TLC: Ooooooohhh…On The TLC Tip Vinyl LP

25 years ago, TLC released Ooooooohhh On The TLC Tip, and the trio, consisting of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez, kicked off a legacy that would influence every all-female group that followed. Jermaine Dupri, Dallas Austin, Babyface, L.A. Reid, and Marley Marl handled the production, and TLC, dressed in the flyest gear (condom glasses!) and armed with a female-positive, pro-safe-sex attitude, presented a saucy blend of rap and r&b that resulted in funky, adventurous numbers like “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg,” “What About Your Friends,” “Hat 2 da Back,” and “Baby-Baby-Baby.” TLC would obviously go on to release super successful and iconic albums like CrazySexyCool and FanMail, but Ooooooohhh is the one that set the stage for the influential ATL outfit, and it remains one of the strongest new jack swing records. RIP Left Eye.

• music label: LaFace Records 1992 / 2017

reviewed by nakaveli 10/2017