CrazySexyCool

For the film, see CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.

CrazySexyCool
File:TLCCrazySexyCool.jpg
Studio album by TLC
Released	November 15, 1994 (1994-11-15)
Recorded	late 1993–September 1994
Studio	Doppler Studios, Bosstown Studios, KrossWire Studio; D.A.R.P. Studios (Atlanta, Georgia) Music Grinder Studios (Hollywood, California) The Hit Factory, Daddy's House (New York)
Genre	R&B hip hop soul
Length	56:10
Label	LaFace Arista
Producer	Various Dallas Austin Sean "Puffy" Combs Jermaine Dupri Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds Organized Noize Jon-John Robinson Manuel Seal Chucky Thompson
TLC chronology
Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip (1992)Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip1992 CrazySexyCool (1994) FanMail (1999)FanMail1999
Singles from CrazySexyCool
"Creep" Released: October 31, 1994 "Red Light Special" Released: February 21, 1995 "Waterfalls" Released: May 29, 1995 "Diggin' on You" Released: October 30, 1995

CrazySexyCool is the second studio album by American girl group TLC, first released by LaFace Records on November 15, 1994. Following the group's record deal, they released their debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip (1992) which was met with positive reviews and commercial success. The following year, the group began working on the follow up album; however, the production was unproductive due to personal struggles - notably those of band member Lisa Lopes, who was in an temperamental relationship and was suffering with alcoholism. The album's recording lasted until September 1994, with Lopes being forced to have less input due to being in rehab.

The album saw the group reunite with producers Dallas Austin and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds as well as new collaborators Organized Noize and Chucky Thompson, the album also featured contributions from Sean "Puffy" Combs who helped with the notable hip hop soul sound. An R&B and hip hop soul album, CrazySexyCool featured hip-hop beats, funk, deep grooves, propulsive rhythms and smooth production. The album's lyrical content was seen as a departure from the group's debut and was seen as a coming-of-age project which explored themes sexuality, romanticism, inexperience and youthful optimism.

The album was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200 CrazySexyCool spent over two years on the Billboard album charts, and was certified Diamond by the RIAA, making TLC the first girl group in history to be awarded diamond status. CrazySexyCool has since sold over 23 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by an American girl group, and the second best-selling album worldwide by a girl group behind Spice Girls' Spice. The album has since been featured on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and was, in 2008, listed as a "New Classic" by Entertainment Weekly.

Background

Debut album

On February 28, 1991, Watkins and Lopes signed production, management, and publishing deals with Pebbitone, with Perri Reid becoming their general manager. The two-member TLC-Skee made its first recorded appearance on a track for LaFace act Damian Dame's self-titled 1991 LP. Pebbles found the third member in Rozonda Thomas, one of Damian Dame's part-time backup dancers.

Thomas was signed to the act in April 1991, at about which time the group's name was shortened to TLC. To maintain TLC's name as an acronym for the girls' names, Watkins became "T-Boz," Lopes became "Left-Eye," and Thomas became "Chilli." The girls were then signed to LaFace in May through the production deal with Pebbitone; their records would be distributed by Arista Records/BMG. TLC was immediately set up to go into the studio with Reid and Edmonds, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, and Marley Marl producing their first album, Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip. The new trio debuted as backing vocalists on "Rebel (With a Cause)," a track on Jermaine Jackson's sole album for LaFace, You Said (1991).

L.A. Reid signed TLC and served as executive producer on both the group's debut and its follow-up, CrazySexyCool.

Production on Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip wrapped up in December 1991. The album became a commercial success, peaking at number fourteen on the US Billboard 200 and reached the third spot on the R&B Albums chart. According to Nielsen SoundScan it sold 2.5 million copies in the US. It was eventually certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA for shipping four million copies in the US.

Personal struggles

Lopes was often vocal about her personal life and difficult past. She readily admitted that she had come from an abusive, alcoholic background and struggled with alcohol problems herself. These problems became headline news in 1994, when she set fire to Andre Rison's tennis shoes in a bathtub, which ultimately spread to the mansion they shared, destroying it. Lopes claimed that Rison had beaten her after a night out, and she set fire to his shoes to get back at him. However, she said burning down the house was an accident. Lopes later revealed that she did not have a lot of freedom within the relationship and was abused mentally and physically, having released all her frustrations on the night of the fire. Lopes, who was sentenced to five years probation and therapy at a halfway house, was never able to shake the incident from her reputation. Her relationship with Rison continued to make headlines, with rumors of an imminent wedding, later debunked by People magazine.

