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TLC Member T-Boz Reveals Holding Clive Davis at Gunpoint

Posted Oct 22nd 2009 5:45PM by Latifah Muhammad
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Back in the 1990s, TLC became the top-selling girl group of all time, so they had some power. So much power, in fact, that once when the group didn't get money owed them by their record label, they held storied record executive Clive Davis at gunpoint.

Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins recently hit up comedian Monique's late night show to spill the beans behind this moment in TLC's colorful history.

"TLC had generated, on 'Crazy Sexy Cool,' $75 million and they gave us $50,000 a piece," Watkins said. "I was like, what the hell? So, of course, Lisa ['Left Eye' Lopes] was the ringleader, like, 'We need to go get our money. I need to know where my money is at!'"

"We had the limo driver, he was the getaway car," Watkins continued. "So we went up there, and Puffy was the one that snitched us out because we kicked him out of the meeting. It was rude -- we interrupted Puffy's meeting. We were getting sick and sweating, and we were really working hard for [the] money and we wanted to know who the hell had our check. [LaFace Records head] L.A. [Reid] said [then-Arista chief] Clive had it, [so] that's where we went."

In the end, the girls prevailed and, lucky for them, weren't arrested for their stickup. "They did give us some money, but they still took it back and recouped it, but it's all good," she explained. "You live and learn in the business."

Since the 2002 death of Lopes, the group famous for hits like 'Waterfalls' and 'No Scrubs' has maintained a low profile. Last weekend, T-Boz and fellow surviving member Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas performed their first concert in seven years at the Justin Timberlake and Friends charity event in Las Vegas.

T-Boz and Chilli are currently prepping an upcoming tour.

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ddot7188

god, the trolls of aol never cease. it's so sad that guys have nothing better to do. i'm so glad all you guys do is think about me and my people. HI HATER ;)

November 01 2009 at 2:19 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Preston

I don't condone violence, but I commend T-Boz and her group TLC for confronting the Arista execs about not getting paid enough! They had all those hit records, sold millions off that 1994 hits heavy album CrazySexyCool and they were each paid $50,000 for it? I'd be thinking $2 million, $5 million or even $10 million for all the hard work and effort they did, tearing up the charts and winning countless awards as well as performing and promoting it!

October 27 2009 at 12:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Maiyaki

Wait a sec, didnt Left Eye break all this down in her documentary? ABout how they sold all these records but only ended up with $300 thou a piece?

October 25 2009 at 9:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Charles

AGAIN woman (kidnaps / said to be a LIFE sentence) and NO CHARGE ie (but not limited to) gotti who gets a (throwin up) gotti tv show....u know (she it) knew ALL that was goin on or as ms(behavin) madeoff (with all that money) she(it) was the bookeeper and got millions (instead of time)....as usual rules for "them" that ("them") chose....ie spec rule for "OUR" gov offices / officers OR "SOME" children charged as adults on and on and o to infinitum

October 25 2009 at 6:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

dave

RIP300ROG YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD, THATS WHAT I BEEN TELLIN PEOPLE FOR YEARS, WAY TO GO, YOUR SO RIGHT,

October 25 2009 at 12:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

lilrdvet2

Yeah well...let's see if you still feel that same way when something happens to you or someone you love...just don't wear you're "Stop Snitchin'" t-shirt on national TV when your make your heartfelt plea for someone to come forward 'cause they know "who done it"...

October 25 2009 at 11:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

lilrdvet2

Maybe Clive didn't have them arrested because it could have exposed him to other clients he was ripping off...makes you wonder...or atleast it should...

October 25 2009 at 11:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

lilrdvet2

Ahhh...but they didn't get their money...re-read the article...had they as much brains as they had talent...they'd have gotten their money PLUS some for the rip off and could have expose Clive Davis at the same time...damned if I wouldn't have!!

October 25 2009 at 11:40 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

vagos208

Snitches are like bitches that wind up in ditches is the correct term.lol

October 25 2009 at 11:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

The Martins

You can steal more money with the swipe of a pen than you can with a gun. Corporations rob people blind daily and the CEO's are rewarded for their actions. A street thug snatches a purse and does ten years of hard time.
Capitalism is organized crime.

October 25 2009 at 10:35 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply