View source for CrazySexyCool

{{short description|1994 studio album by TLC}}
{{For|the film|CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = CrazySexyCool
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[TLC (group)|TLC]]
| cover      = TLC - CrazySexyCool album cover.png 
| alt        =
| released   = {{start date|1994|11|15}}
| recorded   = December 1993 – September 1994
| studio     =
* KrossWire (Atlanta){{efn|Tracks 1, 3, 9, and 15}}
* D.A.R.P. (Atlanta){{efn|Tracks 2, 5, 8, 11, and 13}}
* Music Grinder (Hollywood){{efn|Tracks 4, 7, and 10}}
* [[The Hit Factory]] (New York City){{efn|Tracks 6, 12, and 14}}
* [[Doppler Studios|Doppler]] (Atlanta){{efn|name=8 and 16|Tracks 8 and 16}}
* Bosstown (Atlanta){{efn|name=8 and 16}}
* Daddy's House (New York City){{efn|Track 11}}
* Curtom (Atlanta){{efn|Track 16}}
| genre      =
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[hip hop soul]]
| length     = 56:10
| label      = 
* [[LaFace Records|LaFace]]
* [[Arista Records|Arista]]
| producer   =
* [[Dallas Austin]]
* [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]]
* [[Sean Combs|Sean "Puffy" Combs]]
* [[Jermaine Dupri]]
* [[Jon-John Robinson|Jon-John]]
* [[Organized Noize]]
* [[Chucky Thompson]]
| prev_title = [[Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip]]
| prev_year  = 1992
| next_title = [[FanMail]]
| next_year  = 1999
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = CrazySexyCool
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Creep (TLC song)|Creep]]
 | single1date = October 31, 1994
 | single2     = [[Red Light Special]]
 | single2date = February 17, 1995
 | single3     = [[Waterfalls (TLC song)|Waterfalls]]
 | single3date = May 22, 1995
 | single4     = [[Diggin' on You]]
 | single4date = October 31, 1995
}}
}}

'''''CrazySexyCool''''' is the second studio album by American girl group [[TLC (group)|TLC]], released on November 15, 1994, by [[LaFace Records|LaFace]] and [[Arista Records]]. Following the group's record deal, they released their debut album ''[[Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip]]'' in 1992 to positive reviews and commercial success. The group began working on a follow-up in 1993 but experienced an unproductive recording process due to personal issues, notably those of member [[Lisa Lopes|Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes]], who was struggling with alcoholism and her volatile relationship with football player [[Andre Rison]]. The album's recording lasted until September 1994, with Lopes' role diminished while she was in rehab.

''CrazySexyCool'' saw the group reunite with producers [[Dallas Austin]], [[Babyface (musician)|Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds]], and [[Jermaine Dupri]], as well as new collaborators [[Organized Noize]] and [[Chucky Thompson]]. It also featured contributions from [[Sean Combs|Sean "Puffy" Combs]], who helped with the notable [[hip hop soul]] sound; the album featured hip hop beats, funk, deep grooves, propulsive rhythms, and smooth production. The album's lyrical content was seen as a departure from the group's debut and was seen as a coming-of-age project which explored themes such as sexuality, romanticism, inexperience, and youthful optimism.

''CrazySexyCool'' was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, peaking at number three on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], a chart on which it stayed for over two years. It has been certified 12-times platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA), making TLC the first girl group in history to be awarded diamond status. It has since sold over 23 million copies worldwide,<ref name="billboard.com">{{cite magazine | title=TLC's 'CrazySexyCool' at 20: Classic Track-by-Track Album Review | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | url=http://billboard.com/music/reviews/tlcs-crazysexycool-at-20-classic-track-by-track-album-review-63 }}</ref><ref name="nme.com">{{cite web | title=TLC's 'CrazySexyCool' at 25: The inside story of the game-changing R&B classic | website=[[NME]] | date=November 18, 2019 | url=http://nme.com/features/tlc-crazysexycool-landmark-album-25-2574616 }}</ref> becoming the [[best selling album|best-selling album]] by an American girl group. It has also been featured on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]], included in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]'', and was listed as a "New Classic" by ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' in 2008.<ref name="newclassic">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20207337,00.html |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |title=The New Classics: Music |date=June 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905052624/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20207337,00.html |archive-date=September 5, 2008}}</ref> The album was ranked at number seven on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'s}} list of the best diamond-certified albums of all time.<ref name="BB-best-diamond">{{cite magazine|last=Unterberger|first=Andrew|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/diamond-certified-album-riaa-ranked-7526410/|title=All 88 Diamond-Certified Albums Ranked From Worst to Best: Critic's Take|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=September 29, 2016|access-date=July 23, 2022}}</ref>

