Announcement, Appearance, Awards, Interview, News, Tribute

GloRilla Pays Homage to TLC’s Left Eye at 2024 MTV Video Music Awards

GloRilla had social media buzzing when she made her appearance on the red carpet at New York City’s UBS Arena on September 12 for the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

GloRilla decided to pay tribute to the late TLC star, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, rocking a similar hairstyle to Lisa from her appearance at the 2000 Soul Train Awards,  where she served as the host that year.

“I sat with my stylist EJ [King] and we came up with a few ideas,” GloRilla tells Vogue. “This vibe just felt right.”

Left Eye’s Former Hairstylist Speaks On Late Rapper’s Edgy Looks
Left Eye at the 2000 Soul Train Awards

GloRilla and EJ enlisted designer Bent Kahina for the custom red carpet ensemble. Sadai Banks was tapped for makeup, and Coca Michelle for nails. Hairstylist and wig maker Tokyo Stylez was tasked with recreating Lopes’s famous hairstyle—marked by multiple three-plait braids morphing into rings, and heavy bangs.

“I’m a fan of a lot of great female artists that came before me, so I wanted to pay a tribute to them,” Glorilla says, adding that the opportunity to perform at the VMAs “meant everything,” to her. “I’m truly blessed!”

GloRilla at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards

Marie Brown (formerly Davis), was TLC’s original and long-term hairstylist. She was also responsible for many of Left Eye’s most iconic hairdos, including the afro-futuristic braids she wore at the 2000 Soul Train Awards.

“The circles are the little round pieces of styrofoam”, Marie tells Essence. “Styrofoam from Michael’s. You wrap them around, and they’re just braided on and connected onto her hair. I was just always trying to do something different. I was trying to always reach a different level with her and she was just free to do it.”

GloRilla didn’t win any of the awards in her nominated categories, but she stole the show as she rapped her hit singles “Yeah Glo!” and “TGIF”.

GloRilla, real name Gloria Woods, is very much a fan of TLC and is honored to share her appreciation for the ladies at every opportunity she can.

This isn’t the first time GloRilla has paid homage to Left Eye. She also paid tribute to Left Eye with her fashion choices at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards.

GloRilla struck up a close relationship with the surviving members of TLC earlier this year at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she was honored with introducing T-Boz and Chilli to the stage for a special performance.

TLC surprised the audience with a performance of their hit single, “Waterfalls,” featuring a guest appearance by Latto.

What were your thoughts on GloRilla paying homage to Left Eye. Did she pull off the look?

Appearance, Awards, News, Television, Tribute

MTV Animate TLC’s 1999 “No Scrubs” VMA Performance with MTV Dating Shows Nostalgia

MTV gave TLC the animated treatment last week (Sept 6) via their Video Music Awards social media, as they recreated the iconic performance of “No Scrubs” in 1999.

MTV hired the services of animation creator’s Cartuna and LotusFly Animation, who jointly collaborated on the project to produce a 3D animation mash-up of the “No Scrubs” video along with the original audio and costumes from the performance at the VMA’s!

They added a little twist by including elements of some of the most nostalgic MTV dating shows of the past, including ‘Room Raiders‘ and ‘Singled Out‘, which aid T-Boz, Chilli and Left Eye in their decisions to ditch the guys that were no good for them, as they sit on judging panel chairs reminiscent to ‘The Voice’!

TLC are a huge part of MTV and VMA history, having dominated the 1995 award show with 4 major wins including Video Of The Year, a first for a black artist at the time, trumping some major competition from Michael and Janet Jackson!

They went on to add a 5th award to their accolades in 1999, when they took home the award for Best Group, beating stiff competition from megaselling groups such as *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys!

TLC at the MTV 1995 VMA’s

It was hoped that the animation was a sign that TLC was hopefully going to be involved in the 2023 VMA’s (Sept 13) in some form, but that was not the case, unfortunately. Instead, legendary awards were presented to Diddy and Shakira this year.

So, it was unclear what the new TLC animation was commissioned for. The clip baffled TLC member Chilli, who commented, “What in the heck is this?” on the post. It might help if MTV informed the artists prior to including them in their work.

TLC most definitely deserve an honary award at the VMA’s for their impact to the culture, record-breaking album sales, and opening the doors for women to express themselves however they wish to!

We cannot deny Left Eye’s influence on the many female rappers that she has paved the way for, and to see so many of them at the 2023 VMA’s as performers including Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj, was phenomenal! It is amazing to see how far female rap has come!

Check out the MTV animation below!

Announcement, Television, Tribute

Normani Pays Homage To TLC During Her ‘Wild Side’ VMA Performance

Normani and the members of her former group Fifth Harmony have always been huge fans of TLC, and they would always show them love, praising them as inspirations in interviews and covering their songs in various shows.

Normani has paid some more homage this week, when she deservedly was presented with the opportunity to perform her latest single, “Wild Side“, at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, and she did not disappoint!

Normani delivered the TV debut of “Wild Side” in a TLC inspired silver metallic outfit that drew from the group’s 1999 “No Scrubs” video. Normani was joined by a group of backup dancers in similar outfits that accompanied Normani as she danced across the stage.

Normani’s performance for the song, which samples Aaliyah’s “One in a Million”, also featured choreography very reminiscent of Aaliyah’s music video for the hit 1996 track.

She then gave us a raunchy dose of Janet Jackson inspired choreography, when she brought out singer Teyana Taylor out on stage, strapped to a human shaped platform, where she then seductively danced around and over Teyana, very much like Janet seduces a fan during the segment on her own tour.

