By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com
Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas is single and ready to mingle.
The TLC singer, fresh off of her surprise appearance alongside SWV and En Vogue on the 2008 BET Awards with Alicia Keys, has her eye on a newly divorced
"The Rock," she exclaimed! "I love him! I haven't met him yet. I want to. If you ever reach out to him, tell him that Chilli has the biggest crush on him. She would love to just go to lunch. Don't think I don't know he's divorced now too. I wouldn't say all of this if he was married. I know that relationship is over."
Pretty straight forward!
And that's what makes interviewing Chilli rather easy. She pulls no punches, plays no games and s
hoots from the hip when you ask her about internet gossip and dating rumors.
For example, one online site had her romantically linked to boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
"Floyd and I are very good friends and that's all it is," the singer clarified, while we spoke via cell phone as she ran errands in her hometown of
Having to clear up rumors is no fun for the 37-year-old
"People like myself, that blog stuff drives me nuts and it's hard to retract. Once it's out there, it's out there. When you go back and try to fix it and say it isn't tru
e, less than half of the people who already heard the wrong story never get to hear the truth. It's kind of messed up," she vented.
Another untruth about Chilli was that she was in a tumultuous relationship with NFL star Ray Lewis and was the victim of domestic violence.
"That whole hook up with Ray Lewis was that they said I was at a bar with him and he beat me up and I was in a hospital. When they said this was going on, I was in LA. I did go on a date with him, but it was just a date and that was it. I was never in
It is no secret that Chilli did date R&B singer Usher during his prime – they were even named by 'People' magazine as the "M
ost Beautiful Couple" in 2003 – but we decided not to bore her with questions about that.
Instead, I was more interested in knowing if Chilli really dated CNN news anchor T.J. Holmes.
"I dated him a year ago. When people started talking about it, it was a wrap. It had been a wrap for months," she shared. "At the end of the day, a guy is a guy. He's either a good guy or a terrible guy. He's different in ways as far as his title to people, but at the end of the day, he's just a guy."
Chilli did more than just enlighten me about the various stories surrounding her personal life; she also spoke her desire to appear on her favorite reality show.
"I am really into 'Dancing with the Stars,'" she confessed. "I would hope that I would win, but that kind of dancing is totally different from what I do. Ballroom dancing and the Tango and all that stuff they do; that does not look very easy. It looks like it would be a nice challenge and I'm up for it."
Fellow R&B star Mario was one of Chilli's favorites this past season.
"Mario was very good. His pants wer
e too tight for [some of those] numbers. Everything was kind of right there in your face," she laughed.
And while TLC hasn't release new music since recording the track, 'Come Get Some,' from their 2003 greatest hits package, 'Now and Forever: The Hits;' Chilli is readying the release of an independent solo album.
One track, 'Dumb Dumb Dumb' surfaced online in recent months and the reception from fans has been rather positive.
"It feels amazing," she said about the fan reaction to her song. "I can't wait to be back on stage and perform in front of thousands and thousands of my fans. That's the best part of it for me."
Chilli said reports that she had signed with Akon's Konvict Music weren't true. "I was
never signed to Akon's Konvict label. We talked about working that way together, but we just ended up working in the studio and that was it," she offered.
Showing her entrepreneurial arm, Chilli has launched a line of custom made handbags that can be ordered online.
Her line, 'Bags by Chilli,' was inspired by the love for her 11-year-old son, Tron.
"About 6 years ago, someone had given me a gift which was a bag with a picture of me and Tron from one of his birthday parties. I thought it was one of the most precious gifts that I had ever received and I would carry the purse around all the time and people would ask me all the time where I got it from. I couldn't tell them anything because the person who gave me the bag as a gift wasn't making them anymore. I decided to do some research because I wanted some more bags for myself and here I am," she said.
For details on the bags, visit www.BagsByChilli.com.



Comments: (82)
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By: KylaBegay on 7/02/2008 7:18PM
I think chilli being straightforward is good.if she likes the Rock go for it. I say go gurl,plus they might even have some beautiful macho kids.
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By: poeticdva on 7/02/2008 11:53PM
Thanks to Jawn Murray for that great interview with Chilli!! I've been a fan of TLC since the 90's. It's good to know she's doing well after all the stuff those women had to endure over the years.Everything from bankruptsy,humiliating relationships to the sudden death of their "sister" Left-Eye. I pray that GOD continues to bless both she and T-Boz. I know it must've taken alot for her to admit that she still has love(not "in-love") for Usher.
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By: Dani Baby on 7/02/2008 11:58PM
Do your thang girl! Always been a fan of TLC! Hey, just ignore the haters. You are a beautiful girl with great "natural" looks that a lot of young ones can aspire too. No doubt, love you guy's swagger which is similiar to my own! LOL! God bless!
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By: Diego on 7/03/2008 12:51AM
I see she wants some of my boy The Rock!!!!
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By: Cecil Jones on 7/03/2008 3:55AM
I can smellllllll what the Rock is cooking and it's not "Chili." Be careful, making matches for people because feelings and careers can get hurt. Some people need to be single so they can get to know themselves.
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By: JeSS JeSS on 7/03/2008 11:07AM
umm chilli is beautiful if she feels that she wants to get in contact with the rock and shes a big fan let her they may get some where.
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By: mo'star on 7/03/2008 1:01PM
Chilli you are 37 and you still look great. You can have any man you want. Go for it. I'll bet he likes you too. Good Luck girl.....I wish I was that brave.
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By: mr powell on 7/04/2008 12:53AM
i think chilli is a very sexy an unique woman meaning life n love.so if babygirl feel good about a-listers than stay happy wit love.never foget the ups of love n the drops of love.meaning a man heart doesn't really have to b a a-lister if he lov you babygirl.smile much love an lots of respect[remember don't go chasing waterfalls when they creep also].flinstone for life n love chilli ,hey t-boz smile n take very good care of ur health ur the only one n the world we have[smile]!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: Talulazoeapple on 7/04/2008 2:58PM
Back off the Rock, Chili!!!!
Just kidding. Good luck with that.
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By: shoegal1981 on 7/05/2008 10:28PM
I think Chili's got a little too much "man drama" for The Rock!!
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