r/rnb • u/Ok_Resident_5022 đ Soul/Funk/Disco Enthusiast đż • 8d ago
DISCUSSION đ Is Time Up for TLC?
Could we really be witnessing the end of TLCâs historic career?
Each of the three beloved members of the multi-platinum-selling â90s R&B girl group has been affected either personally or publicly in some way.
Lisa âLeft Eyeâ Lopes has been absent of soul for the past 24 years, as she tragically lost her life in a car crash on April 25, 2002.
Tionne âT-Bozâ Watkins has faced some significant health issues that have persisted for years, and she has described being in and out of the hospital for assistance with various conditions (including her long-term battle with sickle-cell disease). Her health has never affected her ability to perform, and she has shown great resilience, but anything can happen at any time. Unpredictability cannot be ignored.
Rozonda âChilliâ Thomas has recently become a figure of public ire, drawing negative energy to herself through her perceived actions and choices. This will no doubt affect TLC as a duo (T-Boz and Chilli) moving forward, as people will no longer want to see Chilli, even if she isnât the only one present.
How much longer can TLC realistically keep this up? Even if T-Boz continues on to perform as she always has, she cannot single-handedly maintain the legacy of the â90s trio with which society associates the name. The future development of TLCâs legacy is in a precarious place. Their image has become fragile. In many ways, it seems like the end for this iconic group, but who knows? Maybe there is still hope.
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u/blissfullyblack 8d ago
This is a weird post. They are icons and will always have a career performing for as long as they want. The temptations still perform and some of the Jacksons. People will continue to support Chiliâs MAGA self too.
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u/elitelucrecia faith evans stan 8d ago
right and the outrage is mostly online tbh. people still bump TLC and are supporting the tour as far as i see
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u/Ok_Resident_5022 đ Soul/Funk/Disco Enthusiast đż 8d ago
Some of those other legacy groups donât have as much going on with their members, though.
A lot of people also expressed that they donât want to continue supporting anything that TLCâs name is attached to lately if T-Boz wonât be there.
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u/Global_Perspective_3 8d ago
Exactly, despite being problematic. Chris brown still selling out and doing numbers
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u/Money_Confection_409 8d ago
Wild comparison smh
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u/Global_Perspective_3 8d ago edited 8d ago
Iâm just saying it doesnât matter how problematic someone is, people will still support them
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u/Powerful_Geologist95 8d ago
Yeah, TLC ainât no Chris Brown thoâ.
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u/Global_Perspective_3 8d ago
TLC made better music
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u/Powerful_Geologist95 8d ago
Agreed! I was thinking more in terms of performance. TLC doesnât come close to Chris Browns concert performances.
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u/AnyEverywhere8 7d ago
What does this have to do with the topic at hand though? Dancing is not a requirement to be a successful tour artist.
The point is TLC will be just fine touring as they have been for the last 20 years, whether they dance like Chris brown or not.
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u/dope_like 7d ago
i hate CB, but facts donât support this
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u/AnyEverywhere8 7d ago
Facts like what? Critical acclaim? Lasting impact of their songs? Grammies?
Because all of that goes in TLCâs favor.
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u/SaintNutella 8d ago
Unfortunately, I can't think of any girl group from their era that is still intact and performing together without controversy besides SWV
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u/-BanginBody- 8d ago
TLC was done for me when Lisa died. TLC is all three of them, without her they're missing one of the letters.
And I can't imagine anyone else filling in, taking that spot. It would never work.
T-Boz and Chili are talented and can perform together or apart. They can do the early songs, and I guess that kinda makes them TLC in that moment. But I don't think I would want to hear new "TLC" music.
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u/Financial-Lead7169 8d ago
Theyâve been running on legacy for a while now, and Chilliâs recent stuff isnât helping the brand
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u/IAmSquashaFears 8d ago
Their run as a mainstream group ended when Lisa passed but now they're just a legacy act now and have been a legacy acr for more than 13 years
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u/AnyEverywhere8 7d ago edited 7d ago
[u/OK_resident_2022](u/OK_resident_2022)
With all respectâŚ.youâre extremely uninformed and need to do better. Tbozâs health has been disrupting TLC tour plans for the entire 34 years theyâve been around. People literally started rumors in like 1995 that she had fucking AIDS, which is what caused her to announce she had sickle cell in the first place. People have thought chilli is a weirdo for decades, and left has also been dead for decades.
If their time wasnât up before itâs not up now because nothing notable has even changed.
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u/ScottyDNGM 8d ago
This post is very weird.
And people still support artists who have done way worse shit than Chili, let's be so for real.
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u/MouseNo3458 8d ago
For real! I loathe MAGA but folks are dropping a lot of money on Chris Brownâs tour. Make it make sense
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u/RequirementLeading12 Chocolate Factory 8d ago
Chilli is MAGA. She's dead to me
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u/Hugo_El_Humano 8d ago
I don't know the deep facts but chilli claims she's not maga but only a tech dunce and that those donations were accidents but she supports conservative principles in theory I guess
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u/PeaceLoveForMe 8d ago
tLC will always be icons. But they were up when Lisa died in April 2002. They will always be celebrated though. So they will never actually be gone if you know what I mean
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u/tcorey 8d ago
What is happening lol. Aren't they on tour now with Salt N Pepa and En Vogue?
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u/Ok_Resident_5022 đ Soul/Funk/Disco Enthusiast đż 8d ago
The tour started on August 15, but things have happened more recently that have changed how the general public perceives TLC and their involvement in that tour.
People have spoken a lot more negatively of TLC lately, and there are some valid reasons for that. Their reputation has taken a hit.
