TLC Career Story: CrazySexyCool, Grammys and Legacy

TLC have just wrapped up the It's Iconic tour, co-headlining arenas across the US with Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue from August to October 2026, while a CrazySexyCool stage musical played Washington DC over the summer. More than three decades in, the group's songs still fill dancefloors.

With five Grammys and a diamond-certified album, TLC rank among the most successful girl groups of all time. Here is their story. Find more classics in our R&B music collection.

TLC Fact File

Group name TLC
Formed 1990, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Members Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (1971-2002)
T-Boz Born 26 April 1970, Des Moines, Iowa (age 56)
Chilli Born 27 February 1971, Columbus, Georgia (age 55)
Current line-up T-Boz and Chilli
Nationality American
Genres R&B, pop, hip hop, new jack swing
Years active 1990-present
Labels LaFace, Arista, Epic, 852 Musiq

Career History

Year Label Album
1992 LaFace / Arista Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip
1994 LaFace / Arista CrazySexyCool
1999 LaFace / Arista FanMail
2002 LaFace / Arista 3D
2017 852 Musiq TLC

Five studio albums. CrazySexyCool is certified diamond in the US.

Early Years in Atlanta

TLC formed in Atlanta in 1990 and signed to LaFace Records. Chilli joined in 1991 alongside T-Boz and Left Eye, and the debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip (1992) launched them with Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg.

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CrazySexyCool

CrazySexyCool (1994) made them superstars. Creep became their first US number one in early 1995, and Waterfalls spent seven weeks at the top. The video won Video of the Year at the 1995 MTV VMAs, and Billboard calls the album the best-selling ever by an all-female group.

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FanMail and Beyond

FanMail (1999) brought No Scrubs and Unpretty, both US number ones, and three Grammys in 2000. Left Eye died in a car accident in Honduras in April 2002, and 3D followed later that year. T-Boz and Chilli carried on as a duo, releasing TLC in 2017 and touring the world, including Glastonbury in 2022.

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Still on Stage in 2026

TLC spent summer 2026 on the It's Iconic tour with Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue. Chilli also led several shows on her own while T-Boz took time out to recover, including a homecoming night in Atlanta in October. Their 2023 documentary TLC Forever also introduced the group's story to a new generation of fans. Over the summer, Kwame Kwei-Armah's jukebox musical CrazySexyCool, built around their songs, ran at Arena Stage in Washington DC.

Honours

Grammy Awards (5)

  • Best R&B Album: CrazySexyCool (1996) and FanMail (2000)
  • Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: Creep (1996) and No Scrubs (2000)
  • Best R&B Song: No Scrubs (2000)

Other Honours

  • Five MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year for Waterfalls
  • MOBO Outstanding Contribution (2012)

Away From the Spotlight

T-Boz is a long-time spokesperson for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. Chilli founded Chilli's Crew in Atlanta in 2012 to build self-esteem in teenage girls, and Left Eye's family set up the Lisa Lopes Foundation to support young people in need.

FAQs

Who are the members of TLC?

TLC are T-Boz (Tionne Watkins) and Chilli (Rozonda Thomas). Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was a member until her death in 2002.

How old are T-Boz and Chilli?

T-Boz was born on 26 April 1970 and is 56. Chilli was born on 27 February 1971 and is 55.

How many albums have TLC released?

Five studio albums, from Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip (1992) to TLC (2017).

How many Grammys have TLC won?

TLC have won five Grammy Awards from 12 nominations.

Is CrazySexyCool diamond?

Yes. CrazySexyCool is RIAA diamond certified and is the best-selling album by an all-female group.

Where are TLC from?

TLC formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1990.

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Show your love for the trio with our tribute designs.

Find more in our R&B music, bands and music collections. Want something personal? Try our Custom Name Men's Hoodie.

Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Boyz II Men Career Story and Whitney Houston Career Story.

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