As a painfully awkward tween and teen, I often preferred the company of books and the radio to that of my peers. In a somewhat restrictive (evangelical Christians, where y’all at?) environment, secular music was an almost forbidden indulgence for my younger sisters and me. Of course, we were allowed the squeaky clean offerings of The New Mickey Mouse Club and Kids, Incorporated. But when I tuned into BET’s Video Soul or Yo! MTV Raps, I was transported. I was part of a world where Blackness — where people who looked and maybe even talked like I did — were the norm, not the exception or the token. I found myself in music, in spaces where my perfect spelling tests and proclivity toward writing were seemingly rewarded.
The music that most impacted me from age 11 on was R&B, specifically the new jack swing genre and the music that followed it. A direct result of the joining of still-expanding Hip Hop music and post-synthesizer R&B music of the early-to-mid 1980′s, new jack swing fueled my most vibrant memories of summer camp, dancing until I sweated profusely, and (I can’t believe I’m admitting this) having a Jheri curl that was not properly moisturized. I sang along with Bobby Brown’s “Roni,” tried to master the dance moves from BBD’s “Poison” video, and made all kinds of inquisitions as to why Aaron Hall’s “Don’t Be Afraid” seemed so damn rapey. (Because it’s a Rape Carol, that’s why.)
In 1991, a song called “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg” hit BET, and my world was forever changed by three young Black women known as TLC. Initially, I (of course, as a super sheltered tween) had zero idea what “two inches or a yard/ rock hard or if it’s saggin’” even meant. But, once I learned, I was simultaneously scandalized and excited. These were Black women talking frankly about sex, and not just singing, but rapping as well. Black women who were not Whitney or Janet (her janet. album had yet to drop!) talking about being in control of their pleasure and the kind(s) of partner(s) they wanted. And they wore condoms on their not-tight-at-all clothes. They were dressed more like Another Bad Creation than they were The Good Girls. TLC hit me like only a true pop phenomenon could: hard as hell, with deep-reaching influence to boot. But there were “problems” with them, of course, if you asked some folks.
I didn’t understand the controversy. T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli were grown (21 could have been a lifetime away for me) women who talked about the issues relevant to them. Ooooooohhh… On the TLC Tip was the point where I learned about Tawana Brawley, and what it means to believe the victim. (See the aforementioned album, track 8, “His Story”) TLC’s choice to wear condoms on their clothes and talk about their pleasure was the kind of thing I needed to combat the programming I got in my Christian day school. A song like “Hat 2 Da Back” blew my mind. Left Eye’s rhymes about a dude policing her femininity combined with the hook ending, “That’s the kinda girl I am” affirmed me in all my awkwardness. I had to be myself, right? That wasn’t exactly the prevalent message in mainstream media or media focused specifically on Black folks.
And though I had no clue what “Baby-Baby-Baby” was actually about, I loved the video. I found myself singing along quite often, and when I finally realized what the line “I like plenty conversation with my sex” actually meant…? Ooh, wee. I further recognized the awesomeness of the song. How often can we say there are mainstream (read: via a major record label and/ or one of its imprints) songs discussing sex in a direct way from the perspective of a young woman of color? With some kink thrown in, too? Exactly my point. Amaaaaaazing! I learned from TLC’s most popular singles that I could choose for myself exactly the kind(s) of sexual encounters I wanted to have, create healthy boundaries for myself, and be fly without compromising my intergrity. As I sit here going through the TLC Vevo channel, I am reminded that there’s nothing quite like listening to the whole album from front to back — even the songs I currently can’t believe I liked.
I won’t ruin these jams (or is that jamz?) with too much lyrical analysis. Go to Spotify or Rdio and listen to these albums to get an idea of what I’m talking about. Stay tuned for part 2, about TLC’s second album, CrazySexyCool
Hey, welcome back! Looking forward to part 2.
Thanks so much!
love you girl, it is nothing like remembering the songs that brought you the idea of sexual liberation. It is a lyrical version of “take’n” off your bra! Baby, Baby!!!!!
Thank you, Phoenix!
Thank you! Looking forward to part 2. TLC are Sooooooohhh… important. And awesome!
So excited to read this. Welcome back.
Loved this! So nice to read you here mujer and learn a little more about you because you knew I loved you already. As a Latina who was very sexually awkward when TLC came out – it was sort of a breakthrough for me too. Women who looked like my friends (not even gonna front with my light skinned self) talking all this stuff I was exploring in my head (and under my covers) – very important indeed.
