The 500 - #379 - CrazySexyCool - TLC

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

Album # 379

Album Title: CrazySexyCool
Artist: TLC
Genre: Hip Hop, Soul, R&B, New Jack Swing
Recorded: Multiple Studios (Atlanta & New York)
Released: November, 1994
My age at release: 29
How familiar was I with it before this week: A little
Song I am putting on my Spotify: Waterfalls

Chances are, you Googled something today or, perhaps, you texted a friend or Zoomed with a client. Maybe you Xeroxed a document before Fed-Exing or Purolating it.

Etymologists refer to the phenomenon of "verbifying" a word, typically a proper noun as in the examples above, as "anthimeria". It is a practise that has been around since the time of Shakespeare -- when Hamlet's "sea-gown scarf'd about" him.

Typically, an anthimeria evolves for practical, or poetic, purposes and the associations are largely positive. However, sometimes a negative connotation can be associated with a name. Consider the late Bill Buchner, who put up impressive statistics throughout a 21-year career in Major League Baseball. Unfortunately, he is best remembered for an error he made on a routine play in Game Six of the 1986 World Series.

Bill Buchner missing a ground ball, allowing the Mets to win Game 6
leading to another win in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series

Consequently, the verb "to Buchner", became part of North American sports fans' vernacular. A term not reserved to baseball, a hockey goaltender could also Buchner an easy save.

Which brings us to TLC, the three-member female vocal group from Atlanta, Georgia. The original 1990 line-up featured Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez and Crystal Jones taking the initialism TLC from the first letters of their names. Jones was soon replaced by Rozonda Thomas, who adopted the nickname "Chilli" to maintain the logic of the group's name.

Their first record, Ooooooohhh...On The TLC Tip, quickly established them as a force to be reckoned with in New Jack Swing style, which fused hip-hop with pop, funk and R&B. That 1992 record had three Top Ten hits and landed them a spot as the opening act on MC Hammer's 105-city world tour.

Ooooooohhhh...On The TLC Tip Album Cover

The record that appears on The 500 list is their second release, CrazySexyCool, from 1994. It achieved critical and commercial success, peaking at #3 and spending two years on the Billboard 200 record charts. It featured four singles, including their biggest hit, Waterfalls -- which was released with a high-tech, effect-heavy video that cost the group over a million dollars to make.

Screen images from the Waterfalls video

CrazySexyCool has been certified 12 times platinum, exceeding sales of 14 million units. Consequently, TLC is the best selling North American female group of all time and the only female group to achieve Diamond Certification from the Recording Industry of America (RIAA).

However, at the height of their power, the band filed for bankruptcy. Unwisely, the starry-eyed 20-year-olds had signed a dreadful contract with the record company Pebbitone, started by former performer Perri "Pebbles" Reid and her then-husband Antonio "LA" Reid. Pebbles had experienced commercial success with the 80s hits Girlfriend and Mercedes Boy before transitioning into the production side of the music industry.

Album Cover for the Girlfriend single from Pebbles (1987)

The predatory contract billed TLC for every possible expense. Now, typical contracts will recoup costs for the manufacture and release of a record. However, this deal billed the band for every expenditure, minor or major. Consequently, the members of the band finished 1994 having earned less than $60,000 each despite selling 12 million records and generating income in excess of $200 million. 

An anthimeria was born -- signing a bad contract in the music business is disparagingly referred to as "being TLC'd".

The situation was exacerbated by the problematic choices made by "Left-Eye" Lopez. Lopez was battling alcoholism while in a volatile relationship with Atlanta Falcon's wide receiver Andre Rison. In the early morning hours of June 9, 1994, Lopez started a fire in Rison's home. She intended to burn his collection of new shoes in the bathtub. However, the fibreglass tub melted quickly and the million dollar mansion was set ablaze.

The burned remains of Rison's million dollar estate.

During the recording of CrazySexyCool, Lopez was serving time in a rehabilitation facility. Consequently, her participation was limited. Despite this, her signature raps are powerful and received high-praise from critics and fans.

The group eventually renegotiated their contract, but their time together was brief. Internal conflict led to a break-up in 2001, shortly after the release of their third record, Fan Mail, which featured another smash hit, No Scrubs. 

Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez was killed in a car crash while organising charity work in Honduras. She was thrown from her vehicle while swerving to avoid a collision with an oncoming truck. She is buried in Dekalb, Georgia, and her empowering, social-conscious lyrics from Waterfalls are printed on her gravestone.

Gravestone marker for Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez

The remaining members, Watkins and Thomas, reunited in 2015 and embarked on a multi-city tour with New Kids on the Block, and Nelly. In 2017, a self-titled fifth album was released. 

TLC in 2017
Rozonda "Chili" Thomas (left) and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins

Undeniably, TLC has made a significant impact on the world of music and the group deserves its place on The 500 list. However, they are also remembered as a cautionary tale to new artists about the dangers of hastily signing an untenable contract. Much like poor Bill Buchner, the group is far more than the unfortunate anthimeria  they created.