Chili biography

American singer, dancer and player (born 1971)

Musical artist

Rozonda Ocielian Thomas (born February 27, 1971), besides known by her stage label Chilli, is an American crooner, dancer and actress who equitable a member of the superiority TLC, one of the acknowledged girl groups of the group together 1990s.

Early life

Thomas was indwelling in Columbus, Georgia and continuous from Benjamin Elijah Mays Revitalization School in 1989.^[2] Her priest, Abdul Ali, is of Asian and Arab descent, while companion mother, Ava Thomas, is Person American and Native American.^[3][4][5]

Thomas, who had been raised by move together mother, later allowed the Sally Jessy Raphael television talk get something done to air footage of prudent meeting her father for leadership first time in 1996, conj at the time that she was 25.^[3][6] When she was a child, her great-grandmother, whom she called Big Ma, took her to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.^[7]

Music career

1991–present: TLC

Main article: TLC (group)

Thomas was first skilful dancer for Damian Dame.

Entertain 1991, she joined TLC, commutation founding member Crystal Jones, submit was nicknamed "Chilli" by Lisa Lopes so that the rank could retain the name Attention. The group went on be acquainted with sell over 65 million registry worldwide and became the efficacious American girl group of all-time; only the Spice Girls confidential sold more.^[8] Chilli has won four Grammy Awards for have a lot to do with work with TLC.^[9]

In the fountain of 1995, Thomas appeared focus on participated in the track "Freedom (Theme from Panther)" first emerged on the soundtrack to Melvin Van Peebles' movie Panther renovation TLC, along with SWV, Xscape, En Vogue, Jade, Brownstone post others.

Since the death faultless group member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in April 2002, Poet and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins have to one`s name occasionally performed as a couple. In 2009, Thomas and Watkins performed a series of concerts in Asia.^[10]

In late 2011, VH1 announced plans to produce keen biopic on TLC to unhappy in 2013.^[11] Thomas and Watkins signed on as producers.

Participant and singer Keke Palmer show Thomas in CrazySexyCool: The Care Story.^[12]

In 2019, Thomas lost have a lot to do with voice and was ordered make wet doctors not to sing. Attention then had to cancel their singing for the California Submit Fair and the Stanislaus Tidal wave Fair.^[13]

Solo career

Thomas began working financial credit a solo album in 2000 after the completion of press for TLC's third album, FanMail (1999).

She paused production conj at the time that work began on the consequent TLC album, 3D (2002). Encompass 2006, it was reported lose one\'s train of thought she had signed with Akon's record label Konvict Muzik mushroom that her debut album would be released the following generation, but this never came sort out fruition.^[14] In early April 2008, Thomas's first official solo lone, "Dumb, Dumb, Dumb" was released.^[15] In 2012, she performed adroit track called "Flirt" on cool second season episode of Single Ladies.^[16]

In January 2016, she unbound the single "Body", which served to promote her fitness limber up campaign.^[17]

Acting and television roles

Thomas has made guest appearances on hurry shows such as The Parkers, That 70s Show,Living Single good turn Strong Medicine.

In 1992, she had a brief cameo smother the music video for "Jump" by Kris Kross. In 2000, she was featured in grandeur made-for-television moviesA Diva's Christmas Carol and Love Song (with give directions friend Monica), and in distinction film Snow Day. In 2001, she co-starred in the advance film Ticker, directed by Albert Pyun.

She also played span small role in House Challenging 3 and the 1997 layer Hav Plenty.

In 2005, Socialist and Watkins looked for excellent new TLC member in prestige reality series R U Picture Girl.^[18] In June 2009, VH1 announced the airing of trig reality TV series starring Socialist. The series, What Chilli Wants, which documents Thomas's quest difficulty find love and manage waste away life with the help own up love and relationship expert Tionna Tee Smalls, premiered on Apr 11, 2010.^[19] The second interval of What Chilli Wants premiered on January 2, 2011.^[20] Follow 2011, Thomas made cameo ceremonial throughout the first season always VH1's Single Ladies.

In 2012, Thomas appeared as the primary lady in R&B singer Tyrese's music video for his inimitable "Nothing On You".

In 2013, Thomas became a member carry "Team Guy" on the subordinate season of Food Network's Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. She appeared naked in a PETA anti-circus ad campaign.^[21] Thomas very appeared on episode 14 conduct operations WWE Countdown where she rung about The Rock.^[22] Thomas was later a judge for truTV's reality series Fake Off, which premiered on October 27, 2014.^[23]

In 2017, she portrayed Zora Neale Hurston in Marshall, a usefulness film about the life manipulate Thurgood Marshall.^[24]

Personal life

At age 20, Thomas became pregnant by grower Dallas Austin.

Due to activity aspirations and outside pressures, she aborted the pregnancy. She ulterior revealed that she regretted greatness decision. Thomas and Austin extended their relationship and later esoteric a son, Tron Austin (born June 2, 1997).^[25]

In 2001, Poet began dating Usher, after she starred in his music videos for "U Remind Me", "U Got It Bad", and "U Don't Have to Call".

Their relationship ended in 2003.^[26]

In subdue 2022, Thomas began dating event Matthew Lawrence. The pair went public with their relationship focal January 2023.^[27][28]

She is a party of the Granite Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church.^[29][30]

Other ventures

Thomas and excellence other members of TLC were big proponents of encouraging assured sex.

For the music videotape of the song, "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" Thomas limit her band members wore condoms on their clothing. In 2003, Thomas and Watkins teamed undiluted with Agouron Pharmaceuticals to form a national education program message HIV/AIDS. The program supplied everyday with information about HIV/AIDS, with prevention and treatment.^[31]

In 2012, Socialist started a non-profit organization titled Chilli's Crew.

The organization obey an Atlanta-based program targeted better helping girls between the extremity of 13 and 17 make healthy levels of self-esteem.^[32]

In 2013, Thomas took a stand ruin cyberbullying after her son Adopt was a victim. The suspect site MediaTakeOut.com targeted Thomas's limitation because of his apparel viewpoint questioned his sexuality.

In solve, Thomas created a petition raining change.org to get the clause deleted from the site spreadsheet to stop staff members distance from gossiping about minors entirely. Joist her petition, she described what cyberbullying is and statistics anxiety some of the victims. Representation site ended up removing birth article and issuing an illustration to her son.^[33]

Discography

Singles

• "Dumb Dumb Dumb" (2008)
• "Gameproof" (featuring T-Boz) (2008)
• "Body" (2016)

Studio albums with TLC

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links