Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of TLC (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
R&B songstress Monica today unleashed the never ending debate over who is the best R&B girl group – TLC or Destiny’s Child?!
There were no shortage of girl groups in the ’90s, from En Vogue and SWV to All Saints, Salt’N’Pepa…the list goes on. While the Spice Girls are the top-selling girl group of all time, two other girl groups dominated the U.S. Billboard pop charts in the ’90s and early ’00s: TLC and Destiny’s Child. If you include cultural impact, record sales and legacy, which of the two are the better American girl group?
PERSPECTIVES
TLC is the best-selling R&B girl group and the best-selling American girl group, and at one point, they were the best-selling girl group of all time. Now they rank #3 of all-time best-selling girl groups. VH1 placed them at #12 on its 100 Greatest Women in Music list—meaning they were ranked as the most important girl group of all time.
Numbers aside, they were crazy (Left Eye), sexy (Chilli) and cool (T-Boz). In other words, they were probably the most relatable yet unconventional girl group ever. They distinctively mixed smooth contemporary R&B and hip-hop with Black girl power, feminism and an unique sense of style, which gave them massive crossover appeal as a mainstream pop act.
Whether they wanted to know “What About Your Friends”; or they were talking about their… “Baby-Baby-Baby”; or if they were promoting safe sex while proclaiming they “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg”; or if they were to “Creep” on the down low; or told us not to chase “Waterfalls”; or if they felt “Unpretty”; or if they didn’t want “No Scrubs”—TLC not only were an iconic girl group, but among the most iconic musical acts of all time.
Oh, and let’s not forget that after a multi-platform debut album, “Ooooooohhh… On the TLC Tip,” they came back even stronger with a record-breaking, diamond-selling (meaning more than 10 million albums sold in the U.S.) sophomore effort, “CrazySexyCool.” Worldwide the album has sold 23 million albums.
Destiny’s Child is ranked as the most successful girl group of all time, just behind the Spice Girls. Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and crew went through some mega drama and lineup changes before they became DC3 (with Michelle Williams). Regardless, the drama behind the scenes didn’t stop the group from dominating the charts with their female anthems.
Whether if they were telling you “No, No, No;” or asking if you are capable of paying “Bills, Bills, Bills”; or if they were asking you to “Say My Name” if no one is around you; or if they said throw your hands up if you’re an “Independent Woman”; or if they shouted they were a “Survivor” (as a group); or if they were showing off just how “Bootylicious” they are; or if they told you to make them “Lose My Breath”—Destiny’s Child dominated the late ’90s, and early-to-mid ’00s with their anthems about female empowerment. There hasn’t been a girl group like them ever since!
