TLC returns to the charts with new album

Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas released a new TLC album this year.

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas released a new TLC album this year.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene

TLC is enjoying a notable return.

The Atlanta-rooted girl group – Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins – landed at No. 1 this week on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart with their self-titled release, the first new music from the now-duo in 15 years.

The album, prefaced by the well-received singles "Way Back" and "Haters," was born from a Kickstarter campaign that began in 2015 and raised more than $435,000.

In a recent interview with the AJC, Thomas said that she thinks fans appreciate TLC’s new music because of the timing.

“People are kind of wanting that, not necessarily the ‘90s sound, but it was great music, the lyrical content was amazing – it was music that fed you and because people have been wanting that, it’s a good time for it,” she said.

In addition to conquering the Independent Albums chart, TLC hit the Top 10 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart and No. 13 on the Top Current and Digital Albums chart. The album came in at No. 38 on the overall Billboard 200.

In the U.K., where the duo will head this fall, “TLC” hit No. 1 on the Top 40 R&B Albums chart.

TLC will perform on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Thursday and recently began their headlining stint on the "I Love the '90s- The Party Continues" tour , which heads to Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth Sept. 9.

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