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At one point in time, girl groups ran the world (or the culture so to speak). From Total to En Vogue to Xscape, and everyone in between, the ladies dominated the charts, and despite the fact there are very few that exist today, it is worth taking a trip down memory lane to highlight some of those who left a mark on history. While girl groups dominated in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it is important to note that their existence started way before that. The Shirelles set the tone in 1961 when they became the first Black girl group to have a No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart through their smash single “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.” According to Lifetime , the group consisted of four teen girls: Shirley Owens, Beverly Lee, Addie “Micki” Harris, and Doris Coley. These ladies weren’t the only product from the ’60s to dominate the charts and lay the blueprint for those who came after them. The Supremes , originally known as the Primettes, auditioned for the legendary Motown...
The world loves a good rags-to-riches story, but what about when the story goes in the opposite direction? This fate was once the backstory for the popular girl group TLC. TLC was named for the group members Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins , Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas. The three women officially hit the scene after the release of their debut album in 1992. However, the success of their sophomore album “CrazySexyCool” in 1994 would really launch them into superstardom. That album had chart-topping hits such as “Creep,” “Red Light Special,” and the iconic and crossover hit “Waterfalls.” The women would go on to earn two Grammys in 1995, becoming the first girl group at the time to reach diamond status in album sales. And while some may not have imagined the success of that album, the group members understood they were creating something unique. “We went in letting producers know that this was the name — and that’s how the album should sound,” Chilli said in a BBC News...
If you hear the adjectives “crazy, ” “sexy” and “cool” presented in that order – one thing should come to mind. And that is the musical styling and cultural impact of the women of TLC. Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes captivated the hearts of millions with their pop hits and imprint on the fashion world. The Atlanta-based girl group would skyrocket into superstardom with their debut album, “Ooooooohhh… On the TLC Tip.” Their first album, released in 1992, would host chart-topping singles like “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg”, “What About Your Friends,” and “Baby-Baby-Baby.” The group avoided the sophomore slump by releasing one of their most popular albums in 1994 – “CrazySexyCool.” TLC would go on to have four No. 1 hits and nine singles to reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. With so much musical success, it is no surprise that they would become the second biggest-selling female group with 23 million certified units over their career. The...
If you’re a big music fan, you’ve certainly heard your fair share of Babyface tracks over the years. The multi-talented artist , who celebrated his 65th birthday back in April, has released more than two dozen chart-topping R&B classics over the course of his historic career, resulting in a staggering 13 Grammy Award wins. Even with all his success, Babyface’s massive net worth may be quite shocking to some listeners, since many artists from his generation have struggled to flip their musical highs into prudent financial investments . According to Celebrity Net Worth , Babyface touts a staggering nest egg of over $200 million, earned mostly through music royalties, producer credits and a few high-priced real estate ventures. Perhaps the most shocking aspect of Babyface’s massive wealth is the fact that his net worth was once halved following a contentious divorce in 2005. This means that the musician could have stacked millions more if it weren’t for losing a nine-figure sum in the...
The classic 1990s film Friday begins with the revelation that Craig has lost his job. And what’s even more nuanced is that he was fired on what was supposed to be a day off. While the movie positions this as a joke and rationale for unexpected free time, the theme of unemployment is not uncommon to many. However, there is one person who has seemingly never been in that situation: Lauren “Keke” Palmer. Born right outside Chicago in Robbins, IL, Palmer is an American actress and singer who gained popularity with her breakout role in Akeelah and the Bee . She grew up before the eyes of millions, taking on several other starring roles in television shows and movies such as True Jackson VP , CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story , and Jordan Peele’s Nope . Her work has resulted in widespread recognition and awards, including a 2021 Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Short-form Comedy or Drama Series. Palmer is still making waves in the industry as an actress and singer, and she is fully embracing...
A family feud is a rabit hole to avoid. Unfortunately, a court battle has developed between Rudolph and Ronald Isley, the iconic group members of The Isley Brothers, known for hits such as “Twist and Shout” and “It’s Your Thing.”
Some people hit the scene and almost immediately make their imprint on culture. Whether it is a hit song, a breakout role, or sex appeal – some people just have that it factor. And with his inclusion in a previous version of People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful People” list, Boris Kodjoe has been making his impact in that way for some time now. Born in Vienna, Austria, Kodjoe is a German-Ghanaian actor and model whose career in the entertainment industry has spanned a few decades. Before he became a household name, Kodjoe earned a marketing degree from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 1996. According to ESPN, Kodjoe was a four-year letterman athlete winning 75 career singles while on the tennis team at VCU. However, he suffered a back injury that prevented him from pursuing the sport professionally. Instead, Kodjoe decided to focus on and pursue modeling and acting. The star appeared in the 1995 recording of TLC’s video for “Red Light Special.” He would go on to get his...
