CHILLI IN UPSCALE MAGAZINE; "IT'S GOOD TO HAVE STANDARDS."

If you haven't heard already, Chilli's new reality show What Chilli Wants will makes its debut next month on VH1 (Sunday, April 11, at 10:30 p.m.). I looked into my archives and realized that this show has been two years in the making! LOL! Better late than never, right? And for those of you who're thinking that her show is going to be in the same lane as Flavor of Love or For the Love of Ray J., think again. There will be no scenes of random guys slobbing her down (yall know Chilli don't play that!) or scrapping with one another like a bunch of clowns for a chance at some one-on-one time with her. Instead we'll see Chilli enlist the help of relationships expert Tionna Smalls to find love. Smalls, in turn, brings Chilli's celeb pals -- including TLC partner Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Missy Elliot -- on board for insight into What Chilli Wants.

Anywho, Chilli talked about her new show and why she is so picky and finicky when it comes to men in Upscale magazine and say what you will about her 'checklist' but one thing's for sure: Chilli has grown mentally and spiritually; therefore, it's understandable why she refuses to tolerate the same bullsh*t that she once dealt with back in the day when she was younger with men who shall rename nameless! LOL! In the meantime, check out the excerpts from her interview below:

CHILLI ON WHY WOMEN SHOULD HAVE A "MEN" CHECKLIST & HOW SHE REMAINS TRUE TO HERSELF: It's good to have standards. You can have your list, and whatever is on your list is realistic. I have a super duper long list and everything I have on there is realistic and workable. I think men need to understand that...I wear my feelings on my sleeve. Whether I want people to see it or not, I'm very true to myself and what I want. If I feel myself about to cry I'm not about to hold back my tears. I think it benefits everybody to not hold in your emotions. Stress is a killer...I am a real solid chick. Over the years people have always told me I 'm nice, because I am, but at the end of the day, I know what I want. I can be stern when I need to be."

CHILLI ON HER PERSONAL CHECKLIST & WHY SHE STICKS TO HER STANDARDS: "There are so many!! A guy has to be a Christian, he has to be physically fit, he has to have his looks on point, to my liking anyway, he has to be a non-drinker, a non-smoker, charming, funny...just to name a few. I know we only have so much time for this interview....You just have to have standards. When I have compromised my standards, it didn't get me anywhere. It caused extra headaches and pain. You have to make compromises, but when it comes to my standards, I stick with it."

TO HEAR THE REST OF CHILLI'S LIST, CHECK OUT THE TRAILER TO WHAT CHILLI WANTS BELOW!

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T-BOZ & CHILLI OF TLC PERFORM AT SPRINGROOVE IN JAPAN.

Speaking of reuniting girl groups, last weekend, T-Boz and Chilli of TLC reunited once again to perform at Japan's Springroove concert to a packed house and from the videos and pictures (which you can check out below) I've seen, they brought the house down! But then again, I've been a diehard fan of TLC since they hit the scene so of course I would say something like that. Their performance at Springroove marked the third time that they've performed together since Lisa's death seven years ago (April 2002). I LOVE watching these girls perform live and to know they still got it like they had it when they first hit the scene makes it even more entertaining to watch. And to see them include Lisa (as if they wouldn't have) damn near made me start crying! I got chill bumps and shivers went up my spine while I watched a couple of those clips. You can tell Lisa was there with them in spirit as they performed. They were beyond unbelievable. LOVED IT! Lisa didn't lie when she said energy never dies, it just transforms. Those girls still got it. Folks complain, bitch and moan about TLC and what they're not doing, but as soon as they put on a performance such as the one in Japan, it's a whole different story! They can't get enough of them. T&C know how to shut folks the hell up when they shut the stage down.

Check out pics and my favorite clips from their concert.

TLC medley with 'special performance' by Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.

AFTER THE JUMP, SEE PICS OF T-BOZ AND CHILLI PREPARING FOR THEIR CONCERT AND FIND OUT WHY T-BOZ SAID THEIR PERFORMANCE WITH ALICIA KEYS AT THE BET AWARDS WAS SUCH A 'HOT MESS.'

'Too Much Booty in da Pants.'