==Background==
===Debut album===
On February 28, 1991, [[Tionne Watkins]] and [[Lisa Lopes]] signed production, management, and publishing deals with Pebbitone,<ref name="tlcbankruptcycase">[http://chapter11cases.com/in-re-watkins-210-br-394-bankr-court-nd-georgia-1997/ Tionne WATKINS (T'Boz), Lisa Lopes (Left Eye), Rozonda Thomas (Chilli), Debtors. v. LaFace Records, Pebbitone, Inc., Peri Reid d/b/a Pebbitone Music, Movants (In re Watkins)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106071058/http://chapter11cases.com/in-re-watkins-210-br-394-bankr-court-nd-georgia-1997/ |date=2013-11-06 }}, 390 210 BR 394 (Bankr. Court, ND Georgia, 1997) (Cotten, S.). Retrieved February 11, 2013.</ref> with Perri Reid becoming their general manager. The two-member TLC-Skee made its first recorded appearance on a track for LaFace act [[Damian Dame]]'s self-titled 1991 LP.<ref>Cass, Giles, Heyliger (June 7, 2013). [http://popdose.com/face-time-damian-dame-right-down-to-it/ 'Face Time: Damian Dame, "Right Down to It"]. ''Popdose''. Retrieved February 11, 2014.</ref> Pebbles found the third member in [[Rozonda Thomas]], one of Damian Dame's part-time backup dancers.

Thomas was signed to the act in April 1991,<ref name="tlcbankruptcycase" /> at about which time the group's name was shortened to TLC. To maintain TLC's name as an acronym for the girls' names, Watkins became "T-Boz", Lopes became "Left-Eye", and Thomas became "Chilli." The girls were then signed to LaFace in May through the production deal with Pebbitone;<ref name="tlcbankruptcycase" /> their records would be distributed by [[Arista Records|Arista Records/BMG]]. TLC was immediately set up to go into the studio with Reid and Edmonds, [[Dallas Austin]], Jermaine Dupri, and [[Marley Marl]] producing their first album, ''[[Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip]]''. The new trio debuted as backing vocalists on "Rebel (With a Cause)", a track on [[Jermaine Jackson]]'s sole album for LaFace, ''You Said'' (1991).<ref>{{cite web|title=Jermaine Jackson – You Said|url=http://www.discogs.com/Jermaine-Jackson-You-Said/release/3934056|website=Discogs|date=August 11, 1991 |access-date=October 24, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:L.A. Reid.jpg|right|thumb|170px|[[L.A. Reid]] signed TLC and served as executive producer on both the group's debut and its follow-up, ''CrazySexyCool'']]

Production on ''[[Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip]]'' wrapped up in December 1991.<ref>{{cite web|title=TLC|url=http://ourgeorgiahistory.com/ogh/TLC|publisher=OurGeorgiaHistory.com|access-date=2009-06-01|archive-date=March 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312094102/http://ourgeorgiahistory.com/ogh/TLC|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album reached number 14 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and number three on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart.<ref name="BB200"/><ref name="BBR&B"/> According to [[Nielsen SoundScan]], it has sold 2.5 million copies in the US.<ref name="askbillboard">{{cite magazine|access-date=October 3, 2010|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68544/ask-billboard|title=Ask Billboard: With the 'Greatest' Tender Loving Care|magazine=Billboard|date=October 22, 2003|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626095447/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68544/ask-billboard|archive-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref> It was eventually certified four-times platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) for shipping four million copies in the US.<ref>{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=TLC|title=Ooooooohhh...On the TLC Tip}}</ref>

