Take Two: TLC Singer T-Boz Returns to Talk Some More

T-Boz

Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins is an interviewer's dream. She's a straight shooter, uninhibited and doesn't hold back.

Fresh off her stint on Donald Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice,' which airs each Sunday on NBC, T-Boz talked about her departure from the series, the possibility of a new TLC album and what she thinks of bloggers.

If you thought this Atlanta-bred singer made headlines with part one of my interview with her, then you'll have to see what she said in our continuation.

You are no longer on 'Celebrity Apprentice.' Do you think its fair that people like Joan Rivers and Brian McKnight left the show for personal gigs and weren't around for certain challenges?

A lot of people would get upset when Joan had to leave and Brian had to leave because they had prior commitments. There's a part of you that feels like I could leave too and make extra money if I knew it was like that because you're working your butt off. I don't really trip. I don't get that anal about everything. It's just too much negative energy. I'm just gonna work hard and do my part. I will really judge you if you mess up or are really lost. I was Project Manager and I knew Khloe [Kardashian] had something important that she couldn't get out of and it had nothing to do with making money. It was her court thing with the DUI and I was like cool. I'm not gonna hold that against her because that was not in her control, but Annie [Duke] was like, 'Well she is not here working and we all had to work.' I was like it's not that serious to me because she couldn't get out of it and Joan was out doing comedy shows and Brian was out doing concerts so that was a little different. It didn't bother me as long as you worked your ass off when you come back.

Were you a fan of 'Celebrity Apprentice' before joining the show?

Honestly, I would have never watched it if I wasn't on it. It comes on at the same time as 'Desperate Housewives.' I had turned the show down twice and one of the producers for NBC called me and said, 'We know that you are an advocate of charity work and you don't have to live with them.' That sounded cool and I told them I would do it. Once they showed me the show I really liked it. I loved the fact that it was for charity and it was a great avenue for sickle cell. It just made sense all around because it was something that I never would have done and it brings great awareness to sickle cell. It was really good once I got into it.

TLC performed in Japan recently. What was it like touring like that again?

I feel honored to have been in this business for 18 years and still have the chance to do things. [In] Japan [we] headlined the show. Akon, T-Pain, John Legend and Craig David opened, so it's crazy that's we're still headlining. It's a blessing in itself. I'm happy to do it because it's fun, but ultimately, my daughter comes first. I feel like I've been there, done that and I've had the greatest career that anyone could ask for. Of course we had highs and lows, but I wouldn't change that it for the world. Chase comes first and I am not missing my baby's first ballet recital because I can't replace those things. What I can replace is MTV's 'TRL' and all of that. You can't get those years back with T-Boz & Chaseyour child and I won't miss that for the world.

You mentioned your daughter Chase. Is your store named after her still in business?

I actually closed the Chase's Closet in Houston , but I still have the online store. I'm revamping that whole website so it's shut down right now so I can put it back up. We're gonna sell a lot of private labels. It should be fun, but I thought it would be fun to have a store named after my daughter so she can have her own thing. I want her to be a leader as well when she grows up so I'm starting early.

Let's talk music. Online it says you're signed to Steve Rifkind's SRC Records. How did that come about.

I don't know why Steve put that on there because I've never signed with him. We're great friends and we're really close, but I'm not signed to anyone's label. I am working on a solo album and that's going really good. People have been coming to the table and working with me as if I was signed so if it's not broke, don't fix it. I'm 75% done and I'm just gonna keep working on it and then I'll figure the rest out later as far as who I want to sign with, if I want to go major, independent or start my own label. The choice is mine and I'm happy to have that choice.

What is the vibe of the music you've been recording?

It's just straight T-Boz. I don't put it in a box or a genre of music. What I wanna do is just make good music period. It's about the lyrics to me. I want to bring back those songs that help people feel better about themselves and feel good about themselves. I still want to do the 'Unpretty's' and stuff like that. I have a song on my album called 'Stronger Than You Know' and one called 'Start Off New' which is about walking away from the past and starting off new. I just want to bring back the good because to me, is at an all time low and you need to help these women. It's so many people who are thinking it's cool to be sluts and all you see on reality TV these days is women throwing themselves at men and men throwing themselves at women. It's like, 'Girl you're gonna see me butt naked all for the love of somebody, somebody and somebody.'

