TLC shot to superstardom in the '90s thanks to a series of best-selling albums, including 1992's quadruple platinum 'Ooooooohhh… On the TLC Tip', 1994's Diamond-certified 'CrazySexyCool' (which has sold over 23 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling album by a girl group in the U.S.), and 1999's 'FanMail', which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart and has been certified 7x-platinum in the US and 14 million worldwide.
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, released 26 years ago this week, the group brought the tender loving care on signature tracks like 'Red Light Special,' 'Diggin On You' and 'Waterfalls.'
Certified 12-times platinum in the United States and selling over 23 million copies worldwide, the album saw TLC go on to become the first girl group to ever be awarded diamond status by the RIAA.
TLC were also the first black act ever to win the Video of the Year award at the MTV Video Music Awards for their breakout hit, 'Waterfalls'.
Through their very public and high-profile success, turmoil and tragedy, TLC left an indelible stamp of female empowerment that changed the face of the music industry forever.
As fresh now as it was in 1994, ‘CrazySexyCool’ remains forever in style. Like Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’, Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation 1814’, Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ or Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’, its prototypical approach to production and unflinching cultural commentary keeps it relevant regardless of era.
Listen to CrazySexyCool below.