===Personal struggles===
Lopes was often vocal about her personal life and difficult past. She readily admitted that she had come from an abusive, alcoholic background and struggled with alcohol problems herself. These problems became headline news in 1994, when she set fire to [[Andre Rison]]'s tennis shoes in a bathtub, which ultimately spread to the mansion they shared, destroying it. Lopes claimed that Rison had beaten her after a night out, and she set fire to his shoes to get back at him. However, she said burning down the house was an accident. Lopes later revealed that she did not have a lot of freedom within the relationship and was abused mentally and physically, having released all her frustrations on the night of the fire.<ref name="mtv.com">{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Lisa Lopes Documentary Captures Singer's Last Days|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1558031/lisa-lopes-film-captures-her-last-days.jhtml|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=April 25, 2007|access-date=February 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928054607/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1558031/lisa-lopes-film-captures-her-last-days.jhtml|archive-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref>
Lopes, who was sentenced to five years probation and therapy at a halfway house, was never able to shake the incident from her reputation.<ref name="SadRap">{{cite web|last1=Smolowe|first1=Jill|last2=Morrissey|first2=Siobhan|first3=Jill|last3=Westfall|first4=Michael|last4=Cohen|first5=Gail|last5=Wescott|first6=Lori|last6=Rozsa|first7=Lyndon|last7=Stambler|title=Sad Rap|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20136985,00.html|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=May 13, 2002|access-date=February 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222043422/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20136985,00.html|archive-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref> Her relationship with Rison continued to make headlines, with rumors of an imminent wedding, later debunked by ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|last=Silverman|first=Stephen M.|title=Whither 'Left Eye' Lopes and Rison?|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,622182,00.html|work=People|date=June 7, 2001|access-date=February 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222043521/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,622182,00.html|archive-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref>

==Recording==
[[File:Doppler Studios exterior view 01.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Doppler Studios was one of the recording studios used during the album's production.]]

The album's recording began in late 1993 and continued through till September 1994.<ref>{{cite book |last=Krulik |first=Nancy |title=Lisa Lopes: The Life of a Supernova |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |date=August 1, 2002 |isbn=1-4391-0409-3}}</ref> The album was recorded at numerous studios, including [[Doppler Studios]], Bosstown Recording Studios, KrossWire Studio and GADaddy's; D.A.R.P. Studios in Atlanta, Georgia; the Music Grinder Studios in Los Angeles, California; and [[The Hit Factory]] in New York City.<ref name="notes"/>

During the album's recording, Lopes was forced to have less of an input, as she had pled guilty in an arson accident and was sent to a rehab facility as punishment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1994-06-11 |title=In a Fiery Relationship, Rison's Girlfriend Surrenders |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-11-sp-2991-story.html |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The rehab facility only released her for a couple of recording sessions, during which time she cut just a handful of album-worthy rap verses.

For the album's production and writing, the group worked with producers including Babyface, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri and more. Thomas stated that they had used these producers because they always worked with them stating that they worked with Dallas, Babyface, and Dupri on the first album "the only thing we had new was Organized Noize."<ref name="allhiphop.com">{{cite web|url=https://allhiphop.com/alternatives/exclusive-tlcs-chilli-reflects-on-crazysexycool-albums-20th-anniversary/|title=Exclusive: TLC's Chilli Reflects On CrazySexyCool Album's 20th Anniversary|first=Rea Melissa|last=Davis|date=November 20, 2014|website=[[AllHipHop]]|access-date=July 23, 2022}}</ref> [[Phife Dawg]] from [[A Tribe Called Quest]] did the interludes. However, during the album's recording, the band members were not always in the studio together; sometimes they went in one by one due to scheduling conflicts.<ref name="allhiphop.com"/>

