TLC fans to fund release of album
ATLANTA — Grammy-winning R&B group TLC is depending on fans to fund the release of their final album through a Kickstarter campaign.
The group, which currently consists of T-Boz and Chilli, launched the campaign on Monday. It’s been nearly 13 years since their last album, “3D,” which was released seven months after the death of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in 2002.
“We’ve always been known to do things differently,” said T-Boz, who was born Tionne Watkins. “We’ve always been trailblazers and trendsetters. We’ve always been outspoken, and this seems like the perfect opportunity.”
TLC released back-to-back hits, including “Creep,” “Waterfalls” and “No Scrubs.” Their Grammy-winning sophomore album, “CrazySexyCool,” sold more than 10 million units. The group once filed for bankruptcy in 1996, despite having two multiplatinum albums.
T-Boz and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas have already begun the writing phase and production of their fifth album, expecting to release it in May when their tour starts. The group is hoping to collect at least $150,000 through the campaign to fund the recording process.
“People may say, `Hey, you are celebrities. Why can’t you just pay for it yourself?”’ Chilli said. “But it doesn’t work that way. There’s a lot that goes into it.”
TLC’s campaign follows Neil Young, who used Kickstarter to raise $6.2 million through 18,000 supporters last year to fund his digital music project PonoMusic.
With donations starting at $5, supporters will receive an exclusive digital track and communicate with them during their recording process.