'Girl Talk' and 'Waterfalls.'


Anywho, in a recent interview, T-Boz talked about their performance with Alicia Keys at last year's BET Awards. T-Boz said she didn't really consider it as a real performance and the only reason she and Chilli decided to do it was because of their love for Alicia:

"I love Alicia and that was the only reason I did it. We've never said yes to perform with anybody, ever. She is one of those people that you respect and feel honored to be asked and that's why we said yes. I don't count BET Awards as a real TLC performance. That was just a mess altogether. That was a terrible day for me. It wasn't a regular TLC show anyway. At real TLC show, we run things and are energetic and dance. That was just a hot mess. I'm very excited to do what we do and I'll be back in my element. That sure wasn't my element anyway. I'm happy to be back and we'll be doing it the way that we do it."

Chilli and T-Boz practicing for their concert.

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SWV MEMBER TAJ JOHNSON-GEORGE CAST ON NEW SEASON OF 'SURVIVOR.'

Taj Johnson-George, 37, former member of the Grammy-nominated R&B group SWV from Nashville- "There's a stigma that comes with being married to an NFL player," says the wife of former Tennessee Titan Eddie George. "People think we're pampered. But I'm not. I'm a 5'9", 190-pound tomboy. I'm gon' tear 'em up when I get out there."

This should be interesting. First, TLC's Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins joins the cast of Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice (which is slated to air Sunday, March 1 at 9 p.m. on NBC), and then there were rumors that T-Boz's group mate Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas had inked a reality show deal with VH1. What is up with these former girl group members branching off into reality shows?

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CHILLI LOOKS FOR LOVE ON NEW REALITY SHOW; GUYS, R U THE MAN FOR CHILLI?

'FLAVOR OF CHILLI', 'R U THE MAN 4 CHILLI?' Which one sounds better?

About a year ago, I reported that there could possibly be a reality show in the works for Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas of TLC. (Read the last two paragraphs of that post HERE). Looks like I hit the nail on the head, huh? Needless to say, Chilli has been bitten by the reality show bug once again. While her fellow band mate T-Boz will be seen on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice 2 in an effort to raise money for her favorite charities, Chilli will be starring in her own reality show in an effort to find a new love. So, fellas, if you live in the Atlanta area and you think you have what it takes to woo Chilli, here's your chance: The producers of American Idol and executive producer Chilli (The Grammy Award winning member of TLC) are currently searching for Atlanta’s hottest men to compete for a chance at sweeping the sexy artist off her feet.

'READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP' AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST AND FIND OUT WHAT IT IS.
If you’re 21+ and live in the general Atlanta area, submit the following to tvcontestants@gmail.com:

1. Name, Age and Location
2. Phone #
3. Current Pictures
4. Explain why you think you’re man enough to impress Chilli

* Location: Atlanta
* Compensation: TBD
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Good luck, guys. Good luck to her too! I choose to believe Chilli is doing this reality show to promote her upcoming solo project which is why I'd rather see her star in her own reality show along the lines of Salt-n-Pepa's show. Given VH1's notorious reputation with those Flavor/Rock of Love-type celeb-reality shows, I truly refuse to believe that she would agree to put herself out there to find her true love which is why I nearly fell out of my chair when I received the press release in my inbox! We've read and heard in a countless number of interviews--especially after her break-up with Usher over four years ago--the obstacles Chilli has endured in hoping to find what she considers to be the man with the 'complete package' for her. Since her much-publicized split with Usher, who's rumored to be separated from his pregnant wife, she's been allegedly romantically linked to NFL'er Ray Lewis, model Tyson Beckford, actor Hill Harper, CNN anchorman TJ Holmes and most recently big-mouth boxing champion Floyd Mayweather. Even today, the singer is constantly asked about her relationship status and yet she's made no qualms in letting it be known that she is indeed single and definitely on the market.

