3D [Clean] [Edited]

Performer: TLC
Engineer: John Frye; Rick Sheppard; Morgan Garcia; Steve Fisher; Carlos "El Loco" Bedoya; Josh Butler; Andrew Coleman; Paul Boutin; Sean Davis; Leslie Brathwaite; Fabian Marasciullo; Brian Garten; Carlton Lynn
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: This is a Hyper CD, which contains regular audio tracks and also provides a link to the artist's website with the help of a browser. TLC: Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Chilli, Lisa Left Eye Lopes (vocals). Additional personnel: Rodney Jerkins (vocals, samples); Tron Austin (vocals); Babyface (acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards, programming); Raphael Saadiq (guitar, bass); Tomi Martin, Danny O'Donough, Tony Reyes (guitar); Colin Wolfe, Shorty B (bass); Sigurdur Birkis, Tom Knight (drums); Riprock, Alex G., Organized Noize (programming); DJ Ruckus (scratches); Debra Killings, Missy Elliot, Chase Rollison, Lester Finnel, Bill Diggins, Mark Pitts, Marde Johnson, Shawn Beasley (background vocals); Eddie Hustle. Producers: Lisa "Left Eye Lopes", Chilli, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Bill Diggins. "Hands Up" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals. "Girl Talk" was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. This is a Hyper CD, which contains regular audio tracks and also provides a link to the artist's website with the help of a web browser. Personnel: Marde Johnson (vocals, background vocals); Sharliss Asbury, Sharliss Ashbury, Jasper Cameron, Rodney Jerkins (vocals); Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (rap vocals); Danny ODonough, Raphael Saadiq, Tomi Martin, Tony Reyes (guitar); Babyface (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, drum programming); Kelvin Wooten (keyboards); Rick Sheppard (midi); Sigurdur "Siggy" Birkis, Tom Knight (drums); Organized Noize (programming, drum programming); DJ Ruckus (scratches); Debra Killings, Mark Pitts, Chilli, Missy Elliott, Tavia Ivey (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Kevin "KD" Davis; Gerry "The Gov" Brown; Jean-Marie Horvat; Jimmy Douglas; Phil Tan; Rodney Jerkins; Serban Ghenea; Timbaland. Recording information: 2nd Floor Recording; Brandon's Way Recording, Los Angeles, CA; D.A.R.P. Studios, Atlanta, GA; Doppler Studios; O'Henry Studios, Burbank, CA; Patchwerk Recording, Atlanta, GA; Silent Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA; Skankonia, Recording, Atlanta, GA; Stankonia Recording, Atlanta, GA; The Dungeon; The Hit Factory-Criteria, Miami, FL; the Record Plant, Hollywood, CA; Tracken Place, LA, CA; Tracken Place, Los Angeles, CA; ZAC Recording Studios, Atlanta, GA. Introduction by: Rodney Jerkins. Photographers: Seb Janiak; Guy Aroch. Arrangers: Dallas Austin; Organized Noize. Considering TLC's ubiquity, 3D stands surprisingly as only the fourth album in 11 years for the trio consisting of T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli, and tragedy marks it as the last. After eternally troubled but ever-talented Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes perished in a car crash in Honduras in April 2002, the remaining members of TLC decided to finish work on the record they started. Released seven months later, 3D continues along the basic thread of their earlier albums. While recalling some of the over-the-top quirkiness of their debut, the threesome stirs in plenty of contemporary hip-hop flavor, creating an invitingly jagged sound, particularly on the Southern-tinged "Dirty Dirty." Infectious first single "Girl Talk," a song both funny and sharply on point, could be seen as a companion piece to and a combination of "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" and "No Scrubs," as the three rag on men who get lazy when it comes to fulfilling the obligations of love. The mellow twist of the alluring ballad "Turntable" stands with the group's best ballads, while "Over Me," offers up the defiant side. 3D is a solid coda to one of the better R&B and pop acts of the 1990s. How good is TLC? So good that they survive the tragic, early death of a key member -- Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, who was killed in a car accident during the recording of 3D -- with grace and style, turning out a record that sits comfortably next to their modern classics, Crazysexycool and FanMail. Perhaps surviving members Chilli and T-Boz spend a little too much time in the lyrics paying tribute to their colleague, but it's easy to glide past that and just concentrate on the strong songwriting and stylish production. Like their previous albums, the particulars don't matter as much as the overall impression. No member of TLC has an astounding voice, but their skills are exploited to the hilt, since the material not only suits them; it's melodic, memorable, and grows in stature with each play. Best of all, the production plays to the strength of the song, balancing the group's character and abilities with the hooks and character of the song. Perhaps 3D doesn't blaze trails like their other albums, but it never plays it safe, it always satisfies, and it's one of the best modern soul albums of 2002. A bittersweet triumph, perhaps; but it's better to go out on a positive note. [The album is also available as a 13-song clean edition.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Rolling Stone (12/26/02, p.112) - Included in Rolling Stone's "50 Best Albums of 2002" Rolling Stone (11/28/02, p.88) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...3D solidly embodies black pop..." Entertainment Weekly (11/8/02, p.130) - "...3D is a smorgasbord of modern R&B that ranges from silky to retro..." - Rating: B Q (1/03, p.124) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...3D's a testament to surviving members Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins and Rozanda 'Chilli' Thomas's resolve....It's a solid effort..." Vibe (12/02, pp.203-4) - 3.5 discs out of 5 - "...The material recorded before Lopes's death...is simply darker, sexier, and angrier..." Mojo (Publisher) (12/02, p.106) - "...3D is TLC's best, most consistent LP, and provides a tribute to Lopes that is both fitting and memorable..."

This Atlanta-bred R&B trio was a hit straight out of the gate with its 1992 debut album. Role models for a generation of girls, TLC presented (and comported) themselves as strong, independent women, both sensual and powerful. Their followup album was a multi-platinum affair, but subsequent legal/financial battles nearly finished the group, delaying their third album significantly. TLC bounced back again with renewed confidence, but member Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes was tragically killed in a car accident in 2002.

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