Recording

Doppler Studios was one of the recording studios used during the album's production.

The album's recording began in late 1993 and continued through till September 1994, the album was recorded at numerous studios including Doppler Studios, Bosstown Recording Studios, KrossWire Studio and GADaddy's; D.A.R.P.Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as Music Grinder Studios in Hollywood, and The Hit Factory, in New York. During the album's recording Left Eye was forced to have less of an input and was featured less than her peers, because during the recording sessions Left Eye pleaded guilty to her arson charge, and was sent to a rehab facility instead, which is why Left Eye appears on so little of the album. Her rehab facility only released her for a couple of recording sessions, during which time she cut just a handful of album-worthy rap verses.

For the album's production and writing, the group worked with producers including Babyface, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri and more. Chilli stated that they had used these producers because they always worked with them stating that they worked with Dallas, Babyface, and Jermaine on the first album "the only thing we had new was Organized Noize." Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest did the interludes, however during the album's recording the band members weren’t always in the studio together; sometimes they went in one by one because due to scheduling.

"Waterfalls" was written by band member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes with Marqueze Etheridge and Organized Noize, who also produced the song. Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins perform the song with Lopes, who also provides a rap. The background vocals are performed by the members of TLC, as well as Debra Killings and Cee-Lo Green. Speaking of Green's involvement, Watkins said, "He was in Goodie Mob, we grew up together, we go way back. He did and it was amazing! I love his voice." The lyrics of the song reference 1990s issues such as violence associated with illegal drug trade and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. At the end of the second verse, the group sings, "His health is fading and he doesn't know why / Three letters took him to his final resting place." Watkins said that it was important for the group to "get the message across without seeming like preaching."

Music and lyrics

CrazySexyCool was a rebellious and free from the traditional R&B norms that weighed the genre down. That edginess, that swagger can’t be replaced without its ties to hip-hop. There’s something to be said for how fresh and balanced it sounded, how different it was, and how little it seemed to care about observing R&B convention. To me, that was half the appeal: It was sensual R&B with fiery hip-hop spirit.

— Sheldon Pearce, Consequence of Sound

A hip hop soul album, CrazySexyCool was noted as a departure from the group's debut, and was seen as move from the group's predominantly rap connects. The album was noted for having smooth tempo songs, based around contemporary soul similar to that of Philly soul and Prince according to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic. Erlewine continued to state that the album is "powered" by new jack wing and hip-hop beats with influences of mid-tempo funk, deep grooves, horns and guitar lines. CrazySexyCool was seen as rebellious and free from the traditional R&B of the 90's which struggled to break out of its box, the album contained sensual R&B sounds built over edgy hip-hop beats. The album's production was characterized as containing stripped-back, propulsive rhythms along with clap-commanding high production, bouncy funk elements and smooth rhythms.

The album's lyrical content was also see as an departure from Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip. A reviewer from Entertainment Weekly, stated that compared to the lyrical content of their debut which was seen as being condom consciousness, and "kiddie-cute hip-hop", CrazySexyCool is filled with adult-female sexuality, and "hide- and-seek coyness" the reviewer also noted shallowness of their lyrics. CrazySexyCool was seen as a coming-of-age sophomore album, according to Sheldon Pearce from Consequence of Sound, who stated the album had themes of "guileless and horny twenty something" lyrics that harmlessly explored sexuality and romanticism with the "naïveté that comes from inexperience and youthful optimism." The album lyrics also touch upon themes of relationships both the impassioned and erotic sides.

Release and promotion

To promote CrazySexyCool, TLC, along with Boyz II Men, Montell Jordan and Mary J. Blige performed in the annual Budweiser Superfest Tour in early 1995, consisting of 23 dates in North America. The Atlanta, Chicago and Indianapolis shows featured an expanded roster of performers, including Blackstreet and Monica.

All four singles from the album reached the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, two of them reaching number one.

Lead single, "Creep", topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, and was one of the biggest singles of 1995, coming in at number three in Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles of 1995. It also reached number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

The second single, "Red Light Special", peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Third single, "Waterfalls", became TLC's most successful song, spending seven weeks at number one. It was also the second-biggest single of 1995 according to Billboard, giving TLC two songs in the Top 3 of the 1995 Billboard Year-End chart. Internationally, the song reached the top 5 of many countries.

"Diggin' on You" was released as the album's fourth and final single, and reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Robert Christgau	B+
Entertainment Weekly	B+
Rolling Stone
Sputnikmusic	4/5
Uncut
Yahoo! Music	(favorable)

The album was met with critical acclaim. In his review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine stated that TLC recorded a "smooth, seductive collection of contemporary soul reminiscent of both Philly soul and Prince", and that the material was "consistently strong". He also referred to "Waterfalls" as "one of the classic R&B songs of the '90s".

Rolling Stone, in their review for The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, stated that TLC "emerged with the most effervescent and soulful girl-group R&B anyone had seen since the Supremes".

In 2010, Rolling Stone listed the album at number 43 on their "100 Greatest Albums of the 90s". They stated: "Left Eye, Chilli and T-Boz looked like a one-shot when they first emerged from the nascent Atlanta with 1992's Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg. But CrazySexyCool was a real shocker, packed bumper to bumper with great songs, sassy vocals and voluptuous beats for burning down the house. "Creep" celebrates the kicks of illicit lust on the down low, "Waterfalls" digs deep into Memphis soul and "If I Was Your Girlfriend" does Prince better than The Artist has all decade. The showstopper: "Red Light Special", an impossibly steamy make-out ballad that undresses and caresses everyone with ears to hear it. CrazySexyCool established TLC as pop pros who could do it all, combining the body slam of hip-hop and the giddy uplift of a jump-rope rhyme without breaking a nail."

Commercial performance

The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and spent over two years on the chart. It was the fifth-best selling album in the United States in 1995, and was eventually certified diamond and 11× Platinum by the RIAA, having sold over 8,870,000 copies domestically. Internationally, it reached the Top 5 of many countries. It has sold over 23 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by a girl group in the United States and the second best-selling album worldwide by a girl group behind Spice Girls' Spice.

Awards and nominations

CrazySexyCool was nominated for six Grammy Awards at the 1996 Grammy Awards. "Waterfalls" was nominated for the Record of the Year. Two of the album's nominations were for its songwriters: Dallas Austin for "Creep", and Babyface for "Red Light Special". TLC ended up winning two awards, Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Creep".

Year	Recipient/Nominated work	Award	Result
1996	CrazySexyCool	Best R&B Album	Won
	"Waterfalls"	Record of the Year	Nominated
		Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals	Nominated
	"Creep"	Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals	Won
		Best R&B Song (nomination for Dallas Austin)	Nominated
	"Diggin' On You"	Best R&B Song (nomination for Babyface)	Nominated

TLC also received multiple wins and nominations at the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards and Soul Train Music Awards, including Artist of the Year at the 1995 Billboard Music Awards. At the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, TLC won four awards for the video to "Waterfalls", including Video of the Year and the Viewer's Choice Award.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro-Lude" (featuring Phife Dawg)	Jermaine Mauldin, Malik Taylor	Jermaine Dupri	1:01
2.	"Creep"	Dallas Austin	Dallas Austin	4:29
3.	"Kick Your Game"	Mauldin, Manuel Seal, Lisa Lopes	Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal^	4:13
4.	"Diggin' on You"	Kenneth Edmonds	Babyface	4:14
5.	"Case of the Fake People"	Austin	Dallas Austin	4:03
6.	"CrazySexyCool (Interlude)"	Tionne Watkins, Sean Combs, Chucky Thompson	Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs^	1:42
7.	"Red Light Special"	Edmonds	Babyface	5:02
8.	"Waterfalls"	Marqueze Etheridge, Lopes, Rico Wade, Ray Murray, Sleepy Brown	Organized Noize	4:39
9.	"Intermission-Lude"	Mauldin	Jermaine Dupri	0:42
10.	"Let's Do It Again"	Edmonds, Robinson	Babyface, Jon-John	4:17
11.	"If I Was Your Girlfriend"	Prince Nelson	Sean "Puffy" Combs, Chucky Thompson, Dallas Austin^	4:36
12.	"Sexy (Interlude)"	Rozonda Thomas	Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs^	1:35
13.	"Take Our Time"	Arnold Hennings, Debra Killings	Dallas Austin, Arnold Hennings	4:33
14.	"Can I Get a Witness (Interlude)" (featuring Busta Rhymes)	Trevor Smith, Combs, Thompson	Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs^	2:57
15.	"Switch"	Mauldin, Seal, Lopes, Joseph Broussard, Carol Washington, Ralph Williams	Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal	3:30
16.	"Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes" (featuring André of OutKast)	André Benjamin, Wade, Murray, Brown, Etheridge, Lopes	Organized Noize	4:28

• (^) denotes additional producer.