Last Spring she received praise and criticism when she revealed in an interview with my fellow sister-in-blogging Necole Bitchie she still loves Usher. "I love him very much and I will always love him. I don’t know how you love someone that deeply and just stop loving them. I’m not in love with him anymore but I can’t say that I don’t love him anymore. And of course I do want him to be happy and all but me and him had what I never had in any of my other relationships, and that was chemistry," she said. In that same interview, she also revealed for the first time ever details on her relationship with Marlon Wayans and how she regrets letting him slip away. Many folks thought she was just being thirsty and couldn't let go of the fact that Usher is now married with children while she seemingly jumps in and out of relationships. Others, like myself, commended her for 'keeping it real' and thought there was nothing wrong about her have those types of feelings for her ex.

The following video is courtesy of Fly Guy of FLYGUYCHRONICLES.COM. Another shout out to my reader Tia for sending me the video!

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CELEB CANDIDS: GOLDEN BROOKS & HER BOO; ARETHA FRANKLIN DOES MARIAH; BRANDY IN PHILLY; T-BOZ IN NYC.

Former Girlfriend Golden Brooks was spotted out on the town with her white boyfriend last week.

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Tionne 'T-Boz' was lensed by the paparazzi while leaving her hotel in Manhattan. As reported earlier on RealGossip 101, Tionne's in the Big Apple filming the new season of Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice.

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Look at her. Seriously? Now I respect my geriatric elders but for real, what would it take for Aretha to invest in a better bra?! Jill Scott got an entire new line available at Ashley Stewart and I know she can afford one...or a batch. I mean really Retha! Here she is leaving a celebrity roast for Matt Lauer in New York City.

She may look a mess occasionally...or quite often, depending on who you ask. But one thing's for sure, she can still blow...even if it's some other diva's song. Below, peep the videoclip of Aretha doing her own rendition of Mariah Carey's Touch My Body.

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Brandy continues to pound the promotional pavement before the release of Human, her first album in four years. Below the singer makes an appearance at Philly's 100.3 The Beat earlier this month. B Rocka signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans.

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T-BOZ AND BRIAN McKNIGHT JOIN ALL-STAR CAST OF THE SECOND SEASON OF 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE.'

Looks like the new season of Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice will have more color in it than last season. TLC's Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins, R&B singer Brian Knight, former NBA baller/ugly man Dennis Rodman, Herschel Walker and Deal or No Deal's 'Briefcase #1' girl a.k.a. Claudia Jordan will all star in the all-star cast of the hit reality show's second season, according to tmz.com. They'll join celebrities such as funnyman Tom Green, mom and daughter team Joan & Melissa Rivers, Kim Kardashian's big ol' little sister Khloe, Andrew Dice Clay (get ready to hear nothing but a bunch of bleeps!) and country singer Clint Black as they all compete to win the title and grand prize of $250,000 which will be donated to a charity of each candidate’s choice. The new season is expected to begin airing in January 2009 on Thursday nights at 10:00 pm.

Chances are T-Boz's charity of choice will most likely be the Sickle Cell Disease Association. T-Boz has been their national spokeswoman for over a decade. Just when you thought you knew what to expect from T-Boz....Truth be told, I thought she would be announcing more news and tidbits regarding her new solo album. Now that I think about it, I now understand why she chose to sign on to appear on this reality show. Being the savvy businesswoman that she is, she knows the exposure will not only let folks know that she's cooking up something new in terms of an album, but it will also shed light on just how important the Sickle Cell Association is to her. And that's a good look. Even if she doesn't win, something good will come out of this. I'll be tuning in.

But doesn't this sound like something Lisa would do if she was still here? Bless her soul.

Shout out to TLittle for the custom-made T-Boz Celebrity Apprentice 2 signature pictured above.
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PICS FROM T.I.'S 28TH BIRTHDAY PARTY.

T.I. celebrated his 28th birthday by throwing a big shing ding at the Biltmore in Atlanta last Saturday. He themed the bash as The Untouchables Part Deux. I'm guessing it was a continuation from his birthday party from last year. Utter madness was in full effect and I'm convinced T.I.'s love for Tiny is truly unconditional. It would have to be if he let her leave the house looking the way she looked. Lord knows I'm not understanding the three-toned/layered weave. Her hairstyle in no way, shape or form complimented her dress, handbag and shoe game. Anywho, other semi-celebs in attendance included Young Dro, Toccara, Jazze Pha and T-Boz.

MORE PICS AFTER THE JUMP!

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