Being crazy, sexy and cool were prerequisites to girl group fame. Thanks to Atlanta trio, TLC (comprised of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas), their sophomore LP CrazySexyCool laid the blueprint for female ensembles to follow.
On their 1994 project, the group brought the tender loving care on signature tracks like “Red Light Special,” “Diggin On You” and “Waterfalls.” Listen closely to the lady troupes of the ’90s and early 2000s and you’re sure to hear a hint of TLC in the mix. To celebrate CrazySexyCool‘s 20th anniversary (Nov. 15), see which acts might have taken a cue from TLC’s second album above.
ALSO SEE:
Why TLC Is More Important Than Destiny’s Child
What Millennials Should Know About… TLC’s CrazySexyCool
TLC’s Most Tweetable Lyrics
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TLC Song: “Creep”
Can Be Heard On: “My Little Secret” by Xscape
Year: 1998One of the platinum singles on the group’s sophomore album didn’t shy away from side pieces while still in a relationship. In 1998, fellow Atlanta natives Xscape released “My Little Secret,” playing the role of the “other chick,” but they make it sound so good you forget they’re singing about cheating.
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TLC Song: “Kick Your Game”
Can Be Heard On: “Bring It All To Me” by Blaque
Year: 1999When approaching these ATL gals, don’t spit game. TLC’s “Kick Your Game” and Blaque’s “Bring It All To Me” were catcalls to fellas with more than just pickup lines.
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TLC Song: “Diggin’ On You”
Can Be Heard On: “Steelo” by 702
Year: 1996These two tracks screamed a female’s laws of attraction. The term “steelo” blew up when 702 dropped their 1996 single, picking up where TLC left off on “Diggin’ On You.”
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TLC Song: “Case Of The Fake People”
Can Be Heard On: “So Good” by Destiny’s Child
Year: 1999Got haters? Just press play on these songs and brush that dirt off your shoulder.
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TLC Song: “Red Light Special”
Can Be Heard On: “Baby Tonight” by Changing Faces
Year: 1997Mixing just the right amount of raunchiness with a sultry attitude was the formula Changing Faces borrowed from TLC’s “Red Light Special.”
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TLC Song: “Let’s Do It Again”
Can Be Heard On: “Can We” by SWV
Year: 1997After Salt-N-Pepa made sex a point of discussion on “Let’s Talk About Sex” in 1990, TLC and SWV let their bodies talk on bedroom bumpers like “Let’s Do It Again” and “Can We.”
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TLC Song: “If I Was Your Girlfriend”
Can Be Heard On: “Can’t You See” by Total
Year: 1996Although Prince was the originator of this bae anthem (1987’s Sign O’ The Times), TLC flipped this unconditional love anthem for females. Puff Daddy’s trio Total later crafted their own dedication to dudes with “Can’t You See.”
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TLC Song: “Take Our Time”
Can Be Heard On: “Baby Come Close” by MoKenStef
Year: 1995TLC frequently dimmed the lights on CrazySexyCool, opening the door for artists like MoKenStef to continue making love on wax.
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TLC Song: “Switch”
Can Be Heard On: “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right)” by 3LW
Year: 20003LW learned from TLC how to leave a no-good significant other if you’re tired of their broken promises, promises.
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TLC Song: “Waterfalls”
Can Be Heard On: “2 Become 1” by Spice Girls
Year: 1996With TLC’s immeasurable single “Waterfalls” preaching safe sex to their female following, the U.K.’s hottest import in the ’90s also sang “put it on, put it on” on their slow jam “2 Become 1.”
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ALSO SEE:
Why TLC Is More Important Than Destiny’s Child
What Millennials Should Know About… TLC’s CrazySexyCool
TLC’s Most Tweetable Lyrics