TLC still ain’t too proud to beg

This week TLC announced their upcoming final album by asking for a truckload of money to make it. Through an immediately popular Kickstarter campaign that launched on Monday, members Chilli and T-Boz (right) have promised fans an array of irreplaceably 1990s-
nostalgic rewards in exchange for the funding to make their final record.

Why now, 13 years after their last studio album? “Because you’ll always have a guy hanging out your passenger side,” they lovingly reassure. And because they want to make it with you (yes, you!). As a backer, each fan is promised involvement, input and feedback on the album. Which part of the album specifically? “You will get to vote for which TLC track you want remixed.” That’s right, full involvement.

In addition to becoming overnight creative directors, fans will get slumber parties, music video outfits, fan calls, dance classes, scrapbooks and movie nights. But the girls have warned the “challenges” of delivering all these rewards in time for the album (this is not their first time at the rodeo).

The record is set for release in May – directly ahead of their global tour with New Kids on the Block and Nelly. Similarly to most reunion tours, the gigs are being plugged as the Ultimate Nostalgia Tour – a feature consummated by all performers now being in their 40s.

Having collectively filed for bankruptcy a mere three times, it stands to reason that the girls will never trust a record label again. Despite having two multi-platinum albums in the 1990s, TLC blamed the bad deals they were signed to by unpretty labels for why they lost so much profit.

Pledges filed in at a rate of roughly $1.5k per hour, making their goal of $150,000 an easy reality. Both Katy Perry and Bette Midler have supported.Fund online at kickstarter.com, but please – no scrubs.