With the fundraiser for TLC‘s final album now sitting at over $250,000 ($100k more than the set target), the legendary group are piecing together their dream-team to produce it.
Find out who they’ve recruited thus far below…
According to Billboard, industry juggernaut Ron Fair (who, in his role as a top tier label exec, has moulded smash albums from Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, and more), has signed on as executive producer for the as yet untitled LP.
“The return of TLC is surrounded by incredible positivity. The entire creative community of artists, producers and songwriters is invited to the celebration.”
Elaborating on who else is involved, Chilli told Billboard that longtime collaborator Dallas Austin (who co-wrote the act’s breakthrough ‘Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg’, as well as later hits ‘Creep’ and ‘Unpretty’) is also in the mix.
Ne-Yo – who wrote the ladies 2013 reunion song ‘Meant To Be’ – has been lined up too, if his schedule permits.
Sadly, yet somewhat expectedly, it seems like late member Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes won’t be featured.
Explaining the situation, Chilli said of her bandmate, who died in a 2002 Honduras car accident:
“When we did the last album, 3D, (just after Lisa’s passing) we were searching really hard to find [unreleased verses from her] to go with songs we were working on. So probably not [this time], but I’m not going to say ‘no,’ because if something authentic can come together, we’re going to do it.”
Understandable. However, we’re hopeful the group find creative ways to salute their completing pillar. Off head, interludes which feature some of her prolific comments in interviews could be a great look.
In any case, we’re buzzed to see how this all plays out.
Not really looking forward to a TLC album without Lefteye but I do applaud their efforts. Best of luck ladies!
I will take what I can get. This group has been through a lot. I love Left Eye and misses her presence in the group but it is not fair to punish the remaining group members. They love Lisa I am sure they will find a way to pay homage. It’s not like they replaced her and went on to sale more tens of millions. No. Their careers were abandoned for years they deserve a chance
Tionne and Rozonda better slay this period, I will accept no less. And they better find a way to encorporate lisa, I don’t care if it’s a sample, unreleased rap or just a loop of her voice; I wanna hear her. If Drake and Chris Brown can tamper with Aaliyah’s vocals for a rap song, then TLC can definitely find a way bring Left-Eye’s presence to this LP
Preach!!!!
Worst case scenario they can use her material from “Supernova” right?
hopefully! i mean they did that for 1 or 2 tracks on 3D, but T-Boz said on the Breakfast Club that Lisa’s estate/family aren’t signing off royalties for tracks, so hopefully they work it out before then
I need Left Eye’s spirit.
Now I’m not a TLC fan so they indeed better SLAY IF NEED BE!!
At least have Left Eye’s rap on one track. They can even sample bits into a song. But they’re going to need someone creative to help with this album. Lisa took risk, I’m afraid T and
Chili plays it too safe. May be the reason why 3D didn’t work.
I don’t really know how to say this, but I feel like when TLC has their signature quality of sound you can hear all of them…take Creep for example…even though T-Boz sings lead the entire song, I still “heard” all of them…No Scrubs (Chilli singing lead the entire song), the same thing…even when Left Eye raps, I “hear” T-Boz and Chilli…that is the magic of TLC…they are a true group – every voice is essential to the mix…and I agree, Left Eye samples, loops and ad-libs would be dope…or just her recorded spoken words, like at the end of the song “Fanmail”…Also, Debra Killings has always been in the background singing on a majority of their songs…if you’ve heard TLC, you’ve heard her…she’s amazing…you can really hear her on the song “Take Our Time” (MY JAM CHILE lol)….hopefully they work with her…
completely took the words out of my mouth. They sampled Lisa’s voice from an interview on Fantail while she was still alive so they can definitely do it – Without Debra they will sound totally different because she definitely held down those harmonies, I think she practically sang the chorus of ‘Take Our Time’ so they should try and get her on this. Creatively the big gap is Lisa because she always came up with the album concepts, themes and style so that is definitely missed. But will still support them, interested to see what they come up with.
Comment of the week.
Yasss they better slay!
They could always remix one of their old songs with Lisa. Sidenote: I bought my tickets today for the Main Event tour with TLC!!
I hope they come up with a good album. They should have replaced Left Eye 10 years ago and gone on tour. Other groups even more successful and influential than TLC have had to do that. Touring would have allowed them to generate income and let the audience get used to them having a new member. The runner-up on their reality show (Are You the Girl?) would have been perfect. I think they should also explore some new producers out there in addition to Dallas Austin and the other throwbacks, which could add a new dimension to their sound. Overall, I wish the ladies luck, but not having a replacement for Lisa, they need to work in some verses or even cull together something from things she said in interviews and such.
NOOO I’m glad they didn’t replace Left Eye.. they didn’t kick her off, she passed away. How can they replace her? You sound naive and narrow-minded. Mind you, they are an R&B group, not a rock band..
The Supremes, Temptations, Miracles, Marvelettes, Commodores, O’Jays, and Atlantic Starr — all r&b groups — survived lead singer changes at the height of their popularity.
@Casual-T but you’re mentioning groups from 30-40 years ago, and generally the person-in-question didn’t die…. TLC wouldn’t dragged for filfth if they ever did that. Anyways apparently Lil’ Mama is going to feature on some tracks which is good because in the movie she did da damn ting!
I’m here for this project. Idk why people are clowning them, but the same people clowning them are those who constantly ask people to gift them songs.. but anyways, I’m glad they asked Dallas Austin to join, and they need to ask Kandie Bursell.. This album should be a gem! Can’t wait, i love my TLC ladies!
@Casual-T I Glad they didn’t replace Lisa Lopes if they were going to do that they would’ve did that around July or August of 1994 around the production of the Crazy S*** Cool era but I do agree they should’ve disband after Lisa Lopes untimely demise. It would’ve made much more sense that way,Lisa was the energy and overall creative force to that group and to be honest you just can’t replace it’s leader she ment that damn much to that group. Just like Kurt Cobain did to Nirvana,right after Cobain’s demise Nirvana immediately disband because without Kurt theres no Nirvana. And they preserved Nirvanas iconic legacy that way. Just like Alice in Chains but for Alice and Chains they replaced Layne Stanley after his death with another frontman(I don’t Know the guys name)but just by doing that they were never able to pick up the momentum they had with this new guy, he’s good but he’s no Layne Stanley. Just like if you have a member that’s living case in point Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards can’t replace them to strong of a dynamic same with Aerosmiths Steven Tyler and Joe Perry they tried to replce them but to strong of a Dynamic their just irreplaceable. So if it’s not broke then why try to fix it anyway Tionne wouldn’t allow anyone to come in and replace her cousin Lisa anyways there bond was way too strong but Rozanda I don’t know I just don’t trust her she looks sneaky if T-Boz was to die today Rozanda would hurry up and come out with a whole new TLC group Lisa always said she was sneaky and greedy even if T-Boz wanted to move on with her life on to other things such as writing/producing for other artists she can’t because Rozanda( I can’t stand on my two own feet…I’m just not as popular as you (Tionne) and Lisa in this group as I thought was Thomas pulls Tionne back TLC when she doesn’t want to be by making her feel guilty and such so Tionne has no choice but participate even through all Tionne been there with brain tumor and sickle cell and such so to me I think this is Rozanda Ideal not so much as T’S just saying as for replacement it’s a no go.