"Waterfalls" was written by Lopes with Marqueze Etheridge and [[Organized Noize]], who also produced the song. Watkins and Thomas perform the song with Lopes, who also provides a rap. The background vocals are performed by the members of TLC, as well as [[Debra Killings]] and [[Cee-Lo Green]]. Speaking of Green's involvement, Watkins said, "He was in [[Goodie Mob]], we grew up together, we go way back. He did and it was amazing! I love his voice."<ref name="fuse">{{cite web | url=https://www.fuse.tv/videos/2013/10/tlc-waterfalls-interview-ceelo | title=TLC Reflect on No. 1 Hit "Waterfalls," Detail Cee Lo's Involvement | first=Jeff | last=Benjamin | publisher=[[Fuse (TV channel)|Fuse]] | date=October 22, 2013 | access-date=October 25, 2013}}</ref>
The lyrics of the song reference 1990s issues such as violence associated with [[illegal drug trade]] and the [[HIV/AIDS]] epidemic.<ref name="buzzworthy">{{cite web | url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2011/06/17/tlc-waterfalls-video/ | title=Flashback Friday: TLC, 'Waterfalls' | first=Jamie | last=Peck | publisher=[[MTV Buzzworthy]] | date=June 17, 2011 | access-date=October 25, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193443/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2011/06/17/tlc-waterfalls-video/ | archive-date=October 29, 2013}}</ref> At the end of the second verse, Watkins sings, "His health is fading and he doesn't know why / Three letters took him to his final resting place." She said that it was important for the group to "get the message across without seeming like preaching."<ref name="behindthesong">{{cite web | url=http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2013-10-23/behind-the-song-tlc-waterfalls/ | title=Behind The Song: TLC's "Waterfalls" + "No Scrubs" + "Unpretty" | first=Stacy | last=Lambe | publisher=[[VH1]] | date=October 23, 2013 | access-date=October 25, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025210941/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2013-10-23/behind-the-song-tlc-waterfalls/ | archive-date=October 25, 2013}}</ref>

==Music and lyrics==
{{Quote box
 |quote = ''CrazySexyCool'' was a rebellious and free from the traditional R&B norms that weighed the genre down. That edginess, that swagger can't be replaced without its ties to hip-hop. There's something to be said for how fresh and balanced it sounded, how different it was, and how little it seemed to care about observing R&B convention. To me, that was half the appeal: It was sensual R&B with fiery hip-hop spirit.
|source = — Sheldon Pearce, ''[[Consequence of Sound]]''<ref name="consequenceofsound">{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2015/01/dusting-em-off-tlc-crazysexycool/|title=Dusting 'Em Off: TLC – CrazySexyCool|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]|date=January 31, 2015|access-date=August 17, 2016}}</ref>
 |quoted = true
 |bgcolor = #FFFFF0
 |width = 25%
 |salign = right
 |align = right
 |border = 1px
 |fontsize = 89%
}}

''CrazySexyCool'' was noted as a departure from the group's debut, and was seen as move away from the group's predominantly rap connections. The songs on the album contained sensual R&B sounds built over edgy hip-hop beats; containing propulsive rhythms along with clap-commanding high production, bouncy funk elements and smooth rhythms.<ref name="consequenceofsound"/>

The album's lyrical content was also seen as a departure from ''[[Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip]]''. A reviewer from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' stated that compared to the lyrical content of their debut, which was seen as "kiddie-cute hip-hop", ''CrazySexyCool'' is filled with adult-female sexuality, and "hide- and-seek coyness."<ref name="Entertainment Weekly review"/> It was seen as a coming-of-age sophomore album, according to Sheldon Pearce from Consequence of Sound, who stated the album had themes of "guileless and horny twenty something" lyrics that harmlessly explored sexuality and romanticism with the "naïveté that comes from inexperience and youthful optimism."<ref name="consequenceofsound"/> The album lyrics also touch upon themes of relationships from both the impassioned and erotic sides.<ref name="consequenceofsound"/>

==Release and promotion==
To promote ''CrazySexyCool'', TLC—along with [[Boyz II Men]], [[Montell Jordan]], and [[Mary J. Blige]]—performed in the annual Budweiser Superfest Tour in early 1995, consisting of 23 dates in North America. The Atlanta, Chicago and Indianapolis shows featured an expanded roster of performers, including [[Blackstreet]] and [[Monica (singer)|Monica]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cybertlcforums.com/wordpress/budweiser-superfest-tour/|title=Budweiser Superfest Tour|website=CyberTLC World|access-date=August 17, 2016|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615022526/http://cybertlcforums.com/wordpress/budweiser-superfest-tour/|archive-date=June 15, 2014}}</ref>

All four singles from the album reached the top five of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], two of them reaching number one.

Lead single, "[[Creep (TLC song)|Creep]]", topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for four weeks, and was one of the biggest singles of 1995, coming in at number three in [[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1995|''Billboard'' Year-End Hot 100 Singles of 1995]]. It also reached number one on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart.

The second single, "[[Red Light Special]]", peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

The third single, "[[Waterfalls (TLC song)|Waterfalls]]", became TLC's most successful song, spending seven weeks at number one. It was also the second-biggest single of 1995 according to ''Billboard'', earning TLC two songs in the top three of the 1995 ''Billboard'' year-end chart. Internationally, the song reached the top five in several countries.

