Paper:
PublishedDate: Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Edition:
Page: 3C
Book: G
Chilli keeps it real, even own her own
Static Writer
Ready to return to the top of the pop music charts, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas has a new album preparing for release (though it's without a name or release date). Looking back at her career, the R&B artist has always been about positive messages for young people, particularly girls, from the way her group TLC dressed to the lyrics of their songs. She says times have changed with today's music and she's ready to bring it back to where she began.
TLC dropped their first album when most teens were still babies. As a quick refresher, TLC doesn't stand for The Learning Channel or Tender Loving Care. It actually stands for Tionne Watkins, Lisa Lopes and Crystal Jones, the three original members of the group. Therefore, when Crystal left and Thomas joined, the girls were given nicknames: Watkins became "T-Boz", Lopes "Left-Eye", and Thomas "Chilli". These nicknames would later be explained as follows: "T-Boz" because "Tionne is the boss," "Left Eye" because "the eye is right," and "Chilli" because "Rozonda brings the sauce." The names stuck.
Ooooooohhh. . . On the TLC Tip, the act's first album was released in 1992, on which the baggy pants-wearing trio delivered classics such as "Baby, Baby, Baby," "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" and "What About Your Friends." Then they sold 11 million copies of CrazySexyCool in 1994, with the songs "Waterfalls" and "Creep." Along with releasing a legendary album, the trio announced they were bankrupt. The bounced back, however, with the release of FanMail, the thank you album they recorded for their fans that gave us songs like "No Scrubs" and "Unpretty."
Lopes died in 2003 in a fatal car accident, and is dearly missed by the remaining members of TLC. In Chilli's own words, she will "never be replaced."
In 2005, T-Boz and Chilli hosted a reality show R U the Girl (With T-Boz and Chilli) on UPN, where contestants competed for the chance to collaborate with and get signed by Chilli and T-Boz -- not replace Lopes. The winner of the contest, O'So Krispie, is still in the picture, Chilli said, "I am getting O'So Krispie a deal, she's fine."
Style
As a member of the trend-setting group TLC, Chilli wore her share of pre-picked costumes and outfits that simply irked her. These days she has one fashion trend that she cannot stand.
"I don't like humongous sunglasses," she said. "I used to babysit Nicole Richie and now she's wearing the glasses. Honestly, I think people look like bumblebees."
And since she is coming out with a new album and then likely a tour, she has to think of the style she will present along with the songs.
"No baggy clothes!" she exclaimed. "What you saw with TLC was really baggy clothes. At the time, we were going against the trend of wearing hot pants and biker shorts. That's why we wore baggy pants. Honestly, even though I wore the layers of boxers . . . my pants were sagging to my knees."
She is a fan of the pop "classics": MC Hammer's Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em, anything by Michael Jackson and Seal's three self-titled albums.
"His voice -- oh my God -- puts you into a trance," she said. "He's awesome . . . he's clever. [His] lyrics show that."
Reflections and Advice
Chilli reflected on her career with TLC. She was very young when she started with the group, but for other aspiring artists, she had a strong message.
"Really. Finish school first," Chilli said. "It's very important. The more knowledge the better off you'll be. After high school is the best time to come out. Some parents these days are pimping their children (to the music industry)."
"There is a big difference between the scene from the '90s when I came out, and even before I came out," she said. "Songs had substance. There was artist development. Like the song (by Down for Life) "Laffy Taffy.' The beat is jammin', but you notice that (they're) talking about a body part as though it's a lollipop. If I had a record label, I would make sure the artist had positive and meaningful lyrics."
The song Chilli can't get out of her head is her own "I'm Hot."
"It's not a conceited type of song where I think that I'm the bomb. It's about a basic girlfriend/boyfriend relationships, and how you're so hot that he better get it together. It's a song about believing in yourself."
Chilli is a woman of substance, a woman with a mission if you will, as well as very spiritual.
"Career-wise, God gave me a gift and I recognize it. I am thankful to God, and with my influence, I want to make a difference in the world." Chilli added, "I want ladies to not let videos influence their opinions of themselves or their self-worth. Women need to preserve their goods, and I want to help women in any way I can."
Personal philosophy
Chilli's philosophy on life is simple: "It's good to set goals that you want to reach, but don't be married to a goal. The effects can be devastating. I've learned that God allows you to be on this earth, but it's best not to have goals in life. It will leave you disappointed in the end."
Chilli is here to stay to try to change the scope of music for as long as she can. She has strong spiritual faith, family ties and love of TLC's memory, specifically Left-Eye. She has a plan for her longevity:
"Ask God to help you. Be thankful he showed you your gift at such a young age. Ask him to help you everyday."
Victoria Thomas is a senior at Camden County Technical Schools, Pennsauken Campus. She can be reached at courierpostonline.com.
