Thoughts

When TLC was between albums, I had no way to release my creativity. One night, feeling put-out by my boyfriend and wondering about how much women had to go through to make a relationship work, I sat down and started writing poems. "Unpretty" was the first. Up until then, I hadn't realized how badly I needed to release what I was feeling inside. They were my thoughts from the heart, and my art.

The poems cover a whole range of topics: Love, relationships, heartbreak, body image, family, society, abortion, and many other things. They each mean alot to me, and I hope they inspire you, give you a different perspective on what's going on around you, or just help you relax. You'll find a little bit of me in these words, and maybe you'll find a little bit of yourself or someone you know.

I reached out to my friends, including my fans, while I was putting Thoughts. together and they realty inspired me and helped me figure out which stories to tell. Stories about the important people in my life, like my mom who's always been there for me, my family, my TLC partners Lisa and Rozonda, and those who have all helped me along the way. I've had to deal with some tough stuff, like my relationship with my dad, who left when I was three, my never-ending battle with sickle cell, the bad high school years, my self-image problems, and my fight to survive in this crazy music business.

Sharing these stories and poems has helped me face big issues in my life. Maybe they'll help you, too. Or maybe they'll give you a better understanding of who I am as a person. I can only express myself so much through my songs. On my own, though, I can let you into my heart and mind.

Thank you for allowing me to share my Thoughts with you.

Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins is the Lead singer of the best-selling female group of all time, TLC. With more than 20 million albums sold worldwide, TLC has won numerous awards, including two Grammys, two American Music Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, three MTV Music Video Awards, and the Lady of Soul Entertainer of the Year Award.

In addition to her talents as a singer and choreographer, Tionne is a song-writer, producer, and actress, having appeared in Bell and House Party3. As CEO of her own entertainment compa-nies, SHEE Entertainment and Grung Girl Music, Tionne is developing a children's cartoon, "It's a Fly World," with the Jim Henson Company, and a feature film, Jellybeans, with partner Dallas Austin as a producer, writer, and creator. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Tionne now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.