Have you noticed that black folk are quick to tell you who can and cannot sing? Many of us, who’ve never taken a vocal lesson, will swiftly let you know when someone can’t blow. We are an unauthorized authority on the subject. And any vocal connoisseur will tell you that there are people who are completely tone deaf, people who can hold a note, people who can sing and then there are people who can sang. For those who don’t know the word “sang” used in this context is not poor grammar; instead it’s a word used to emphasize the width and breadth of a person’s vocal ability. We all know who the sangers are, they’re the people with soul. The people who can take you from the Slore house to the church house and back again. You know them: Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle & Luther Vandross of the old school and Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia of the new. (That’s just to name a few.) But just because a person can’t sang like some of the greats, doesn’t mean they don’t have talent and can’t make good music. Don’t believe me? Find out who I’m talking about.

Our faith in VH1′s upcoming TLC biopic keeps growing stronger and stronger with every new photo we see of the cast. The network just released a few new promo photos of  Drew Sidora, Keke Palmer, and Lil Mama as T-Boz, Chilli, and Left-Eye and you can’t say they don’t at least look the part of the hottest girl group of the ’90s.

People who questioned Keke Palmer, and any of the girl’s abilities, to pull off these roles should feel silly now looking at how well they’ve been able to physically transform into the parts. Of course we have yet to see what acting skills they’re bringing to the table, but Drew and Keke have already proven themselves in other major movies, so we have no reason to expect less from them this time around.

Despite all the promo shots we’ve seen lately, we still have about six months until the final project. VH1 is expected to air the biopic this November and I’m personally anxious to see how well Evan Ross transforms into Dallas Austin. Donny Boaz will also play TLC’s manager Bill Diggins, Carl Anthony Payne II is playing Antonio ’L.A.’ Reid, and Rochelle Aytes has been cast as Perri ’Pebbles’ Reid.

Check out another pick of the girls in character below. Are you getting excited about the movie?

Via her Instagram today, T-Boz put shared the above photo of Lil Mama, Keke Palmer, and Drew Sidora while all on the set of the TLC biopic as they were decked out for a scene where they recreate the “No Scrubs” video. Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins captioned the pic, “Ta-Dow how ya like me now… #DemTLCguls next 2 the girls playing #TLC @kekepalmer @drewsidora @lilmama #CrazyHotCool #TheTLCStory”

Below that photo you can obviously see a shot of the real ladies on set, and when you compare the two, we can finally say that the casting makes sense. They look A LOT like the original members when they’re all decked out in replicas of the group’s old costumes. This is an old pic by the way, because they’ve wrapped up filming on the VH1 movie.

There was, for a while, a lot of side-eye action going on about the casting choices made for Crazy Hot Cool: The TLC Story, from Keke playing Chilli to Lil Mama as Left Eye, folks had a lot to say throughout the filming of the TV movie (which was done in about a month). However, people underestimate the power of some good makeup and a few decent wigs. But it’s all starting to come together, and I for one will be tuning in when the movie premieres soon. What about you?

Do you think the women look like the members of TLC in the picture?

Source: WENN

As pre-production of VH1′s highly anticipated TLC biopic wraps up and producers get ready to begin filming, more exciting details about the biographical film are released. We’ve just learned that the crucial role of the executive credited for discovering the mega-group has been filled. Mistresses actress Rochelle Aytes has been cast as Perri “Pebbles” Reid, reports Hip Hollywood.

Pebbles is a former R&B singing sensation and the ex-wife of music mogul L.A. Reid. She is also credited for discovering and developing the R&B group that we’d eventually know as TLC. She signed the group to her Atlanta-based production company Pebbitone. The business relationship between Pebbles and the ladies of TLC came to an abrupt halt when the group filed bankruptcy and accused her of mismanaging their funds. Pebbles later went on to become an ordained minister and years later released an album, Prophetic Flows Vol. I and II, which found its way to the #12 spot on the Billboard Gospel Album chart.

Aytes will be joining rapper Lil Mama, who has been cast as Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and actresses Keke Palmer and Drew Sidora, who have been cast as Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins. According to Deadline, Evan Ross has been cast to play Dallas Austin, the producer responsible for many of TLC’s hits. Austin was also romantically involved with Chilli.

Director Charles Stone III say the film will focus on the group’s “humble” beginnings and their rise to fame, reports the Huffington Post.

“With this cast, we are thrilled with the talent assembled both in front of and behind the cameras. TLC are truly music pioneers and this movie is a fantastic way to expand our scripted push by combining our audience’s passion for music with their love of story. We know our viewers will be eager to go beyond the headlines and into the surprisingly personal, never before told stories of these groundbreaking women,”VH1′s Jeff Olde said in a press release.

We hear production is scheduled to begin in Atlanta in coming weeks.

