From the second they safety-pinned condoms to their garments to advertise secure intercourse, we knew that TLC could be iconic. The three-girl group from Atlanta: Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas—of their most well-known type—grew to become the voice of younger ladies of the nineties. They allowed us to demand our personal pleasure and search for another person if our wants weren’t met.
As TLC’s fame grew, their look, sound and messages advanced. They used their platform to advertise even larger causes, just like the AIDS epidemic and drug wars that have been taking the lives of our younger Black males. They inspired a era to combat again in opposition to dangerous self-perception. With songs that grew to become anthems, their 1994 album CrazySexyCool went platinum. The trio appeared unstoppable.
After which the unthinkable occurred. On April 25, 2002, Lopes misplaced management of the SUV she was driving in Honduras, and the approaching crash was deadly. She was solely 30 years previous on the time of her loss of life.
It appeared like the tip of TLC, and basically, it was because the remaining members moved on to different initiatives. Watkins grew to become an advocate for sickle cell anemia, which she had suffered from since childhood. Thomas grew to become a health guru. They each dabbled in music.
However the magnitude of TLC at all times lingered. In 2013, VH1 launched CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, a docudrama movie chronicling the group’s life battles, which we solely knew on the floor: submitting for Chapter 11 chapter in 1995 regardless of promoting hundreds of thousands of albums, battling illnesses and dealing with the lack of a good friend.
Watkins and Thomas revisited their previous once more in 2023 with the TLC Without end documentary. With a lot drama and a built-in musical backdrop, all of it appeared ripe for a musical. And now it’s.
CrazySexyCool—The Musical will delve deep into the long-lasting GRAMMY Award-winning trio that formed their very own voice and redefined what it meant to be a lady within the music trade. Author and director Kwame Kwei-Armah (One Love: The Bob Marley Musical) will carry the largely true story of their unshakable sisterhood to the stage with choreography by Chloe O. Davis.
CrazySexyCool – The Musical can have its world premiere at Area Stage in Washington, D.C., in June 2026 as a part of its 75th Anniversary Season.
Listed here are 5 songs that can be featured within the musical, proper from from TLC’s repertoire.
“Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg” (1991)
A enjoyable, playful ditty about asking for yours with out guilt.
“Creep” 1994
This story about creeping out on an untrue man was TLC’s first No. 1 Billboard hit.
“Waterfalls” 1994
A warning in opposition to the a long time’ illnesses that took lives.
“Unpretty” (1999)
This anthem inspired us to look inside ourselves to search out our magnificence.
“No Scrubs” (1999)
An area-infused cry to push away males missing in value and goal and search one thing larger.