So you currently believe Tawana Brawley and her allegations?
I’m not certain how you understood my referencing a song as believing Tawaba Brawley’s allegations, but feel free to get caught up in that.
I was referring to this: “Ooooooohhh… On the TLC Tip was the point where I learned about Tawana Brawley, and what it means to believe the victim” and wondered what you do/did believe.
Woohoo!! Dopegirlfesh is back!!!
BHuesca: Congratulations for being the first person on the thread to completely miss the point! Ladies, shall we tell hir what zie’s won?
Angel H.: I actually enjoyed the post thoroughly, thank you for asking. I just commented due to a sentence that caught my eye and I was hoping for clarification on. And who to better ask for clarification from than the person who wrote the post?
I’m clear on what you’re referencing. This post isn’t about Tawana so much as it’s about what I learned from TLC. what I do or don’t believe is kind of irrelevant here.
Ok, thanks!
I was only a kid when this one came out from them but I remember buying it after I went crazy for Crazy Sexy Cool. I liked the music but also didn’t understand or care much about the lyrics in 1995 seeing as how I was only 10 years old. I actually re-listened to these songs from TLC Tip and Crazy Sexy Cool on youtube a few weeks ago, realizing how good this group was for women. My personal favorite is His Story.
I had a question which I thought was totally relevant but now I’m somewhat afraid to ask, because the one above was pitched so adversarially, that mine would seem like a followup.
So let me be clear, I don’t want your opinion on a 20 year old legal case. I just was curious what your attitude was towards victims before, and what it was about that song which made you more empathetic. If the subject is what TLC taught you then I was hoping you could further expound about what particular line or feeling in the song made you turn from a victim blamer into a victim believer.
Let me first clarify that I was a child of 11, maybe 12 when I first listened to this album. I would never ever describe myself at that age as a victim blamer. I was an even younger child when the Brawley case broke. The song i’m referring to is called “His Story.”
Ok, I didn’t get the age thing…Now I understand what you meant- you were not saying you used to disbelieve the victim, it just hadn’t come up.
However, I’m still genuinely interested in what it was about the song spoke to you. Was it a line? a feeling?
Thank you so much for this post. I was a freshman in collage when oottlct dropped and I felt completely empowered by the lyrics and the image that TLC projected. As a young woman who also had a very sheltered childhood, TLC helped me begin to explore my own independence and sexuality. I loved seeing women who looked like me show the world that they were sexy because they were sexy, even if they wore baggy clothes and combat boots. I still have many of the songs from that album in frequent rotation — they always remind me of a time when I was just beginning to really understand and celebrate my own beauty, power and sexuality. In fact, I think I’ll get me “Depend on Myself” right now – that was/is/will always be my jam!
Fat Steve, do you even know the song at all?
Even if you ignore the intro mentioning Tawana Bradley, many women will identify with it.
Looking forward to part two. I love your posts. The rap/R&B world was worlds away from mine when this music came out and it all just kinda passed me by. Thanks for always providing interesting pointers!
I actually hadn’t but I just checked it out on youtube. Thanks for the lyrics.
I didn’t appreciate TLC until I was much older, but I remember very distinctly how their public image made me feel better about my reluctance to wear skin-tight anything, and my undying love for combat boots (this was also riot grrl time too — Courtney Love and T-Boz were my everythings). I had T-Boz hair
Folks have to remember, this came out in 1992. When “Crazy Sexy Cool” came out in 1994, it was on a solid playlist and video rotation for the next two or three years. These ladies were EVERYWHERE, and it happened to hit right when my friends and I were really paying attention to pop culture, music videos, magazine interviews, etc. One of the things I remember really hitting me when I read their interviews was that these women disagreed with each other — publicly — and yet still respected, loved, and worked with each other — publicly. Another thing was just how SEXY they were while breaking all the video rules. Check out the video for “Creep” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlZydtG3xqI) where they are alternately funny, silly, vulnerable, and sure, a little stock-sexy for the camera, but without being infantilized. They projected strength and autonomy, and this was as novel and groundbreaking then as it is now.
I should save this post for Crazysexycool, but oh my lord, “Waterfalls” was probably the most educational song/video I had ever heard about AIDS. I think it was that video that sent me the message “being sexy is awesome, but you should go at your own pace and that’s cool.”
LOVE! Yes, TLC was life-changing for me as a tween & teen. Wishing there was more music like this today that is both sexually explicit & empowering, especially from a group. Was thinking about En Vogue too this weekend and missing the sounds of a variety of women. Great post!