This week MEFeater kicks off Women’s History Month by taking a look back at Crazy Sexy Cool, the most popular album from iconc girl group TLC. Two years after the release of their debut album Ooooooohhh on the TLC Tip, Tionne “Tboz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye Lopes” and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, cemented their spot as the best-selling American girl group of all time and the best-selling girl group behind the Spice Girls. To this day Crazy Sexy Cool has sold 14 million albums.
Crazy Sexy Cool is one of the most defining albums of the 90s and spawned megahits such as “Kick Your Game,” “Diggin on You” and one of their most memorable hits, “Waterfalls.” The album was a shift from the group’s first album and explored various themes such as sexuality, romanticism and youthful optimism.
Crazy Sexy Cool was recorded amid personal struggles in the group most notably those of Lisa Lopes. During this time, Lopes was involved in an abusive relationship with former Atlanta Falcons football player Andre Rison. The singer also dealt with Alcoholism.
Lopes was o have input in the album to her 1994 stint in rehab. The album is a blend of Hip-Hop Soul, R&B and Pop and is a coming-of-age album. Songs like “Creep” and “Red Light Special” showcase the group’s sexy and coy side while “Waterfalls” discussed issues as HIV/Aids and the illegal trade of drugs.
TLC still reigns as one of the most outspoken girl groups of all time, and Crazy Sexy Cool still resonates with fans today as an album that broke barriers and went against the traditional R&B norms.