TLC‘s surviving members Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas announced yesterday morning (July 25th) that they are planning to release a new compilation this fall. With fans treated to the first official trailer for the TLC biopic this week, the group will also be taking the stage for several live performances–with rapper Lil Mama filling in for the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.
TLC has resigned with mentor L.A. Reid and Epic Records/LaFace, and two new tracks are already waiting in the wings: the Ne-Yo-penned “Meant To Be,” and “Posh Life,” a collaboration between Lady Gaga and longtime TLC producer Dallas Austin. T-Boz talked about the enthusiastic response the reunion has gotten from other stars and collaborators. “Not one artist has said no, and that’s amazing and a blessing,” she said. “You know, we’ve been gone for a minute. But to see everyone coming to us like, ‘Yo! We heard y’all working, I gotta be down!’ That’s amazing.”
VH1’s biopic of the group, called “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story” will air on October 21st, and fan reaction to the first trailer has been overwhelmingly positive. The movie stars Keke Palmer, Drew Sidora and Lil Mama as Chilli, T-Boz and Left Eye, respectively. T-Boz and Chilli are adamant that there will never be another member of TLC, but they were impressed enough with Lil Mama’s performance to invite her to share the stage with them for some upcoming shows.
“We love that she still has her own thing. It’s still kind of of out there, but I love it,” said Chilli. “We love it. I love her personality. She’s just so creative and sweet.”
“Every time I think of Lisa, I think of an old woman, a grandmother who passes on and leaves a jewelry box of things she collected. The family probably fights about it, probably says don’t touch it,” Lil Mama said. “I feel like that with Lisa’s career. She left behind a legacy in her music and her style that people feel like, ‘don’t touch that.’ And it’s an honor to be chosen by her sisters, to say ‘Hey you got it, don’t worry about what nobody else says. Make us proud.’”
