TLC - Crazysexycool

The story of this female Atlantan trio encompasses arson, excess, business wrangles and tragedy (Lisa 'Left-Eye' Lopes' death in a car crash last year). Surviving this soap opera, however, is some great pop—especially this, their 1994 second album. Crazysexycool sold 11 million in the US and remains a seductive fusion of R&B with hip hop, giving production breaks to future key players like Jermaine Dupri, Puff Daddy and OutKast affiliates Organized Noise (who helm "Waterfalls"). Some smoochy hackwork, of course, but the slick environs never entirely tame TLC's feisty vocals.

Rating: 3 / 10