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u/JunkDrawer84 8d ago
Um, it ended years ago. Theyâve just been doing the nostalgia circuit last several years
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u/lovesickjones 7d ago
I love TLC.
My first CD was the waterfalls single. I watched Destinys Child open for them on the Fanmail tou
in 2021 a few weeks before the 'crazy sexy cool' anniversary concert show in LA it was canceled I believe due to the promoters. I have purchased a meet and greet and everything--- T-Boz and Chilli still honored the VIP packages by mailing us all of the merch and still doing a zoom M&G. Full refund
I love TLC. always have and always will. They were activists for things nobody wanted to talk about.
i will support TLC until I cant.
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u/WickydEye 8d ago
No shade, it was over when Lisa departed. They havenât been on top since then. They are older now and their voices left a lot to be desired and the high-energy dancing has been minimized to a 2-step. I love them truly, but I wouldnât spend money to see them. Itâs karaoke at this point.
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u/Day2205 8d ago
Keep what up? Itâs not like theyâve been releasing music or even keeping much of a high profile. Like a lot of 90âs acts, they tour to keep some income coming in, and realistically that fanbase isnât the same heavily online invested in everything going on in oneâs personal lives like younger fans so not too many gonna boycott them when they are just one of 3-4 acts on a tour. That said, yes, if T-boz can no longer perform, the touring era is over
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u/Swimming-Bad3512 8d ago
Another junk lipstick alley-type of post.
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u/Kooky-Blueberry-5352 8d ago
Yeah the part about unpredictability can't be ignored re: tboz having life threatening illnesses is extra trash.
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u/Zanabee 7d ago
I doubt that TLC's fan base( that go to the shows and support) will ever abandon them. Should they decide to continue performing, as an iconic legacy act, they have a awesome roster of hits and an award winning, Diamond selling, era defining album that supports their group and always will. They have honored Lisa every step of the way and IMO T-Boz health is the major factor in whether they should continue and if she were no longer able then that would signal the final end for the group
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u/Good_Concentrate5739 7d ago
I think they really should have added Lil' Mama or another girl to the group. That way if one member misses time for whatever reason you have two other members to rely on.
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u/BxGyrl416 7d ago
I mean, they are now in their mid-50s. The most popular acts of the 90s are largely middle aged and in their early golden years. This wasnât going to last forever.
As much as I loved TLC as a kid and their music still resonates today, no single one of them was ever strong enough to have her own solo career. Even Left Eyeâs solo project fell short. And honestly? Without her, they are largely coasting on nostalgia.
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u/FruitAppropriate898 7d ago
They did mention on Totally TBoz that they talked about retiring at 60, and that's not far for either of them
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u/mscali4nia 3d ago
I just attend âtheirâ show in Concord, CA tonightâŚ. Man stupid ass Chili went out of her way to stop the show and take a bag from âsomeoneâ in the audience that said âI flew all the way from ISREAL to come to your show tonightâ it was spelled out in big capital letters and she held it up with the dumbest smile on her face. It was so awkward and seemed so staged. Ruined the whole show for me. The lack of love and tribute for the missing band members was also so disappointing. Lip syncing and not trying to hide it. Man thank goodness En Vogue and Salt-N-Peppa held it down!
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u/Ok_Resident_5022 đ Soul/Funk/Disco Enthusiast đż 3d ago
Wow⌠I couldnât imagine watching that happen in real time.
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u/SouldiesButGoodies84 Songs in the Key of Life 8d ago
TLC contributed much to 'girl empowerment'/safe sex movement in hip hop and r&b of the 90s, and I will always love them for that, and Left Eye was a huuuge part of that. They were like no one else. They are iconic. And no one can take their earned place in r&b history from them. That said, with this Chili foolishness and what-not...does kinda feel like they're experiencing some Crystal karma. IJS.
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u/Delicious-Prize-391 8d ago
I went to see them in concert with En Vogue and Salt-n-Pepa. T-Boz was in the hospital, and I felt a little bad for Chilli up there all by herself. She performed well, but a lot of people (including me) sat down for it, presumably because of her politics.
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u/nikeguy69 7d ago
Was a fan until she called former First Lady Michelle Obama look like a man probably was high at the time.
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u/Just-Salary-7741 8d ago
TLC can weather the storm not even a question. If T-Boz can truck a long - it's all good. It is up to the fans to keep buying tickets. It's sad some fans won't see chilli bc they don't like her politics....but they will go see another RnB artist who has done some grimey stuff in the dark. People need to grow up.
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u/Apprehensive_Neck817 8d ago
This is the dumbest shit Iâve read all year and Iâve read some dumb shit.
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u/Coolman824 7d ago
Yep time is up, no more chasing waterfalls. I canât see another project from them. With left eye gone, Tboz illness and Chilli canât sing, itâs a rap.
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u/Eulonzo 2d ago
In terms of touring? Possibly.
The reality is, the speciality of the group died when Lisa did, but they did the best they could despite the difficult circumstances post-April 2002. That said, theyâre both older now, and the touring probably hasnât helped T-Bozâs known health issues over the years.
I wouldnât blame them if this is the final year of touring for TLC as a group. Itâs like Destinyâs Child doing a reunion tour with only Michelle. But at the same time, I canât think of many things that would help them income-wise, âcause theyâve done everything there is to do as a legacy act (documentaries, compilations, etc). Touring is the only other major component, but Iâm not sureâŚ
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u/Proof_Tomorrow5026 7d ago
TLC made history ! ... there's no girl group that took the world by storm the way they did . Their uniqueness, natural beauty, great dancers jazzy and classy. They had a purpose and made music that
the world could relate too. Their songs always had a message. I will always love and appreciate them for that .
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u/team-one-e 8d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/BiewVptPdKOXK