(Keys and a little TLC: Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, Alicia Keys and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins perform TLC's 1995 hit Waterfalls at the BET Awards.)

By Sharon Knolle, Special for USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES — Stars sizzled at the Shrine Auditorium Tuesday night, where hip-hop, R&B and gospel performers mixed it up with actors and actresses for the BET Awards '08.

During the show, current musical stars collaborated with past acts. Female R&B artist winner Alicia Keys had the audience on its feet when she brought three different 1990s all-female groups to sing their hit songs with her. Keys, 28, sang Weak with SWV, Hold On with En Vogue and Waterfalls with surviving TLC members Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas.

Another performance that had the crowd standing and even singing along was the set by lifetime achievement award winner Al Green. His classic, Let's Stay Together, had P. Diddy, T-Pain and others grooving in the aisles.

And while audience members appreciated memories of past hitmakers, they also embraced more recent arrivals to the entertainment scene.

One of the night's big winners, for best male R&B artist, was Chris Brown, 19, who generated loud screams outside and inside the auditorium. He was taking all the attention in stride. "I just love what I'm doing," he said on the red carpet, "and I have fun doing it. I love being myself."

At one point during the show, Brown walked through one row in the audience, giving out hugs and high-fives along the way.

Brown was also up for the viewers' choice award for music video for his collaborations with T-Pain on Kiss Kiss and Jordin Sparks on No Air, but Lil Wayne, who sold 1.01 million copies of his album Tha Carter III in a week, took home the prize for Lollipop.

Visit Chilli's Myspace Page
http://www.myspace.com/officialchillimusic

As one-third of the former Grammy award-winning R&B group TLC, singer Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas is widely known as music icon. Together with Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes (RIP), the trio has sold 22 million albums to date and still receives worldwide recognition from a gigantic conglomerate of young female fans.

Today, the group is no longer together following the tragic passing of Lopes in 2002, but luckily that hasn’t stopped Chilli from continuing to record. This September, the Columbus, Georgia native will release “Bi-Polar,” her independently-released solo debut, which will feature production work from Missy Elliot, T-Pain and Akon. The album’s first single is a playas-be-warned ode, entitled “Dumb Dumb Dumb.”

In an exclusive interview with DJBooth‘s DJ “Z,” Chilli steps inside the booth to talk about the angle behind her forthcoming solo debut, why she didn’t sign a record deal with Konvict Muzik, and how many albums TLC might have released if Lopes hadn’t suddenly passed away.

Click here for the Interview

Chilli: Being True!
Interview By Bethany N.
Date: 06/15/08

As a member of one of the most successful girl groups of all time, there is no way you could forget her. With her group members forever present in her mind, Chilli of TLC is preparing to step out on her own with her debut album Bipolar. There is no need to tell this seasoned veteran how to create a hit. Her first single, "Dumb, Dumb, Dumb," has already been making the radio rounds and has set the stage for a self described “fun” album. Her more than ten year musical career has provided her with an unmatched education and possibly taught her one of life’s most invaluable lessons: remain true to yourself. A motto such as that, coupled with her undeniable talent, are precisely the reasons why Chilli’s solo efforts are sure to deliver.

SingersRoom: As an artist who has experienced great success as a part of a group, does it feel strange to be on your own?

Chilli: Oh, no, no, not at all. You know, I think it’s just perfect timing for me actually. T-Boz and I, we’re still a group. I’m always in TLC and TLC is always together so we just do things outside of our group.

Click Here for the Full Interview