• Todays Black Woman

Now 35, recording artist Chilli, of TLC fame, says that as a solo artist (who hopes to release her as-yet-untitled CD this summer) she is still a firm believer in the term "girl power." She tells TBW, "I can't tell you that my solo material sounds like TLC because I am, obviously, alone, but at the same time, it is not too far from what TLC fans have come to expect. We have never been male bashers, but we have always stood up for women. And I stand up for women on my album...and hope to help young girls out." (Fans will appreciate that the songbird wrote a lot of her own material, and that there are special guest appearances by, none other than T-Boz and her coexecutive producer, Missy Elliott.)

Chilli says she is single at the moment and has an amicable relationship with her ex, superproducer Dallas Austin, who is the father of her eight-year-old son, Tron. Is it hard for her to be the mom of a school-age child and have a recording career at the same time? She explains that, while it is not easy, "I have my priorities straight. Other people care about their work first and you have to put your kids first...and, trust me, it's hard with just one. I always wanted to be a mom, though, so I am totally in my element. My son goes to a Christian school and it's very hands on. I can talk to the teachers and the principals and go over there anytime I want."

Chilli adds that the thing she is most super proud about (besides being a mom) is the longevity TLC has achieved. They have been in the limelight for an amazing 15 years, and made the ultra-difficult transition from teen act to mainstream R&B performers while always staying hip and fresh. Of course, TLC had the heartwrenching drama of losing the controversial Left-Eye to a car accident and did concerts for a while where Left-Eye appeared on a screen behing them.

In fall of 2005, their reality series, R U The Firl, on UPN, got fans revved up but mistaken. Chilli explains, "So many people thought it was a show where we were audtitioning to replace Left-Eye, but we were just plannign on doing a single and one show with the winner-and we said that over and over again. But no one wanted to believe that..."

Chilli tells TBW that she and T-Boz still miss Left-Eye as if she passed away just last week, but that she's happy to still be in the fickle music business. Chilli is proud of the fact that, as we go to press, three record labels are vying to release her album this sumer. Chilli reveals with a smile, "Some of us are blessed enough to stay in the music business a number of years and maintain it. I always think it is hardest for artists who are coming out for hte first time because they have to make their mark. But I think I might be getting a little nervous when we get closer to my album coming out. I have no big key to success but I will say that you need to change with the times without forgetting why fans orignally loved you."

Chilli reveals to us that she will be touring once the CD is on its second single-so plan to catch her near you this fall-and that TLC will be going back into the studio although no date is set at the moment!

Today's Black Woman Magazine April 2006||

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