Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip is the debut studio album by American girl group TLC, released on February 25, 1992, by LaFace Records. The title of the album comes from the last line of Left Eye's rap on "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg".

The album peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments in excess of four million copies in the United States. It is also TLC's third most successful album (after CrazySexyCool and FanMail, respectively), having sold over six million copies worldwide.

Background TLC signed their first contract with LaFace Records on February 28, 1991 (amended April 3, 1991, with Thomas), and began production on their debut album. They collaborated with Babyface, L.A. Reid, Dallas Austin, Da Funky Bunch, Jermaine Dupri, and Marley Marl, who helped Lopes with the songwriting. The album was finished in December 1991.

Critical reception

Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly praised the effort as well as the group and its message, calling TLC "a perfect pop group for the times." In a fairly positive review, Steve Huey of AllMusic states that "although it's uneven, the best moments of On the TLC Tip deserved their popularity, and set the stage for the group's blockbuster success the next time out."

Commercial performance Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip debuted at number 105 on the US Billboard 200, and reached number 14 on the chart and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on May 1, 1996, and by October 2003, it had sold 2.5 million copies in the United States. The album had sold over six million copies worldwide as of December 2011.

Track listing

Notes signifies a co-producer Most digital platforms list "Das Da Way We Like 'Em" under the alternate title "Way We Like 'Em"

Sample credits "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" samples "Escape-ism" by James Brown, "Jungle Boogie" by Kool & the Gang, "School Boy Crush" by Average White Band, "Fly, Robin, Fly" by Silver Convention, and "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by Bob James. "Shock Dat Monkey" samples "Get Me Back on Time, Engine Number 9" by Wilson Pickett, "Funky Drummer" by James Brown, and "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown. "Hat 2 da Back" samples "Big Ole Butt" by LL Cool J and "What Makes You Happy" by KC and the Sunshine Band. "Das da Way We Like 'Em" samples "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins and "UFO" by ESG. "Bad by Myself" samples "Welcome to the Terrordome" by Public Enemy, "Peter Piper" by Run-DMC, "Last Night Changed It All (I Really Had a Ball)" by Esther Williams, and "Peace Is Not the Word to Play" by Main Source. "This Is How It Should Be Done" samples "We're a Winner" by the Impressions and "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim. "Depend on Myself" samples "Son of Shaft" and "Humpin'" by the Bar-Kays.

Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip.

Musicians

Dallas Austin – arrangements ; shouts ; keyboards, drum programming, bass, guitar Rick Sheppard – programming ; sampling Debra Killings – background vocals TLC – background vocals ; shouts Kevin Wales – shouts Eloc – shouts Fabian Ford – shouts Babyface – keyboards L.A. Reid – drums ; percussion Kayo – bass ; background vocals Donald Parks – programming X-Man – scratching, sampling Daryl Simmons – additional vocal arrangements (as DeRock Simmons) ; keyboards Marley Marl – arrangements Darren Lighty – keyboards, programming Mary Brown – background vocals Marsha McClurkin – background vocals Jermaine Dupri – arrangements, vocal arrangements, all instruments, programming Dionne Farris – vocal arrangements, background vocals Seldon "Big Wally" Henderson – additional strings Tye-V – background vocals

Technical

Dallas Austin – production, mixing Dave Way – mixing ; mix engineering L.A. Reid – production ; mixing ; executive production Babyface – production ; executive production Daryl Simmons – co-production ; production Kayo – co-production ; production Marley Marl – production, mixing ; mix engineering Jermaine Dupri – production, mixing Da Funky Bunch – production Darin Prindle – recording engineering Jim "Z" Zumpano – recording engineering, mix engineering assistance John Pace – recording engineering Alvin Speights – recording engineering, mix engineering Frank Heller – recording engineering Steve "Stizz" S'berg – recording engineering assistance Brandi Parisi – recording engineering assistance John Rogers – recording engineering assistance Mitch Eaton – recording engineering assistance Phil Tan – recording engineering assistance, mix engineering assistance Matt Still – recording engineering assistance, mix engineering assistance Yvette Whitaker – album coordination Constance Armstrong – album coordination Herb Powers Jr. – mastering

Artwork Calvin Lowery – art direction, design Michael Lavine – photography Davett Singletary – art coordination Perri Reid – art coordination TLC – album concept

Charts

Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip Chart (1992–1993) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 99

Year-end charts + 1992 year-end chart performance for Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip Chart (1992) Position US Billboard 200 43 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 5

+ 1993 year-end chart performance for Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip Chart (1993) Position US Billboard 200 54 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 35

Certifications

Ooooooohhh... On the Video Tip

Oooooooohhh... On the Video Tip is a compilation video album by TLC, containing all the music videos made for the group's debut album, as well as making-of features for the videos "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg", "Hat 2 da Back", "Baby-Baby-Baby", "Get It Up", "What About Your Friends" and "Sleigh Ride". Additional material includes, interviews, live performances and specially filmed segues. The compilation peaked at number seven on Billboards Top Music Videos chart.

Track listing

Bonus Interactive Menu "Sleigh Ride" (music video) – 4:00 "Hat 2 da Back" (music video) – 4:10 "Get It Up" (music video) – 4:10 "Baby-Baby-Baby" (live) – 4:30

Charts + Chart performance for Ooooooohhh... On the Video Tip Chart (1992) Peakposition US Top Music Videos (Billboard) 7

References