TLC’s Chilli Opens Up About New Netflix Docu-Series, Authenticity In Music, and Forthcoming Las Vegas Residency

Nearly five years since the premiere of their record-breaking VH1 biopic, “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story,” the iconic group is giving fans another intimate glimpse into their historic career with Netflix’s “Once in a Lifetime Sessions.”

The streaming platform’s new eight-part music docu-series, which also features episodes with Moby, Oasis and Niles Richards, follows Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozanda “Chili” Thomas as they perform a selection of hits and take a retrospective look at their tumultuous career.

For Chilli, she hopes the documentary will help inspire people to develop and insert authenticity into their craft as artists.

“We’ve always been different, without necessarily trying. We were naturally that way. We weren’t trying to be something that we weren’t,” she said during an interview with Baller Alert. “And so the authenticity that we have in our group, I think is very important for up-and-coming artists and just people in general to see. We never ever been a part of a fad. We never jumped on the bandwagon. That’s never been our thing.”

TLC’s reputation as trendsetters in fashion and pop culture resulted in the group dominating the music charts with number one hits throughout the 90s. With more than 65 million records sold, and landing four multi-platinum albums, the Atlanta-based trio is considered the second best selling female group (behind the Spice Girls), and the best selling female R&B group, of all time, according to Us Weekly. In addition, their VH1 biopic became the network’s most-watched original film ever following its October 2013 premiere.

However, despite their meteoric rise to the forefront of music, the singer-songwriter admits their success and authenticity came with a few hardships.

“You do have to fight harder when you are outside of the box and when you think outside of the box, because it’s different and people aren’t really familiar with it,” the “No Scrubs” singer said. “And when they’re not really familiar with something, they don’t really know how they want to deal with it. Because, it’s not familiar it’s different. And so when you just fight hard to kick those doors down and be like, ‘Hey, here I am, hear what I have to say,’ people do.”

“And they’ll only stay tuned if you have something good to say. Something that is interesting, something that they can relate to,” the 47-year-old added. “With all of our songs, no matter the subject matter it is definitely something that everybody can relate to, if you don’t like all of our songs there’s one or two songs that will speak towards something that you been through, or currently going through. So we’re very blessed in that way.”

In addition to their new Netflix docu-series, Chilli adds that she and T-Boz are keeping their passion and legacy for TLC going by developing new artists and a future residency in Las Vegas.

“We are currently working on getting a residency in Vegas. And so, we’re always working hard on something, and it’s because we still love what we do,” she said. “Tionne and I always say to each other, when you don’t have love for what you do, people can see it in your performance. And if it’s just for the check or whatever, your performance tells on you every single solitaire time.”

“Once in a Lifetime Sessions with TLC” is now available on Netflix.