Appearance, Interview, Tribute

‘2 The Left’: Kerisse Hutchinson and Left Eye’s Sister on Her Tribute Play to Lisa

Leon@TLCArmyAugust 16, 2019 Leave a comment

Actress Kerisse Hutchinson alongside the sister of the late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes stopped by Good Day Atlanta to discuss the play “2 The Left: A Tribute to the Life of Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes.“

It premiered in Atlanta at the Synchronicity Theatre for a two-week, limited-engagement showcase.

The production ran from Aug. 1 to Aug. 11 and is an inspiring music-filled multimedia production written and performed by Kerisse Hutchinson.

The play chronicles the life and spiritual journey of Atlanta rap icon Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, showing the challenges she encountered as she embarked on a journey to find her artistic voice and spiritual purpose.

We hope that the play will be re-run again for those who missed it the first time round.

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Chilli On Co-Headlining with Nelly, TLC’s Musical, Celibacy & ‘Girls Cruise’

Leon@TLCArmyJuly 25, 2019 Leave a comment

TLC is coming home to the ATL!

Chilli took a moment to talk to Melissa Ruggieri for AJC just days ahead of TLC’s second date in Atlanta, on their fourth national tour in 5 years, this time with the boys — Nelly and Flo Rida!

T-Boz and Chilli perform a fresh mix of their hits on July 24 at the Cellairis Amphitheatre in Atlanta. Find out what to expect on the latest tour, as well as celebrating album anniversaries, celibacy and more!

Q: You did the “I Love the ‘90s: The Party Continues” tour a couple of summers ago and now you’re heading out with Nelly and Flo Rida. Do you like these group tours and getting to hang out with other artists?

A: Because I’m an artist, I love it. When (TLC) first got started, we always did fun things together – with Boyz II Men, Destiny’s Child, Christina Aguilera. It makes for a fun tour. People get to see everybody that they love and it makes it more exciting. We’ve done a few tours with Nelly before, he was on (2015’s) “The Main Event” tour with us, and we did some shows together in Australia. But this is our first time working with Flo. He is the sweetest guy. He is so polite, always on time, his people respond so fast to email. He’s so professional, which is the way it should be, but it’s usually not that way. He’s very humble. I love people like that.

Q: Since the tour is just starting, do you know if there will be any interaction among the three acts during the show?

A: We thought about that and had some cool ideas before the tour started, but we couldn’t get anybody on board. We are creative and think outside of the box and everybody doesn’t always think like that, and that’s OK. We really did want to do something very different. It would have started a new trend. Maybe we’ll wind up doing it on another tour with someone else. But it’s all good. All of us are very blessed to have these great songs that people love and it means different things to them.

Q: Where does TLC land in the performance lineup?

A: We’re co-headlining with Nelly, so we’ll take turns with closing. I really love the second spot (in a show) because everybody is in their seats and they’re energized. As it gets later and later you get tired and it’s hot. You’re still enjoying the concert, but it’s a lot different than an hour earlier.

Q: Atlanta is only the second date of the tour, so it will hardly feel as if you’ve left home.

A: It’s always nice to have your folks there. It makes me sing and dance a little harder.

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Q: This is the 25th anniversary year of “CrazySexyCool” and 20th anniversary of “Fan Mail.” When you think back on those records, what comes to mind?

A: It is a blessing. There are a lot of amazing songs that are great for the moment, but they don’t have the lyrics to endure. When you make these songs when you’re recording them, you don’t know they have these legs – only time tells you that. We’re blessed to have a few songs like that…When I see the little girls out there who are, like, 8, and I tell you “No Scrubs” is coming, they are jumping up and down. I wish I could hold all of them and bring them on stage! I never get used it.

Q: It’s so cool to see everyone from Weezer (“No Scrubs”) to Bette Midler (“Waterfalls”) covering your work.

A: And Taylor (Swift) with “Unpretty” and even the coaches on “The Voice,” when they did “Waterfalls” (in 2017). It is such an honor to see that, especially when your peers respect you. It makes us feel good about the body of work.

Q: What’s this Broadway musical you and T-Boz are working on?

