They launched a crowdfunding bid for an album, attracting celebrity patrons like Katy Perry and, to Thomas' delight, Bette Midler - who covered Waterfalls on It's The Girls!. "I grew up watching her on television. She's legendary! That was huge. That meant a lot."

TLC is crisp. The duo connected with lesser-known producers - or, as Thomas laughs, "fresh meat." D'Mile - who's worked with Janet Jackson - helms the lead single Way Back - vintage P-funk featuring Snoop Dogg. TLC had hoped that Austin would contribute. "He was working a lot in London during the time that we were recording and we just could not get the schedules together. That was the only thing that was the problem. So, when he was available or when he could work with us, we were wrapping up and it was just too late."

Currently, '90s R&B nostalgia is booming - TLC last touring Australia with 2016's retro-fabulous R&B Fridays Live. Yet TLC haven't consciously tapped into this. Besides, Thomas doesn't actually consider them "R&B". "We like to say we're more universal in our sound," she suggests. "We don't really put ourselves in any genre." Indeed, It's Sunny is disco-house. Mind, TLC aren't isolated from the urban scene. They sang on J Cole's single Crooked Smile. "As far as the music is today, I like how it's starting to change. People are going back listening to music from the '90s. I think it's because, not necessarily just that sound, but you had so much variety during that time and you had great lyrical content. Most songs really talked about something legitimate. You also had your songs [where] it was just the beat you were more excited about. But, the past few years, it seemed like you were just more excited about the beat than the lyrical content." Alas, Lopes' voice is heard only by way of media soundbites on Interlude.

Arguably, the biggest change in popdom has been the rise of social media - which unsettles TLC. Thomas sparked viral outrage when, asked about #BlackLivesMatter in a UK interview, she seemingly took the contentious #AllLivesMatter line. But, Thomas observes, attention spans are shorter - and people "forget" missteps. "You're forgiven very quickly now and it doesn't mean it's gonna be the end of your career." Might the troubled Lopes have galvanised greater sympathy with Black Twitter's support? Thomas responds indirectly. "They had bad things to say when the burning of the house happened and all that kinda stuff, but she was resilient."