TLC’s fans are ‘No Scrubs,’ push group to Kickstarter goal in three days

Sure, TLC sang “What About Your Friends” back in the day, but members needn’t worry about anyone turning their backs on them.

Less than three days after the group asked fans to fund its final album via a Kickstarter campaign, TLC has surpassed its original goal -- and then some.

Surviving members Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas hoped to raise $150,000 by Feb. 19 and the money came quickly. The duo have raised more than $182,000 from just 1,665 pledges. And there are still 27 days left.

The R&B/hip-hop group, one of the biggest-selling girl groups of all time, announced it would record its first album in more than a dozen years. The record, TLC’s first effort since the death of founding member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in 2002, will be its last.

And TLC aren’t just looking for fans to give money – they want them to be involved in the creative process.

“They are going to be heavily involved,” Thomas told the Los Angeles Times in a phone call from New York. “The title of the album, how it will look -- everything. There will be a poll when it comes to the songs.”

Watkins and Thomas created a number of reward incentives for those who pledge.

A contribution at the lowest level ($5 or more) gets you access to vote on a remix to be included on the album and the highest ($7,500 or more) includes a photo shoot with Watkins and Thomas. TLC is also offering VIP concert tickets, scrapbooks, autographed lyrics, a listening party and a movie night or slumber party with both members as prizes.

There were a few famous contributors too. New Kids on the Block -- who earlier this week announced the launch of an arena tour with TLC and Nelly in May -- have put $20,000 toward the campaign, and it is reported that Katy Perry has contributed $5,000.

More rewards have been added now that the goal was met. Fans can now pledge for a signed physical copy of the album and they have added video chats, handwritten lyrics of smash hits “No Scrubs” and “Waterfalls” and autographed vinyls of classic TLC records.

The original goal would cover a writing session in the studio with a producer and engineer and the funds raised beyond that would go toward booking additional studio sessions, producers and other costs.

TLC’s new album doesn’t have a firm release date, but the group set September as the estimated delivery date on its Kickstarter campaign.

Twitter: @GerrickKennedy