When someone says TLC, you automatically think about the '90s, hot hip-hop/R&B grooves, fly fashions and empowering lyrics. It's a brand that the ladies of the group — Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas — have worked hard to cultivate. However, the ladies haven't released a full album of new material since 2002, the year that they lost Left Eye in a tragic car accident in Honduras. Since then, T-Boz and Chilli have kept the TLC name alive. Now the time has come for the group's last recorded chapter with the release of their self-titled fifth and final effort.
For the most part, the now-duo doesn't switch up their tried and true formula. First, they hit us with "No Introduction," where they take a minute remind us just why they're legendary. From there they slide into West Coat bop "Way Back," the Snoop Dogg-featuring lead single, which, while not necessarily dynamic, has proven to be a grower. From there, they offer up tracks that rehash what they've come to be known for while dancing between pop, R&B and hip-hop. There are anthems for outsiders ("Haters," "Perfect Girls"), socially conscious cuts ("American Gold"), jams about sex ("Start A Fire," "Scandalous") and feel good tracks ("It's Sunny," "Joy Ride").
Everything isn't golden here and more than a few things sound just a tad dated (this is especially true of "Haters" and "Aye Muthaf**ka"), but for the most part, T-Boz and Chilli do the TLC legacy proud with a final project that fits quite nicely within their aesthetic. Stream the album in full right here and pick it up from your favorite digital retailer.
TLC TLC [Amazon][iTunes][Google Play]