A: (Laughs) I spilled the beans too soon on that! I thought I could talk about it, but I really can’t yet. It’s definitely something we’re currently working on, and it’s a process. But we’re very happy that we’re putting together a team and will be able to check that off the bucket list…The only people who know our story is us. I can sit down and share things with my friends, but it’s still not Tionne telling them, too. Only we can tell our story 100 percent.

Q: Tell me about the experience of being on “Girls Cruise”

A: It was actually a very pleasant experience. I would not have signed on to do something like that if it was going to be ratchet. We all love some ratchet TV sometimes, but I don’t want to be a part of anything like that! I spoke to Kim prior to agreeing to do it and I’ve always been in that family with Viacom, so it was nice to reconnect. There were some challenging moments, of course – it’s TV. But I think that the show is definitely something refreshing. You’re still getting reality TV, but it’s positive. We’re not cussing each other out, none of that stuff is going on. I would have jumped off that boat otherwise! I’d be like, I’m done. But it’s just positivity between women; you’ll see that exists, because what you usually see on TV is the complete opposite. We shot it in February. It was a gorgeous yacht. We had a whole team of people helping on the ship. It’s crazy! I was trying to help them!

Q: When did you make the life changes to be celibate and become so spiritual?

A: Honestly, I have gone back and forth through the years. When you know what’s right with the truth and you go against that…maturity can come at any age, and when you really get it, you say this important to me and my faith to God. It’s not easy. I’m a human being. But I put forth every effort to try to do the right thing. I feel really good when I do the right thing. It’s a great feeling. It gives you a different kind of strength that you didn’t know you had. We’re so used to getting into whatever that weakness is and then you give that temptation so much more power. I love sharing the knowledge, especially when it’s something healthy for you. I ultimately want everybody to become their best self. I’m not one of those Christians who’s like, you better read the Bible. It’s a different approach because people are in different places in their lives. The last thing I want to do is push someone away from the truth.

Interview, Relationships

Da Brat: “Left Eye Did Not Like Me At First”

Leon@TLCArmyJuly 24, 2019 Leave a comment

So So Def‘s first lady, Da Brat, recently opened up about her initial friendship with the ‘L’ of TLC, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, back when she first came onto the scene in 1994!

Da Brat was speaking about the so-called rivalry with Left Eye, in response to Tyra Banks’ recent comments to the Wall Street Journal about how she felt intimidated by Naomi Campbell when she first started modelling. Tyra felt Naomi was doing everything in her power to make her go away, due to the fear of having similar competition.

Da Brat feels she can relate to Tyra because of her experiences with Left Eye. “When I first came in the game, when I first came to Atlanta and got with Jermaine Dupri and So So Def, I loved Left Eye. I wanted to be Left Eye, I loved her”, Da Brat tells her co-hosts Headkrack and Porsha Williams on Dish Nation.

“She did not like me! And when I tell you I cried and I cried”. Da Brat even talked to Lisa’s group mate, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, about how she was feeling about not being accepted by her idol. “I talked to T-Boz and I was like, ‘why doesn’t she like me?’ Cause I loved her. I just felt like I was so much like her. And, ooh, she did not like me”.

Da Brat, who has a re-occurring role in WE TV’s ‘Growing Up Hip-Hop: Atlanta‘, touched on some of the deep-rooted reasons that may have triggered the initial bitterness. “She was like Jermaine Dupri’s first rap female artist, and it was just that thing there. I didn’t understand coming from Chicago, being raised by my Grandma and loving everybody. I was like ‘oh my God, Left Eye!’, and she was like — [frowns]”.

Jermaine Dupri was introduced to Left Eye in 1990 by Ian Burke, as part of the group 2nd Nature, before being renamed TLC.

As documented in the JD WE TV special, TLC were initially brought to Dupri to be signed, but his label wasn’t ready at the time, leaving the girls to sign with LaFace and Dupri to find another group and female rap artist for his So So Def label, which launched in 1993.

Lil Kim Left Eye Da Brat Missy Elliott Angie Martinez 1997 | TLC-Army.com — Ladies Night: (L-R) Da Brat, Angie Martinez, Missy Elliott, Lance ‘Un’ Rivera, Left Eye & Lil’ Kim (1997)

Thankfully, the ladies squashed their differences and were able to bless us with the iconic collaboration remix to Lil’ Kim‘s “Not Tonight (Ladies Night)” in 1997, for the Nothing To Lose soundtrack.