"[[Diggin' on You]]" was released as the album's fourth and final single, and reached number five on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. It also reached number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1      = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="allmusiccsc">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/crazysexycool-mw0000120130 |title=CrazySexyCool – TLC |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=August 17, 2016 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref>
| rev2      = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/12/15/tlccrazysexycool-laface-starstarstartlcs-multiplatinum-1992-debut-established/ |title=TLC: CrazySexyCool (LaFace) |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=December 15, 1994 |access-date=August 17, 2016 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot}}</ref>
| rev3      = ''[[Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s|Christgau's Consumer Guide]]''
| rev3score = B+<ref>{{cite book |chapter=TLC: CrazySexyCool |chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=3962 |access-date=August 17, 2016 |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |title-link=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=[[St. Martin's Griffin]] |year=2000 |isbn=0-312-24560-2}}</ref>
| rev4      = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=TLC |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=RA32-PA1981 |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music |editor-last=Larkin |editor-first=Colin |editor-link=Colin Larkin |location=London |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}</ref>
| rev5      = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev5score = B+<ref name="Entertainment Weekly review">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/11/18/music-review-crazysexycool/ |title=Music Review: 'CrazySexyCool' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=November 18, 1994 |access-date=August 17, 2016 |last=Ehrlich |first=Dimitri}}</ref>
| rev6      = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |title=TLC: Crazy Sexy Cool (Arista) |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=May 12, 1995 |last=Sullivan |first=Caroline}}</ref>
| rev7      = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|2|4}}<ref>Hunt, Dennis (November 13, 1994). "Record Rack". ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.</ref>
| rev8      = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev8score = 9.3/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tlc-crazysexycool/ |title=TLC: ''CrazySexyCool'' Album Review |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |last=Hope |first=Clover |date=April 7, 2024 |access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref>
| rev9      = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=TLC |last1=Berger |first1=Arion |last2=Walters |first2=Barry |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |location=New York |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/816 816]–817}}</ref>
}}

''CrazySexyCool'' was met with critical acclaim. In his review for [[AllMusic]], [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] described the album as a "smooth, seductive collection of contemporary soul reminiscent of both [[Philadelphia soul|Philly soul]] and Prince", adding that the material was "consistently strong".<ref name="allmusiccsc"/> Erlewine continued to write that the album is "powered" by [[new jack swing]] and hip-hop beats with influences of mid-tempo funk, deep grooves, horns and guitar lines.<ref name="allmusiccsc" /> He also referred to "Waterfalls" as "one of the classic R&B songs of the '90s".<ref name="allmusiccsc"/>

In ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s review for "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]", the article stated that TLC "emerged with the most effervescent and soulful girl-group R&B anyone had seen since the Supremes."<ref name="RS 500 (2012)">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/tlc-crazysexycool-20120524|title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 31, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105181942/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/tlc-crazysexycool-20120524|archive-date=January 5, 2016}}</ref>

In 2010, ''Rolling Stone'' listed the album at number 43 on their "100 Greatest Albums of the 90s". They stated: "Left Eye, Chilli and T-Boz looked like a one-shot when they first emerged from the nascent Atlanta with 1992's ''Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg''. But ''CrazySexyCool'' was a real shocker, packed bumper to bumper with great songs, sassy vocals and voluptuous beats for burning down the house. 'Creep' celebrates the kicks of illicit lust on the down low, 'Waterfalls' digs deep into [[Memphis soul]] and 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' does Prince better than The Artist has all decade. The showstopper: 'Red Light Special', an impossibly steamy make-out ballad that undresses and caresses everyone with ears to hear it. ''CrazySexyCool'' established TLC as pop pros who could do it all, combining the body slam of hip-hop and the giddy uplift of a jump-rope rhyme without breaking a nail."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-nineties-20110427/tlc-crazysexycool-19691231 |magazine=Rolling Stone |title=100 Best Albums of the Nineties: TLC, 'CrazySexyCool' |access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref>

In a 2015 article for ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'', music critics Michael Madden and Sheldon Pearce write about how the album has impacted artists well into today's era whose R&B sound has been heavily influenced by strong hip-hop elements. "There should probably be more talk of TLC's role in forging the current R&B landscape, which is heavily, if not entirely, influenced by hip-hop culture now. The two genres have seemingly been grafted onto one another, and there's something of a codependent relationship between the two. To that effect, there's something to be said for that dynamic existing here, too, how the album's sequencing contributes to the music's effectiveness and how it still translates to the modern day."<ref name="consequenceofsound"/>

