TLC Gets Back Into the Groove with Greatest Hits Album and Upcoming Biopic

 

Fans of the iconic girl group TLC will be happy to know that Rozanda “Chili” Thomas and Tione “T-Boz” Watkins have a lot of exciting plans for next month. October marks the release of their new greatest-hits compilation record, as well as the airing of “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story,” a biopic set to premier on VH1.

TLC is a group that has experienced tremendous highs and lows throughout its existence. The original three members experienced great success after the release of their first few albums in the early to mid-1990s. Their incredible vocals and choreography helped the band excel in the music industry, and their repertoire spanned R&B, hip hop, soul, and funk, with just enough pop to transcend industry labels and appeal to a diverse and vast fan base.

Despite early success, the band experienced devastating tragedy when Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died suddenly in a car accident in 2002. Lopes’ untimely death left fans and her band mates heartbroken, but TLC continued to make music over the next few years. The band was never the same without Lopes as its third member, but original songs like “No Scrubs” and “Waterfalls” are still beloved and indicative of the band’s influence during their prime.

Next month, TLC will release “20,” a fourteen-track album that showcases the group’s most popular songs. TLC has released a couple of greatest hits records in the past, but “20” is set to have more focus and to better highlight the group’s growth and strengths throughout their career. Thirteen of the album’s songs will be class TLC hits like “Red Light Special,” “Baby, Baby, Baby,” and “Creep,” but the last track will be brand new. “Meant To Be” was written by Ne-Yo, and will play a part in the band’s upcoming VH1 biopic, according to the Huffington Post. 

“20” is meant to illustrate TLC’s journey, and how the group has changed and grown over time. Ending the record with “Meant To Be” shows that the group has a bright future ahead, and that Chili and T-Boz will continue to create music as TLC. 

Image: sonymusicglobal via Instagram

Janelle Monáe’s ‘Electric Lady’ is One of September’s Most Anticipated New Releases

 

Janelle Monáe Robinson has gained an immense following over the last few years after releasing a series of EPs and a full-length, science fiction-inspired album that garnered her critical acclaim and bumped her up on the Billboard Charts. Her futuristic, unique take on American R&B has set her apart from other emerging musicians, and her fabulous, androgynous style, skillful dancing, and incredible voice have secured her a title as one of music’s genuine talents.

On September 10^th, her newest full-length record “The Electric Lady” will be released, and it’s one of the most highly anticipated albums of the season. The record was produced by her labels Bad Boy Records and Wondaland Arts Society, the latter of which she helped found. “The Electric Lady” will be a blend of pop, funk, soul, and Monáe’s unique take on R&B, and is sure to get fans dancing. 

According to Pitchfork’s Evan Minsker, “On ‘The Electric Lady,’ she’s still dealing in science fiction, like on her end-of-days pop song “Dance Apocalyptic”. But at the end of the Paisley Park-hued funk single “Q.U.E.E.N.” (with Erykah Badu), she seems to step away from allegory and rap about real world problems. Album concept aside, it’s guaranteed to be a soulful affair,” of Monáe’s newest record. The musician’s complex album concepts, combined with a pinch of important social commentary, lots of energy, and incredible musical talent are what make “The Electric Lady” such a greatly anticipated release. 

Alongside Janelle Monáe will be a whole set of music industry heavyweights featured on many of the album’s tracks. Of course Erykah Badu performs on “Q.U.E.E.N.” but you can also expect to hear from Miguel, Prince, Big Boi, Cee-Lo Green, Solange, and Esperanza Spalding, Pitchfork reports. Make sure to get your hands on “The Electric Lady” this month to experience one of the most influential, musically inventive and dance-worthy albums of the year. 
Images: Janelle Monáe via Instagram 

Beyoncé’s Bold New Look Makes Headlines, Naturally

  

You know that you’re the most famous woman in music when one snapshot of your new ‘do goes viral in a matter of minutes. Songbird Beyoncé Knowles, queen of pop and R&B, fashion trendsetter and philanthropist, recently chopped her locks - a bold move that is, of course, making headlines.

Between juggling her life in the private eye with husband, rapper Jay-Z and their growing family, and continuing to make a name for herself as one of the most beloved and influential names in entertainment, Beyoncé has a lot going on. Right now, she’s in the middle of her “The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour,” which recently finished its first North American leg in Brooklyn, NY. Over the next few months she’ll be performing in Latin America, Australia, Europe, and then back again stateside. But of course, she couldn’t make her way to the United Kingdom without first shedding her iconic long waves in favor of a stylish blond pixie cut.

  

Beyoncé is one of those performers who is as iconic for her all-around persona as she is for her singing chops. A quadruple-threat: a master of singing, dance, acting, and fashion, Beyoncé is constantly reinventing her style and pushing the boundaries of what the public perceives her as capable of. She’s an incredibly influential woman; her fashion sense and own clothing line are wildly popular with a younger female demographic, and her record sales speak for themselves. “The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour” is one of the most anticipated music tours in recent history, and it’s no wonder; Beyoncé really is Queen B.

Soon, thousands of young women are sure to take after the star and opt for a short, cropped hairstyle. What do you think of Beyoncé’s new look?

Images: beyonce via Instagram