If there is someone that can be considered recession-proof, it is “Real Housewives of Atlanta” (RHOA) star, Kandi Burruss. The Atlanta-based artist keeps a job. From songwriting to reality television to acting and producing, Burruss lives out her season 14 tagline: “I ain’t never skipped a beat or a bag.” Kandi Burruss first hit the public scene in 1992 as a member of the R&B group Xscape. Signed to So So Def Records, the four ladies in the group gave the world R&B hits like “Just Kickin’ It,” “Understanding,” and “Who Can I Run To.” Once the group disbanded before reuniting years later, Burruss continued her music career but mainly as a producer and songwriter. In her solo career, she wrote for an array of artists, including Destiny’s Child, TLC, and Alicia Keys. Although Burruss’ music career should never be slept on, she did not lock herself in a box. You can find the entertainer in several television roles, executive producing plays, leading her adult toy line, and heading her...
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds has written the soundtrack of our lives. As the founder of LaFace Records — a label that has launched the careers of Usher, TLC, and Toni Braxton — Edmonds knew how to spot quality talent, nurture it, and help it grow. And as a singer-songwriter of his own, Babyface has written some of the most romantic songs of the 20th and 21st centuries. From “When Can I See You Again” to “Nobody Knows It But Me,” to “Every Time I Close My Eyes,” he’s known how to hit people right in the feels with each recorded note. Naturally, with this level of talent, it’s no wonder that he’s earned a most impressive $200 million net worth, per Celebrity Net Worth. But the benefactors of his impressive net worth are his three children — two sons and a daughter — who are following in their father’s footsteps with careers in the entertainment industry of their own. Let’s take a look at how Babyface’s talents have passed on to the next generation. Editorial note: The net worth listed...
Being an independent artist is still a revolutionary feat. There are so many horror stories about how the industry has managed to get over on recording artists who are simply just trying to share their gifts with the world. In the past, musicians like Prince, TLC, and more have been vocal about signing deals that didn’t have their best interest at heart. For Frank Ocean, not only has he been a groundbreaking artist in terms of attaining his masters, but he also smashed ceilings for the LGBTQ+ community. His critically acclaimed “Channel Orange” album was the first time he shared with fans that his first love was a male friend in the renowned “Forrest Gump” track. During an interview with GQ in 2011, he told the outlet that he deems both his sexuality and music as uncategorized. “I’m giving you what I feel like you can feel… The other shit, you can’t feel,” he explained. “You can’t feel a box. You can’t feel a label.” Now, as a seasoned veteran in the game, Ocean has managed to...
The Braxton sisters have been entertaining audiences for nearly 40 years. But what most people don’t know is, in the beginning, they weren’t commercially successful. In 1990, the Braxton sisters — as a collective — were signed to Arista Records, CheatSheet reports. Their first single barely cracked the Top 100 on the Billboard R&B singles list, and according to The Los Angeles Times, it was difficult to market the group because there was such a difference in their ages. Toni Braxton then became the breakout star as a solo artist. She signed to L.A. Reid and Babyface’s LaFace Records. Toni later became an R&B superstar who sold millions of records worldwide. “We did a showcase in L.A. and [LaFace Records co-founder Kenneth] ‘Babyface’ [Edmonds] signed me,” Toni Braxton said, according to The Los Angeles Times. “They’d just signed TLC so they weren’t looking for another girl group, and my sisters said, ‘You sign with Babyface and then you come and help us.'” She continued: “What a...
Akon and his former business partner are making headlines, but not for good reason. According to PageSix, the R&B singer is being accused of refusing to pay his end of a contract agreement with Devyne Stephens, the music executive who helped to launch his career and has worked with the likes of Destiny’s Child, Jay-Z, Pink, TLC, and Usher. He claims that he is owed $750,000 and nearly $3 million in royalties. The original 2018 agreement confirms that Akon agreed to pay Stephens $3.25 million over the span of four years. However, the updated suit alleges that he hasn’t paid the final $750,000 installment.
In January 2021, AfroTech reported that uLesson — an African edtech startup — announced it raised a $7.5 million Series A funding round for its online learning platform to make remote learning a breeze. Now, less than a year later, it has announced that it’s raised $15 million in a Series B funding round, according to TechCrunch. Five investors led their latest round — Tencent, Nielsen Ventures, and existing investors Owl Ventures, TLcom Capital, and Founder Collective — in what is said to be the largest known investment for an edtech startup in Africa.
More celebrities are getting into the non-fungible Token ( NFT) game and Quincy Jones is among the latest in the music industry to come forward and back a newly-launched NFT music platform that’s reshaping the fan experience. According to Variety, OneOf — co-founded by Lin Dai, Joshua James, and Adam Fell — announced that in addition to the music mogul’s investment, other musicians supporting its platform include Doja Cat, H.E.R., John Legend, the estate of Whitney Houston, TLC and many more. All of these artists supporting the platform are gearing up to release their own upcoming collections of green-friendly non-fungible tokens to give their fans access to new exclusive content. “I cannot wait to release my first Juicy Drops collection,” Doja Cat said in a statement reported by Variety. “However, I want to be mindful of environmental concerns and accessibility to all of my fans before we go live. Happy to now be working with OneOf, who is addressing both of these issues.” Similar...