==Commercial performance==
''CrazySexyCool'' debuted at number 15 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], selling 77,500 copies in its first week.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mayfield |first=Geoff |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZwgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA115 |title=Between the Bullets: So, How About That Rapper |magazine=Billboard |volume=106 |issue=49 |date=December 3, 1994 |page=115 |issn=0006-2510 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> On the issue dated July 29, 1995, the album peaked at number three with 117,000 units sold.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Newman |first1=Melinda |last2=Christman |first2=Ed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yQsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA124 |title=June Sales A Let Down For Music Stores |magazine=Billboard |volume=107 |issue=30 |date=July 29, 1995 |page=124 |issn=0006-2510 |via=Google Books}}</ref> The album was certified 12-times platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) on October 11, 2019,<ref name="RIAA"/> and as of July 2017, it had sold 7.7 million copies in the United States, becoming the best-selling album by a female group in the country;<ref name="billboard2017">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/100-greatest-girl-group-songs-7857816/ |title=100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks |magazine=Billboard |date=July 10, 2017 |access-date=December 5, 2021}}</ref> it had sold an additional 1.27 million copies through the [[BMG Music Club]] as of February 2003.<ref name="bmgclub">{{cite web |last=David |first=Barry |title=Shania, Backstreet, Britney, Eminem and Janet Top All-Time Sellers |website=Music Industry News Network |date=February 18, 2003 |url=http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=47877 |access-date=January 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925173959/http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=47877 |archive-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref> Internationally, it reached number one in New Zealand, as well as the top five in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. As of July 2006, ''CrazySexyCool'' had sold over 23 million copies worldwide.<ref name="nme.com"/><ref name="billboard.com"/>

==Accolades==
''CrazySexyCool'' was nominated for six [[Grammy Award]]s at the [[38th Annual Grammy Awards|1996 Grammy Awards]]. "[[Waterfalls (TLC song)|Waterfalls]]" was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]]. Two of the album's nominations were for its songwriters: [[Dallas Austin]] for "[[Creep (TLC song)|Creep]]", and [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]] for "[[Red Light Special]]". TLC ended up winning two awards, [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Album|Best R&B Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]] for "Creep".

TLC also received multiple wins and nominations at the [[Billboard Music Awards]], [[American Music Awards]] and [[Soul Train Music Awards]], including Artist of the Year at the 1995 Billboard Music Awards. At the [[1995 MTV Video Music Awards]], TLC won four awards for the video to "Waterfalls", including [[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year|Video of the Year]] and the Viewer's Choice Award.

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Accolades for ''CrazySexyCool''
! scope="col"| Organization
! scope="col"| Country
! scope="col"| Accolade
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Rank
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''
| United States
| All 92 Diamond-Certified Albums Ranked from Worst to Best: Critic's Take
| 2016
| align="center"| 7
| align="center"| <ref name="BB-best-diamond"/>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]''
| United States
| The Best R&B Albums of '90s
| 2017
| align="center"| 4
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|title=The 50 Best R&B Albums of the '90s|url=https://www.complex.com/music/best-90s-r-and-b-albums/the-writings-on-the-wall|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|access-date=2018-12-13}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| United States
| The 100 Best Albums from 1983 to 2008
| 2008
| align="center"| 36
| align="center"| <ref name="newclassic"/>
|-
! scope="row"| ''{{sortname|The|Face|dab=magazine}}''
| United Kingdom
| The Face Recordings of the Year
| 1999
| align="center"| 27
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|title=The Face Recordings of the Year 1995|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/theface.htm#1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216032048/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/theface.htm#1995|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 16, 2006|work=[[The Face (magazine)|The Face]]|access-date=2019-04-11|via=Rocklist.net}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[NPR]]
| United States
| The 150 Greatest Albums Made by Women
| 2017
| align="center"| 26
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|title=The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women|website=NPR |date=July 24, 2017 |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/07/20/538324927/turning-the-tables-150-greatest-albums-made-by-women-page-13|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| United Kingdom
| Q Readers Greatest Albums Ever
| 2003
| align="center"| 77
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|title=Greatest Albums Ever|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage2.html|work=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|access-date=2019-04-11|via=Rocklist.net|archive-date=October 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019101341/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage2.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]
| United States
| The Definitive 200: Top 200 Albums of All-Time
| 2007
| align="center"| 105
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|title=Definitive 200|url=http://www.rockhall.com/pressroom/definitive-200|publisher=[[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]|access-date=2017-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919000041/http://www.rockhall.com/pressroom/definitive-200|archive-date=2009-09-19}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rowspan="3"| United States
| rowspan="3"| [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]
| 2003
| align="center"| 377
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6626182/377_crazysexycool|title=The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 377) CrazySexyCool|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 1, 2003|access-date=July 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224062932/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6626182/377_crazysexycool|archive-date=December 24, 2008}}</ref>
|-
| 2012
| align="center"| 379
| align="center"| <ref name="RS 500 (2012)"/>
|-
| 2020
| align="center"| 218
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/tlc-crazysexycool-3-1063015/|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 22, 2020|access-date=July 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009085335/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/tlc-crazysexycool-3-1063015/|archive-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]''
| United States
| The 150 Albums That Define the Vibe Era 
| 2007
| {{n/a|Unranked}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite magazine|title=The 150 Albums That Define the Vibe Era|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=giYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA214|magazine=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=March 2007|via=Google Books}}</ref>
|}

