T-Boz Refutes Jermaine Dupri's Claim That He Is Responsible For Her Voice

BY Erika Marie 6.7K Views
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T-Boz, TLC, Chilli, Jermaine Dupri, Expeditiously, T.I.
The TLC singer visited T.I.'s "ExpediTIously" podcast and said she needed to clarify a few comments her friend Jermaine Dupri made about her voice.

T.I.'s ExpediTIously podcast has grown into a mega-hit. The rapper has interviewed dozens of his fellow artists and industry professionals, including his good friend Jermaine Dupri. Back in April, the So So Def mogul stopped by ExpediTIously and discussed all things music, including a tidbit about how he seemed to be responsible for TLC's T-Boz singing in a lower register. T-Boz and Dupri have known each other for decades, but the singer recently made an appearance alongside her groupmate Chilli to clear up a few things.

 Shirlaine Forrest / Stringer / Getty Images

"The other day when J.D. was on your show, and the reason I have to say it here is because it was said here, some things were very inaccurate," T-Boz said. "It was like a revision of history... And the thing about my story is, I have proof because facts are facts." The singer added that in her previously released book, she "gave J.D. props or what he really did."

Then, she cleared up what she said were misconceptions of the truth. T-Boz explained that way back before she met Jermaine Dupri she "was rocking the low notes at 17-years-old" when she was in a group called Second Nature with Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, prior to them meeting Chilli. "It wasn't like [Durpi] looked at me and was like, 'Oh, this blonde girl, I'mma make her sound deep. The reason he knew I could sing deep is because the night that I sang in the audition, I was singing deep and I sang Guy then."

"I was afraid to do that as my thing," said T-Boz. However, after she auditioned for someone else, she was introduced to Dupri. "That's what made him put me on Kris Kross's demo, because he heard me doing it already." Dupri allegedly encouraged her to "feel comfortable" with her voice during a time in music when women didn't sound like her gravely deeper tone.

T-Boz said that she's not mad at Dupri for his story because they're like siblings. She added that she didn't want to have to clarify anything about it on T.I.'s podcast, but with all of the things she's endured in the industry, she had to stand her ground. You can watch T-Boz and Chilli on ExpediTIously below. They jump into the Dupri drama at the beginning. 


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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