What about a TLC record? Will you all ever do a new CD?

Chilli really wants to do a TLC album and I'm the one who really doesn't. I'm not even gonna lie about that. I said that I would do the single with Lil' Kim and everybody keeps asking if she's in our group. I keep telling y'all there will never, ever, ever and I mean that, it will never be anybody in the group. Will we collaborate with other artists? Yes, of course and that could be fine. I'm a little more open to doing it than I was before, but I'm not gung ho about it. If they pay me enough then I might do it.

I've seen pictures of you and NFL star Takeo Spikes online. Are you all serious or just really good friends.

We're together. I've never been one of those chicks that just go out dating a whole bunch of people anyway so if you see me with somebody, hello. Whether you like it or not, I'm with him.

Previously, you were in a high-profile marriage to rapper Mack 10. Was it a lot of pressure being in a highly visibly relationship, particularly with the scrutiny you all received during the divorce?

It can be, but the only reason I say that is because I have a child involved. If I didn't have a daughter I probably wouldn't care as much because I don't care what people think and at the end of the day I've come to the conclusion that if you're not the person waking up by my bedside and paying my rent then you're really not making a difference. You can talk all day long because a lot of people lie on me anyway and they don't really know unless they go through it. A lot of things that you go through in life, you'd never think it would be you, but yes it can be. It's not fun having everybody in your business at all. That's why I felt bad for the Rihanna and Chris Brown situation because maybe some of their situations would be different if everybody didn't have a say so. You might be rebellious and do something just because people are already saying something about it. You just have to wish people the best and people have to realize that we're real people and we have feelings and hurt the same. The only difference is that we are popular and on TV. The thing that pisses me off is these crazy bloggers. They have so much to say and it's like what the hell is wrong with y'all? Do you have all day to sit around and talk about people? What's wrong with you? I know that misery loves company, but who sits at their computer all day long and talk about people? Something is wrong with that picture. The things that they have to say about people are crazy to me. I remember one time I sat here and did a party for homeless children. Some of the kids got adopted out of the situation and I gave them clothes and a different day that they will probably remember for a lifetime. It was about 100 degrees outside and somebody wrote on their blog that T-Boz needs to check her kitchen. I just want y'all to know that my hair is not nappy, but if it were that's what perms are for. I was just like you are really petty and simple minded. How stupid is that? I'm sitting here giving homeless kids a home and clothes and you're thinking about if I have a perm or not. That really baffles me.

You really don't like the blogs, do you?

It's amazing to me that these people believe everything that they see on these blogs. The rumors don't bother me, but I have a child now and it bothers her and my mom. If I walk up to somebody on the street and say to their child that their mom is a whore, they're gonna want to kill me and be pissed. I'm not the chick that's all fabulosity out and getting drunk and high. I don't put myself out on display like that and for you to pick on me; you really have to be bored. If I were ignorant, then I would deserve it, but that's how it is these days and the messier the better. That's really sad because they don't want to hear about the good things that we do and the differences that we make in people's lives and that does still matter.

*****

Check Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins blog entries and her video series and her Web site at www.Boz-Bizz.com.

To read part one of my interview with T-Boz, read 'T-Boz Talks: Dishes on Celebrity Apprentice, Girl Group Drama & TLC Movie.'


Black Music Notes Mar. 19

    3/19/09: Rihanna / Chris Brown
    Contrary to previous claims that Rihanna and Chris Brown reunited in the studio last month to record a new duet, record producer Polow Da Don recently confirmed that the couple recorded the newly surfaced track last year. "The reports are inaccurate," Polow's publicist, Laura Wright, told US magazine. "The duet was recorded long before the incident." According to People, the track, reportedly titled 'Bad Girl,' was intended to be on the soundtrack for 'Confessions of a Shopaholic,' but the song was eventually recorded by the Pussycat Dolls.

    Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

    3/19/09: Kanye West / The Dream
    Seven years ago this month, music heavyweights R. Kelly and Jay-Z released their highly anticipated collaborative album 'The Best of Both Worlds.' Now it appears Kanye West and The Dream are vying to work on a similar project. "Everybody is trying to talk us into it," Dream told 'MTV News' of his and West's friends and business associates. "It was first thought of by me. I was in Miami at the time, and I gave Kanye a call and said, 'The best thing would be for me and you to do an album.'... Let's take the best of both worlds and put it on a CD and try to make something we can sell to the consumers. He says he's with it. We're gonna try to make it happen." For now, you can catch Kanye on Dream's potential third single 'Walking on the Moon,' which is featured on his newly released album 'Love vs. Money.'

    Getty Images

    3/19/09: The Miracles
    Legendary Motown group The Miracles is the latest musical act to receive a Hollywood star on the world-renowned Walk of Fame. The 'Ooo Baby, Baby' singers were presented with the 2,381st star on March 20 by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Leron Gubler. Motown founder Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder were also on hand as guest speakers for the ceremony.

    Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    3/19/09: Chester Gregory
    After several years of blowing audiences away on the 'Great White Way,' Broadway Star and R&B soul recording artist Chester Gregory is preparing the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love.' The March 31 release finds the multitalented singer introducing himself as a thoughtful and sensitive songwriter blessed with a voice that captivates and demands attention. "While I've thoroughly enjoyed performing on Broadway -- eight shows a week and telling other people's amazing stories -- now it's time for me to share my own," explained Gregory. Highlights of 'In Search of High Love' include the poetic 'Clouds to the Ground,' the crossover-bound 'Say it's Over' and Jackie Wilson's soaring 1967 chart-topper 'Higher and Higher.'

    Jemal Countess, WireImage

    3/19/09: Sammy Davis Jr.
    Altovise Davis, the widow of Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. , recently died at the age of 65. Two days prior to her death, she was admitted to Los Angeles'Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke. The couple, who met in 1967 on the set of the musical 'Golden Boy,' married in 1970 and remained together until Davis' untimely death of throat cancer in 1990.

    Evening Standard / Getty Images

    3/19/09: Earth, Wind & Fire
    Iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Earth, Wind & Fire is set to hit the road this summer for a 30-city tour beginning June 5 in Orange Beach, AL. In addition to Maurice White and company gracing the stage will be pop-rock band Chicago, which will perform a full show before joining for a final set together, according to Billboard. The tour will conclude on Aug. 1 in Lake Tahoe, NV.

    Santiago Llanquin / AP

    3/19/09: Kim Burrell
    Gospel vocalist Kim Burrell is on deck to release her first new album in nine years titled 'No Ways Tired.' The project's title is inspired by gospel pioneer James Cleveland's classic of the same name. In addition to covering Cleveland's hit, Burrell also tapped other timeless classics including 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee,' 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' 'O Lamb of God,' and 'I Surrender All.' There are also a few originals. 'No Ways Tired' is set to hit stores April 7 via Shanachie Records.

    Zomba

    3/19/09: Mike Jones
    Despite being on hiatus since the release of his debut album 'Who Is Mike Jones?' Houston's own Mike Jones is ready to make his mark on the charts once again with the release of 'The Voice.' Jones' sophomore effort is packed with some of the industry's most talented artist including, Lil' Wayne, T-Pain, Devin the Dude, Hurricane Chris and Twista. He's had recent success with his latest single 'Next To You,' which is currently number 16 on Radio and Records Rhythmic charts. "For the past four years, I have been doing a lot of restructuring, getting this record right, making sure my business is right and more," Jones said of his hiatus. "Now, I am ready to finish what I started. I'm hoping my fans will feel 'The Voice' was worth the wait." Mike Jones 'The Voice' is due in stores April 28.

    Gilbert Carrasquillo, FilmMagic

    3/19/09: Prince
    With the recent announcement that Michael Jackson will return to the stage this summer, another influential artist is also planning to make his return. Beginning March 25, Prince will be performing on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' for three consecutive nights. In addition, the 'Little Red Corvette' singer is also readying the Mar. 29 release of his two new albums 'LOtUSFLOW3R' and 'MPLSoUND.' Prince is the latest artist to promote a release through multiple late-night talk show performances. U2 also recently performed five nights in a row on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' in support of its new album 'No Line on the Horizon.'

    Kevin Winter, NCLR / Getty Images

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