Notable ’90s R&B and hip-hop girl trio TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas graces the cover of Rolling Out Magazine with sophistication and timeless poise in a beautiful camel-colored gown.
In her cover story, Chilli dishes on working with current rappers, inspiring young girls and of course, the sisterhood and female empowerment associated with TLC.
Rappers like J. Cole in his current hit “Crooked Smile” have sampled TLC’s work, and Chilli says that makes her “really happy.”
“I think that’s why we were so excited to work with J. Cole — because [the song] ‘Crooked Smile’ was … basically [him] saying ‘Embrace your imperfections,’” she said. “I was really happy that a rapper took that approach.”
Chilli names internet sites, like YouTube, as a way TLC can inspire young girls as they did in the ’90s.
“All of that is what helped to introduce [younger fans] to us,” Chilli explains. “Especially the girls, once they see what we were all about and how fun the videos were, it’s fresh to them. Because it’s not something they’re seeing right now.”
Read the rest of Chilli’s Rolling Out interview here.
VH1’s upcoming biopic for the group, “CrazySexyCool,” will air on October 21 on the network. The group is also making music moves with their current “20” album, out now. The album features TLC classics as well as new music.