TLC's Chilli Preps For Tour & Says Artists Should Keep Feelings Out Of Business

BY Erika Marie 3.7K Views
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Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas
She also says she and T-Boz are 'attached at the hip."

It's been 20 years since TLC's hit album Fanmail came out, and the girl group is celebrating by embarking on a tour this summer with Nelly and Flo Rida. The pair have been rocking it as a duo since Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes tragically died in a car accident in Honduras back in 2002. Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and  Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas have continued to record and perform shows together, keeping the TLC dream going in honor of their departed friend.

They've already been the subject of a VH1 biopic and they've confirmed that they're working on a TLC musical. The two never thought that when they stepped into the hip hop scene back in 1992 that they'd still be working together so closely.

“My son [Tron, now 21] was 2 when ‘No Scrubs’ was out. It’s so crazy,” Thomas told PEOPLE regarding their popular 1999 hit. “When you’re in the midst of it, you’re not thinking about [the milestones]. You don’t realize until you hear about that kind of stuff.” TLC has endured a heap of drama throughout the years, separately and together, but no matter what, they'll always have each other's backs.

“That’s my sister. We are stuck at the hip,” Thomas tells PEOPLE of Watkins, who lives with Sickle Cell Anemia. “She’s doing all the stuff she needs to do to keep herself healthy. She’s great. I already know [the tour] is going to be great. It’s going to be so much fun. I can’t wait.” She added that age and maturity have shifted how she does business. “You just can’t allow your feelings to get so involved with business. You have to think with your head, not with your heart. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I got my feelings hurt a few times but I learned quickly. I recovered!”

Will you be snagging tickets to see TLC this summer?

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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