“I was so hurt. I know how Tyra feels”, Da Brat continues. “We were cool [by the time ‘Ladies Night’ came out], but she was not fond of me at first”.

What are your thoughts on Da Brat’s initial rejection by Left Eye? Does society always pit women against each other?

View this post on Instagram

Da Brat reveals that Left Eye did not like her when they first met! @sosobrat loved her but she recognized the fact that Lisa was @jermainedupri's original first female rapper that it caused some friction when she came to So So Def to become the first female rapper to go platinum! #tlc #lefteye #dabrat #dishnation #rivalry #competition #ladiesnight #unity #tlcarmy

A post shared by TLC Army™ (@tlc_army) on Jul 24, 2019 at 7:47am PDT

Interview, Lifestyle, Radio

TLC On Second Diamond Award, Owning Their Masters and Being Sexy On Tour

Leon@TLCArmyJuly 3, 2019July 3, 2019 Leave a comment

TLC and the boys — Nelly and Flo Rida — fresh from their joint performance of hits on Good Morning America, stopped by for a catch up on Sway In The Morning.

The trio of hitmaker’s touch on everything from career longevity, accolades, possible future collaborations and the importance of owning your own masters!

Nelly on Lil Nas X being removed from Billboard Country chart

Nelly: It wasn’t right. Especially when you think about a lot of the genre’s of music that black people have been infiltrated by. We’ve had several artists that have infiltrated hip-hop and R&B. Vanilla Ice had a top rap chart and Eminem has just been killing it, but it happens. I didn’t know we were worried about the color in 2019.

Inspiration behind Flo Rida making music

Flo Rida: I think just growing up in Miami, where it’s a gumball of different cultures. And at the same time, we had the people who paved the way, like the 2 Live Crew, Trick Daddy and Trina. So, it was just to hear myself on the radio for the first time. It just came with the territory about being passionate. I was somebody who was a big fan of music and lots of different genre’s. Growing up in a household where my sisters sing gospel music, so watching them entertain gave me the passion to work hard.

TLC out in the public

Chilli: We’re very approachable. We don’t walk around with an entourage. We’ve never been that way. Most times when people see us, they’re like ‘do you know who you look like?’, they’re thinking there’s no way you’d be out by yourself.

T-Boz: ‘T-Boz wouldn’t be in Target’. Uhh, yes I would!

Chilli: Yeah, they’ll say stuff like that!

Diamond-Certified Awards

T-Boz: The diamond award is really special! We’re proud of that one.

Chilli: That’s the most special to us. They’re all amazing. At the end of the day, I don’t think any type of award makes you as an artist. It’s just a blessing to be able to do what we do, have the longevity and the catalog that we all have. Artists pray for stuff like that. When you’re in the studio recording, you don’t know if it will have longevity but time will tell you that.

Sway: What’s the diamond award?

Chilli: It’s for ‘CrazySexyCool’ and we may — we are very close to getting one more for ‘Fanmail’.

T-Boz: But you have to sell 10 million in the States to get one, and not too many people have.

Nelly: Yes you do!

T-Boz: Do you have one too?

Nelly: Gotta know that!

T-Boz: Hello! Let ’em know, Nelly! Do you have one or two?

Nelly: We’re close to two. ‘Nellyville’ is close, but ‘Country Grammar’ is diamond. I got that plaque like two years ago.

T-Boz: But after this tour, we’re gonna get that second one, because those sales go up when you go on tour.

Thoughts on Taylor Swift not owning her masters

Nelly: It’s hers. It’s your work. It depends on whatever you do. If you’re an athlete and somebody has your shoes, but somebody else has control and the option to sell it.

T-Boz: And you have to ask permission to use your own stuff. We were in that situation with Sony. We re-recorded all of our own music. And we own our version of our masters, and we licence out our version. So, — Sony!

Chilli: And it sounds exactly the same, you can not tell the difference.

T-Boz: So, Taylor, honey, just re-record your stuff and licence out your version. You’ll be good. Because, we make some money off of our publishing now! I own all of my publishing now, I’m so excited this year! You don’t even know!

Re-negotiating after a first deal

T-Boz: That’s what we were in [a production deal]. But, how we got screwed, we didn’t get the chance to re-negotiate the second contract, she kept the same terms.

