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The Year in Music 2017: The ’90s return with TLC, En Vogue, Xscape and 112

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TLC; ABC Radio2017 ushered in an epic return of some of prolific stars, especially in R&B, who made an impact in the ’90s with enduring hit albums and songs.  

TLCEn Vogue, Xscape and 112 were among the most notable artists who staged a comeback, in one form of entertainment or another, throughout the year.

— In February, TLC announced they were planning to release their fifth and final album, funded via Kickstarter, in the summer. 

The disc, titled TLC, was the group’s first release since third member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was killed in a car accident in 2002. 

It was released on June 30 and debuted at number 38 on the Billboard 200 chart. More than 4,000 fans and celebrities, which included pop singer Katy PerrySoulja Boy and pop group New Kids on the Block, pledged over $400,000 to the group’s campaign to create the album. 

— Chili and T-Boz of TLC also embarked on the I Love the 90s — The Party Continues tour in July until September. That tour included beloved acts like Naughty By NatureBiz Markie and Montell Jordan

— En Vogue also had a banner year in 2017. The R&B trio revealed their plans to release their latest album, Electric Cafe, in 2018 and explained that fans could expect a more “evolved sound” from the disc. 

The group also dropped three new songs ahead of the anticipated album: “I’m Good,” “Have a Seat,” featuring Snoop Dogg, and “Rocket.” 

In addition, En Vogue hit the road to South African and European cities in 2017 for their For the Love of Music tour. 

— In March, Xscape shocked fans with their reunion announcement on Instagram. 

They went on to confirm that they were in the early stages of making new music, and planned reunite onstage. 

During that month, members Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and Kandi Burruss found out to their surprise that they had been added to the credits of singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran‘s smash #1 hit, “Shape of You,” due to its supposed similarity to TLC’s “No Scrubs,” which the two co-wrote. 

— In May, Xscape announced they’d perform together for the first time in over 15 years at this year’s Essence Festival, and that they’d teamed up with Love & Hip Hop franchise producer Mona Scott-Young to develop a biopic project, called Xscape: Still Kickin It

Another planned biopic via TVOne, titled Who Can I Run To: The Xscape Story, was also slated to air, but Xscape claimed they didn’t sign off on that film.   

— In September, Xscape declared their first-ever headlining tour, The Great Xscape Tour, would happen, with Monica and Tamar Braxton as special guests. 

In addition, Xscape: Still Kickin It premiered in November on Bravo. In November, Kandi admitted on an episode of Watch What Happens Live that she would not appear on the new Xscape album, but instead was headed to Broadway, among other solo creative ventures. 

— It was confirmed in December that Kandi Burruss would make her Broadway debut in the Tony award-winning musical Chicago as “Matron ‘Mama’ Morton.”   

As for Xscape’s Great Xscape tour, Kandi said that being on the road in front of fans after a nearly 12-year hiatus was an amazing feeling. 

That same month, Xscape officially released two new singles, “Wifed Up” and “Dream Killa.” 

— 112 made their return after a 12-year hiatus themselves with the release of a new single called “Strawberry.” 

They followed up that release with another new track, called “Dangerous Games,” in August. 

Dangerous Games and another new single, “Both of Us,” were featured on the group’s new album, Q Slim Mark Daron, which arrived October 27. 

112 also performed at the Soul Train Music Awards in November.  

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