Fans were also quick to point out the similarities and excitedly took to Twitter:

https://twitter.com/dlceszn/status/1437232826299166721?s=19

What were your thoughts on the Normani VMA performance?

Television

TLC Swept MTV Video Music Awards This Week in 1995!

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We’re taking it back to September 7, 1995 where MTV celebrated that years greatest music videos at Radio City Music Hall in New York for their annual Video Music Awards!

Despite Michael and Janet Jackson‘s “Scream” video being the nights most nominated video (with a whopping eleven nominations), it was TLC who stole the show.

With an equally impressive ten nominations for their iconic music video for “Waterfalls”, they went on to win 4 awards that night, including the two most prestigious awards; Viewer’s Choice and Video of the Year.

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The girls sealed the deal with a show-shopping medley of their hits from their record-breaking sophomore album, CrazySexyCool. This performance is considered as one of TLC’s greatest performances by fans!

Other celebrities in attendance included Madonna, Boyz II Men, Mike Tyson, Drew Barrymore, Ricki Lake, Lenny Kravitz and the Notorious B.I.G.

Along with the visually flawless concert-based video “Diggin’ On You” (also directed by F. Gary Gray), the CrazySexyMedley acted as an insight of what to expect on their CrazySexyCool world tour, which ended prematurely in 1996.

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R&B’s power couple Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, also attended to present TLC with their Video of the Year award, in true Bobby & Whitney style!

TLC went on to earn their 5th moonman in 1999, for their chart-topping smash “No Scrubs”, winning Best Group Video.

List of Nominees and Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards 1995
Video of the Year
  • TLC – Waterfalls
  • Green Day – Basket Case
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • Weezer – Buddy Holly
Winner: TLC – Waterfalls
Best Male Video
  • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – You Don’t Know How It Feels
  • Chris Isaak – Somebody’s Crying
  • Elton John – Believe
  • Lucas – Lucas With The Lid Off
  • Seal – Don’t Cry
Winner: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – You Don’t Know How It Feels
Best Female Video
  • Madonna – Take A Bow
  • Des’ree – You Gotta Be
  • PJ Harvey – Down By The Water
  • Annie Lennox – No More I Love You’s
Winner: Madonna – Take A Bow
Best Group Video
  • TLC – Waterfalls
  • Green Day – Basket Case
  • The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong
  • Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
Winner: TLC – Waterfalls
Best Rap Video
  • Dr. Dre – Keep Their Head’s Ringin’
  • Brandy & MC Lyte & Queen Latifah & YoYo – I Wanna Be Down
  • Da Bush Babees – Remember We
  • Craig Mack – Flava In Ya Ear
  • Public Enemy – Give It Up
  • Rappin’ 4tay – I’ll Be Around
Winner: Dr. Dre – Keep Their Head’s Ringin’
Best R&B Video
  • TLC – Waterfalls
  • Boyz II Men – Water Runs Dry
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • Jade – 5-4-3-2 (Yo! Time Is Up)
  • Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It
Winner: TLC – Waterfalls
Best Dance Video
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • Paula Abdul – My Love Is For Real
  • C+C Music Factory – Do You Want To Get Funky
  • Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It
  • Madonna – Human Nature
  • Salt-N-Pepa – None Of Your Business
Winner: Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
Viewer’s Choice
  • TLC – Waterfalls
  • Green Day – Basket Case
  • Hootie & The Blowfish – Hold My Hand
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • Live – Lightning Crashes
  • R.E.M. – What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?
Winner: TLC – Waterfalls 
Best New Artist
  • Hootie & The Blowfish – Hold My Hand
  • Jeff Buckley – Last Goodbye
  • Des’ree – You Gotta Be
  • Filter – Hey Man, Nice Shot
Winner: Hootie & The Blowfish – Hold My Hand
Breakthrough Video
  • Weezer – Buddy Holly
  • Green Day – Basket Case
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • TLC – Waterfalls
Winner: Weezer – Buddy Holly
Best Metal/Hard Rock
  • White Zombie – More Human Than Human
  • Green Day – Basket Case
  • Meat Puppets – We Don’t Exist
  • Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
Winner: White Zombie – More Human Than Human
Best Alternative Video
  • Weezer – Buddy Holly
  • The Cranberries – Zombie
  • Green Day – Basket Case
  • Hole – Doll Parts
  • Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
Winner: Weezer – Buddy Holly
Best Video From A Film
  • Seal – Kiss From A Rose
  • Bryan Adams – Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman
  • Jim Carrey – Cuban Pete
  • U2 – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
  • Urge Overkill – Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon
Winner: Seal – Kiss From A Rose
Best Direction
  • Weezer – Buddy Holly
  • Green Day – Basket Case
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • TLC – Waterfalls
Winner: Weezer – Buddy Holly
Best Choreography
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • Paula Abdul – My Love Is For Real
  • Brandy – Baby
  • Madonna – Human Nature
  • Salt-N-Pepa – None Of Your Business
Winner: Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
Best Special Effects
  • The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong
  • Bjork – Army Of Me
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • Madonna – Human Nature
  • TLC – Waterfalls
Winner: The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong 
Best Art Direction
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • Madonna – Take A Bow
  • Jill Sobule – I Kissed A Girl
  • TLC – Waterfalls
Winner: Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
Best Editing
  • Weezer – Buddy Holly
  • Green Day – Basket Case
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • Jill Sobule – I Kissed A Girl
  • TLC – Waterfalls
Winner: Weezer – Buddy Holly
Best Cinematography
  • The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong
  • Boyz II Men – Water Runs Dry
  • Green Day – Basket Case
  • Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream
  • Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
  • TLC – Waterfalls
Winner: The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong 

Other TLC VMA appearances: