Now & Forever: The Hits

Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas were the three CrazySexyCool elements of TLC, quite possibly the best thing to happen to pop music in the '90s. No one else could make music that was as irresistibly fun as theirs, while none could match their mature, socially aware side, either. TLC was the result of perfect alchemy, a trio of lovable gals who weren't quite the girls next door, but you sure wished they lived nearby.

Now & Forever: The Hits is a career retrospective of R&B's darlings. Although it was released almost a year and a half ago overseas, the album finally gets a U.S. release. It may have taken a while to hit the States, but it was worth it. With all of TLC's best material in one place, this is the kind of album that dedicated fans will appreciate and newcomers to the trio should immediately pick up.

The first five tracks are the hits from 1992-3. The funky, new jack swing of "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg," "What About Your Friends" and "Hat 2 Da Back" gets things started. "Get It Up," an update of the Prince sleeper, was one of the high moments from the Poetic Justice soundtrack, while the slow jam "Baby-Baby-Baby" rounds out the group.

The CrazySexyCool singles showcase the more grown-up side of the trio. "Waterfalls," the conscious song that openly discussed gang violence and AIDS awareness, became TLC's biggest hit. The spicy "Red Light Special" heated up airwaves during its run on the charts and "Creep," the album's lead single that was propelled by their satin-pajama-clad video, was another monster hit.

The FanMail section includes the bouncy "Silly Ho" and the hilariously biting rap version of "No Scrubs" as well as "Unpretty." Four songs appear from the slept-on 3D album, "Girl Talk" and "Damaged" being the best of the bunch. Lil Jon produces the Dirty South ditty "Come Get Some."

Back in the early '90s when rock went grunge, hip-hop went gangsta and everything else also took a turn for the serious, TLC dropped outta nowhere with bright smiles, loud clothes, and irreverent attitudes. Even as their music matured over the years, they always made sure of one thing: we enjoyed listening to their music as much as they enjoyed making it. Now & Forever captures all of the fun from their past. Although the untimely demise of Lopes prematurely ended things for the promising trio, Now & Forever: The Hits is a reminder that TLC's contributions to pop, hip-hop and R&B will never be forgotten.

By Aaron Ellis