TLC's CrazySexyCool: Where Are They Now?
Catch up with the creators of TLC's crowning achievement.
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TLC's CrazySexyCool: Where Are They Now? - 18 years ago today, Nov. 15, TLC released an album that helped define the '90s: CrazySexyCool. Boasting the hits "Creep" and "Waterfall," the album, which blended hip hop and R&B like never before, sold 22 million copies worldwide and turned the late Left Eye, Chilli and T-Boz into superstars. But TLC didn't do it alone: They had a crack team of songwriters, producers, musicians and rappers helping them out. And in the 18 years since, they've made some serious moves. Click on to catch up with the creators of TLC's crowning achievement, CrazySexyCool. —Alex Gale (Photo: Courtesy LaFace Records)
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Busta Rhymes - Right before he launched his superstar solo career, Busta Rhymes appeared on the interlude "Can I Get a Witness," describing his dream girl, who sounds a lot like a TLC member. Years later, Buss is still talking his ish. He resurrected his career with a bonkers verse on Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now" last year, landing a deal with Cash Money as a result. While working on his new album for Birdie and company, he dropped a free LP, Year of the Dragon, via Google Play earlier this year. (photo: John Ricard / BET)
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Organized Noize - Just months after their incredible work on OutKast's debut album, Atlanta-based production team Organized Noize knocked out funky, guitar-laced beats for their LaFace label mates TLC on "Waterfalls" and "Somethin' Wicked This Way Comes." Though the crew fell out of prominence after their heady '90s days when they worked with OutKast, Goodie Mob and the rest of the Dungeon Family, they've had a recent renaissance thanks to their production work for Future, cousin of Noize member Rico Wade. (Photo: Rick Diamond/WireImage for The Recording Academy)
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Diddy - A young Diddy co-produced four of the album's tracks with Chucky Thompson. Twenty years later, he doesn't produce as much anymore — he's too busy spending his Sean John and Ciroc money and topping the Forbes list. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
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Babyface - Fresh off a Grammy win for Producer of the Year in 1993, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, TLC's boss at LaFace Records, cemented his status as new industry icon through his work on CrazySexyCool, producing and writing three songs. Though LaFace has long since been dismantled, Babyface is now a true legend, with 26 R&B chart-toppers. He's currently working on a new album under Island Def Jam, and toured Asia earlier this month. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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Andre 3000 - Andre 3000 hooked up his LaFace label mates with a fly verse on "Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes," landing himself his second plaque in a year — months earlier, OutKast's debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, went platinum. Nowadays, after years out of the public eye, Andre is getting ready to star in an upcoming Jimi Hendrix biopic, in between tantalizing fans with random guest verses (on Rick Ross' and T.I.'s newest albums, most recently) and so-far-unfounded rumors of an OutKast reunion. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
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Phife Dawg - A Tribe Called Quest's Phife got a rare moment of solo glory when he opened up CrazySexyCool with a verse on "Intro-Lude." Though Tribe broke up a few years later, Phife released a solo album, Da Ventilation LP, in 2000, and played a key role promoting last year's acclaimed Tribe documentary, Beats, Rhymes and Life. Despite struggling with diabetes, he's currently working on a new album, Songs in the Key of Phife, Volume 1: Cheryl's Big Son. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)
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Chucky Thompson - Chucky Thompson created four tracks for TLC with Diddy as a key member of his Hitmen production team. Chucky's built an impressive discography in the two decades since, producing hits for Nas, Mary J. Blige and, most recently, Faith Evans's 2010 album, Something About Faith. (Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images)
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Cee-Lo Green - Listen carefully to the background vocals: Cee Lo Green, who was then signed to LaFace as a member of Goodie MOB, laced TLC's hit "Waterfalls" with his trademark raspy singing. Last decade, with Goodie broken up, Cee-Lo became an unlikely star thanks to his work with Dangermouse as one half of Gnarls Barkley and, more recently, hit it big solo with his hit "Forget You." He's currently a judge on the hit talent show The Voice and is working on finally bringing back Goodie MOB. (Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
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Trey Lorenz - Two years after duetting with Mariah Carey on her MTV Unplugged rendition of "I'll Be There," Trey Lorenz provided background vocals on "Switch" for TLC. Though Lorenz later backed up Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin and Usher, he's still collaborating with Carey all these years later. She released his solo album Mr. Mista through her MonarC label in 2006, which often takes him on tour. In 2011 Lorenz turned to club music, hitting No. 1 on the U.K. dance charts via his featured role on DJ Tony Moran's "Can I Love U More." (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)
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