Sway: From the first contract. And now you’re 20 times more valuable.

T-Boz: And that’s ‘CrazySexyCool’ and that’s our biggest selling album, so you can understand why we were upset and holding people hostage and stuff.

Nelly: And setting houses on fire — naw that wasn’t that!

T-Boz: There you go! Everyone’s not arsonists in the group, you know!

Chilli: That was an accident! He didn’t have any shoes for her, so..

T-Boz: That wasn’t the first fire, this one just ignited!

Possible TLC, Nelly & Flo Rida collab

Nelly: It’s hard, but we’re definitely talking about it. We’ve talked about it. We’ve got things in motion. But it’s just getting in there — it’s the time.

T-Boz: I know we’ve been on the road doing spot dates for two weeks. And then we have to go right back in rehearsal. It’s hard, because we don’t usually split up rehearsals. So, we’re learning new material, and going back to old and press, it’s a lot.

Chilli: It’s crazy, but I think it’s a not so bad problem to have.

Nelly: Yeah, you could be sitting at home! (laughs)

T-Boz: So true. It’s a good lot. It’s a blessing. I got money in my pocket (laughs). But it’s stressful, though. I’m not gonna lie.

Nelly: A lotta artists at home! They ain’t touring this summer! (laughs)

Tour expectations

Chilli: The one thing I will say is, with all of us together, everybody can come. Mom, dad, grandma, little kids — it’s definitely that tour. We feel very honored for this package to be together. It took forever to get this thing together, but we did it!

Nelly: Good family affair, man, all but about a minute and 30 — when Chilli starts — gotta be an 18 and over for a minute and 23 seconds! I’m just joking! ‘Kids, go with your momma, I’ma watch this!’

T-Boz: It’s uncomfortable, though! Like, we try not to gyrate on “Red Light Special” no more, and the kids be staring — I can’t do it! I stopped gyrating!

Chilli: We do it in a different way!

Sway: What about us though? I can’t come to a TLC concert with no moves and gyration!

T-Boz: I just twirl around in a circle! We still gyrate a little, just not as much. A little gyration ain’t hurt nobody!

Chilli: In taste!

How the tour came together

Nelly: The girls called and said, ‘yo, we’re going on tour!’ I said ‘oh okay, I’ll be ready’!

T-Boz: We had toured with Nelly together with New Kids On The Block a couple of years ago, and again in Australia. So, we had to find the perfect third person, like, who has a lot of hits, and Flo was perfect! And he said yes, so I was like, ‘awh shoot, it’s happening now!’

Chilli: I called him personally, like, I’m so happy you said yes! I was happy.

Flo Rida: When I heard about it, you didn’t even have to work that hard. When I heard it was ya’ll two, I was like, I’m on.

Current music evolution

Nelly: I understand hip-hop was created by the youth, for the youth. And I understand it has a history, I don’t judge it because I didn’t want to be judged when I first came out. The kids can party to whatever they want. If you don’t like it, there’s another radio station. Some of it I rock with and some of it ain’t for me.

Flo Rida: I appreciate social media, the fact that your everyday Joe can get a chance. I love what’s going on. That’s one less person I have to feed. I can money off this.

T-Boz: I have two statements — I think there is room for everybody, like Nelly says. But, I also think it’s a little different in the aspect that, the originality isn’t the same anymore. A lot of people sound alike. Like, Snoop had his style, and Nelly had his style. Now, everybody sounds the same. Back when we came out, there wasn’t a lot of that. That’s the change I’ve seen, but like he says, there’s room for everybody now.

Chilli: I agree with her 100%, just the originality and the variety is just kinda — not all of it, some people will stand out. But, for the most part, it’s kinda all the same.

Nelly: I blame that on society wanting to make money off of it. Whatever’s winning, is gonna cause a greater demand for it. Now, people have gold singles and I haven’t heard their record on radio!

T-Boz: I’m proud of being a trendsetter though, and you should be, too. I’m proud because of that. I’m never gonna feel bad about that.

Nelly: And that’s why we’re doing a tour, twenty-something years later together!

T-Boz: Hello?! Okay!

Tickets to the TLC, Nelly & Flo Rida tour are on sale right now, head over to LiveNation.com for more details on the hottest show of the summer… a WHOLE LOTTA HITS!