Now & Forever: The Hits

TLC were one of the biggest-selling female R&B groups of all time, riding a blend of pop, hip-hop, and urban soul to superstardom during the '90s. Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas managed to appeal equally to pop and R&B audiences, blending catchy hooks and bouncy funk with a sassy, sexy attitude. Initially, their image was equal parts style and spirit, bolstered by a flamboyant, outrageous wardrobe. As time passed, they became equally well known for their chaotic personal lives, leaving a trail of headlines that read like a soap opera plot: arson, rehab, bankruptcy, serious illness, high-profile romances, and countless intragroup squabbles. After their star-making second album, CrazySexyCool, TLC fell into disarray, taking over four years to record the follow-up, Fanmail; even so, they returned more popular than ever, and the hits kept on coming. TLC had a short but stellar life that only ended in early 2002, when Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was killed in a car accident in Honduras.

Now and Forever – The Hits compiles all the hits from the talented trio, and many lesser-known tracks spanning their too-brief career. The collection also features two new tracks; TLC brings a welcome new flavor to crunk (with Lil' Jon's aid) on Come Get Some, and delivers some trademark hip-hop-drenched, harmonized soul on Whoop De Woo. From their first single, the funky, upbeat Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg to the pop/rock influenced Unpretty TLC show their sass, style and diversity. They easily go from hip-hop (Kick Your Game) to sexy, seductive soul (Red Light Special) to jazz influenced R&B (Creep, and their megasmash Waterfalls) to songs that you wouldn't expect and R&B group to do (Damaged). Included in this great collection is the vocally and sonically beautiful tribute to late member Lisa Lopes in Turntable. Now and Forever - The Hits features work by superstar producers such as Jermaine Dupri, Dallas Austin, LA Reid, Babyface, Rodney Jerkins, She'kspere, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and The Neptunes. All in all, this 19-track-collection brings back great memories of the trio and demonstrates why TLC will always be remembered as one of the best female groups in history.

From the Ronettes to Destiny's Child, every few years throw up a girl group that barges aside all others to make it, some deserving, some not. During the nineties and against all the things that might have held them back, TLC made it with songs like Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg, Creep and No Scrubs. For once, it was fully deserved and this is the album to prove it. The current success of R&B and rap owes a great deal to TLC – their sound, creativity, and personality changed the face of pop/R&B forever. TLC had expertly crafted albums, especially in CrazySexyCool and Fanmail, but their highlights always appeared on singles, and when they're collected together as they are on Now and Forever - The Hits, it's not only an excellent career summary, it's an addictive listen. Unfortunately this will be the last album from one of the greatest and best selling urban/pop acts of our generation.