What do you think of Rochelle being cast as Pebbles?

You would think this Vh1 biopic about TLC was a major motion picture with all the hype surrounding it!

Adding to a cast that includes singer Drew Sidora as T-Boz (ya’ll remember her from her time on That’s So Raven?), Lil Mama as Left Eye and Keke Palmer as Chilli will be Evan Ross, playing TLC’s super-producer, Dallas Austin. Of course, this will require Ross to get a bit up close and personal with Palmer, as in real life, Chilli and Austin had a romantic relationship that resulted in her son, Tron (and another child before that she wasn’t able to keep at the time). According to Deadline, the person who represents Ross as his management is actually good friends with the producer, so I’m sure he’s happy with the choice of Ross.

We wonder if Ross will be doing any singing in the movie since he can actually sing in real life, but either way, being cast in the made-for-TV biopic is a good look for the eccentric actor, who we first really got to see in front of the camera in 2006′s ATL.

So now that the cast is almost fully complete, are you feeling it? Will the final product actually be worth all the hype? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see now won’t we…

Making it in the music industry as a solo artist is hard enough but when there are two or more people in a group, tensions are bound to arise because mo’ money plus mo’ people equal mo’ problems. Although they made beautiful music together, these 15 popular rap and R&B groups just couldn’t set aside their differences in the long run.

Arrested Development

Afrocentric alternative hip-hop group Arrested Development became very popular in the early 90′s. Founded by Speech and his former best friend, DJ Headliner, along with Dionne Farris and spiritual leader Baba Oje, they are best known for their song “Everyday People.” In 1993 the group won Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance. They were also tapped by Spike Lee to record a song for his “Malcolm X” biopic that same year. However, Arrested Development never eclipsed the success they had with their debut album. Their sophomore album was panned by critics and shortly after that the group broke up due to “creative differences.” The band patched things up four years later but things were never the same as they struggled to reclaim their popularity in the U.S. Today, the group continues to tour internationally and released their 10th album in 2012.

Source: WENN

It seems like everyone in Hollyweird wants to be a double — or even triple — threat. Will Smith acts, Drake raps, and Snoop’s made so many cameos we’ve lost count. But crossing over ain’t for everyone. Check out these 15 celebrities who tried to step out of the box but should go right back in it.

T-Boz is making her way back on the map 20 years after TLC dominated the R&B scene. Of course, as things go in Hollywood, with every bit of fame comes ten times more rumors, but thankfully, we were able to chat with T-Boz to get the real deal on which stories are true, which ones are half-truths, and who is spreading straight up lies! See what she had to say about who she’s crushing on, is she really hating on Nicki Minaj’s “American Idol” hustle, and who she wants to play her in the upcoming TLC biopic.

Photo Credit: Sisterlovereality.com

It seems like everything good on TV today is a reality show and that trend is far from over. The good news is bottle throwing and name calling has mostly become passe and there are at least a few decent shows being added to the mix.  Here are 15 shows of that variety that you can tune into next year — and a couple suspect ones that you’ll probably want to avoid.

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

This past summer, Georgia ranked number one in the country for foreclosures.  In May 2012, Georgia had the highest foreclosure rate in the nation with 300 housing units, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Things may have improved slightly, but a high number of foreclosures still continue in the Peach State, and big-name celebrities were not immune. Access Atlanta reports on all the housing problems of the stars.

On top of her other money troubles, Toni Braxton’s Duluth home was foreclosed on November 12. The home, according to TMZ, had been up for sale for $1.1 million. Nas still owed $507,000 on the $584,000, two-bedroom, three-bathroom Georgia home he bought in 2004. Needless to say, he lost it to foreclosure.

He made millions as the heavyweight boxing champion but even Evander Holyfield couldn’t avoid foreclosure on his $14 million dollar Georgia mansion. And, he will be auctioning off his possessions on November 30.

TLC’s Tionne Watkins-Rolison, aka T-Boz, has brushed close to foreclosure not once but twice. In 2009, she almost last her five-bedroom, 10,000-square foot Georgia home. And again last year she was threatened with foreclosure.

Even if they haven’t faced foreclosure, other stars are having major real estate woes. Usher is trying to get rid of his Roswell mansion, reports TMZ. He wants $3.2 million for the 12,544-square-foot home he purchased in March 2007 for $3 million while married to Tameka Raymond.

In another part of Georgia, Academy Award-winning Precious actress Mo’Nique is trying to get out of her $22,000-a-month lease on her Georgia rental. She is complaining the house smells like dog feces. Yuck. Good luck with that Mo´Nique.

But the million-dollar question is why celebs have so many real estate problems. Is it a case of just having too much property to keep track of? Maybe celebs are real estate novices just like the rest of us and need better advice about how to handle their business? Anyone out there with expertise that can shed a little light on this issue?