Notes

• The single vinyl LP edition omits "Case of the Fake People" and "Intermission-lude".
• "Creep" contains a sample from "Hey Young World" as performed by Slick Rick.
• "Case of the Fake People" contains an interpolation of "Back Stabbers" as performed by The O'Jays.
• "If I was Your Girlfriend" contains cover lyrics and samples from "If I Was Your Girlfriend" as written and performed by Prince.
• "Switch" contains a sample from "Mr. Big Stuff" as performed by Jean Knight.

Personnel

• Sharliss Asbury – project coordinator
• Dallas Austin – production, instruments, executive producer
• Bebe – backing vocals
• André "3000" Benjamin – vocals
• Bernasky – assistant recording
• Leslie Brathwaite – recording, mixing
• Thomas "Cee-Lo Green" Callaway – backing vocals
• Sean "Puffy" Combs – production, backing vocals
• Dah Len – photography
• Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds – production, instruments, executive producer
• Blake Eiseman – recording
• Eric Fischer – assistant recording
• Ronnie Fitch – horns
• Brian Frye – assistant recording
• John Frye – recording
• Dean Gant – keyboards
• Brad Gilderman – recording
• Carl Glover – recording, assistant recording, instruments
• Ron Gresham – mixing
• Arnold Hennings – production, instruments
• Lamont Hyde – assistant recording
• LaMarquis Jefferson – bass
• Tim Kelley – keyboards
• Debra Killings – backing vocals
• Scot Little – assistant recording
• Jerry Lloyd – horns
• Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes – vocals
• Trey Lorenz – backing vocals
• Craig Love – guitar
• Alex Lowe – assistant recording
• Rico Lumpkins – assistant recording
• Jermaine "Dupri" Mauldin – production, recording, mixing, backing vocals

• Nashiem Myrick – recording
• Nealhpogue – recording, mixing
• Charles Nix – horns
• Organized Noize – production, instruments
• Mike Patterson – recording, midi and sound design
• Herb Powers – mastering
• Antonio "LA" Reid – executive producer
• Jon-John Robinson – production, instruments
• Manuel Seal – production
• Rick Sheppard – Midi and sound design
• Shock – horn arrangements
• Shorty B – guitar
• Dwight Sills – guitar
• Davett Singletary – creative direction
• Ivy Skoff – project coordinator
• Brian Smith – assistant recording
• Trevor "Busta Rhymes" Smith, Jr. – vocals
• Sol Messiah – DJ scratches
• Alvin Speights – recording, mixing
• Christopher Stern – art direction
• Edward Stroud – guitar
• Phil Tan – recording, assistant recording, mixing
• Malik "Phife Dawg" Taylor – vocals
• Martin Terry – guitar
• Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas – vocals
• Carl "Chucky" Thompson – production, instruments
• Rich Travali – recording, mixing
• Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins – vocals
• Dave Way – mixing
• Mike Wilson – assistant recording
• Colin Wolfe – bass
• Kenneth Wrights – keyboards

Charts

Weekly charts

Charts (1994)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart	5
Austrian Albums Chart	16
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)	20
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)	25
Finnish Albums Chart	37
German Albums Chart	4
Dutch Albums Chart	4
New Zealand Albums Chart	1
Norwegian Albums Chart	15
Swedish Albums Chart	11
Swiss Albums Chart	10
UK Albums Chart	4
U.S. Billboard 200	3
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	2

End-of-year charts

Chart (1995)	Position
U.S. Billboard 200	5
Chart (1996)	Position
U.S. Billboard 200	22

End-of-decade charts

Chart (1990–1999)	Position
U.S. Billboard 200	25

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)	2× Platinum	140,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)	Gold	25,000
Canada (Music Canada)	8× Platinum	800,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)	Platinum	15,000
United Kingdom (BPI)	Platinum	300,000
United States (RIAA)	11× Platinum	8,870,000
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)	Platinum	1,000,000
*sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone xunspecified figures based on certification alone

See also

• List of best-selling albums
• List of best-selling albums in the United States

External links

• CrazySexyCool at Discogs
• CrazySexyCool accolades at acclaimedmusic.net