==Celebration of CrazySexyCool==
{{Infobox concert
| concert_tour_name=CeleBraTion of CrazySexyCool
|artist=[[TLC (group)|TLC]]
|image=
|location=North America
|album=''CrazySexyCool''
|start_date={{Start date|2021|09|03}}
|end_date={{Start date|2021|10|10}}
|number_of_legs=1
|number_of_shows=18
|support_acts=[[Bone Thugs-N-Harmony]]
|last_tour=Whole Lotta Hits Tour (2019)
|this_tour=Celebration of CrazySexyCool (2021)
}}
'''Celebration of CrazySexyCool''' is a concert tour of American group TLC. This tour, serving as a celebration of the first album by a girl group to reach Diamond status, comes 27 years after the album release. Consisting of 18 dates across the United States, this tour celebrates what Chilli describes as "the album that really put [TLC] on the map",<ref>{{Cite web|title=TLC Announce 'CrazySexyCool' Anniversary Tour - That Grape Juice|url=https://thatgrapejuice.net/2021/06/tlc-announce-crazysexycool-anniversary-tour/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=thatgrapejuice.net |date=June 24, 2021 }}</ref> as the group perform selected songs from the 1994 album, as well as other hits.

=== Set list ===
This set list is from the September 14, 2021 concert in Sterling Heights. It is not intended to represent all concerts for the tour.

# "[[Creep (TLC song)|Creep]]"
# "[[Hat 2 da Back]]"
# "[[Kick Your Game]]"
# "[[Girl Talk (TLC song)|Girl Talk]]"
# "Case of the Fake People"
# "[[Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg]]"
# "[[What About Your Friends]]"
# "[[Silly Ho]]"
# "FanMail"
# "[[Way Back (TLC song)|Way Back]]"
# "American Gold"
# "Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes"
# "[[Unpretty]]"
# "Take Our Time"
# "[[Red Light Special]]"
# "[[Diggin' on You]]"
# "[[Baby-Baby-Baby]]"
# "[[No Scrubs]]"
# "[[Waterfalls (TLC song)|Waterfalls]]"

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline = ''CrazySexyCool'' track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 56:10

| title1 = Intro-lude
| note1 = featuring [[Phife Dawg|Phife]]
| writer1 = {{hlist|[[Jermaine Dupri]]|Malike Taylor}}
| length1 = 1:03

| title2 = [[Creep (TLC song)|Creep]]
| writer2 = [[Dallas Austin]]
| extra2 = Austin
| length2 = 4:28

| title3 = [[Kick Your Game]]
| writer3 = {{hlist|Dupri|[[Manuel Seal]]|[[Lisa Lopes]]}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Dupri|Seal{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length3 = 4:14

| title4 = [[Diggin' on You]]
| writer4 = [[Babyface (musician)|Kenneth Edmonds]]
| extra4 = Babyface
| length4 = 4:14

| title5 = Case of the Fake People
| writer5 = Austin
| extra5 = Austin
| length5 = 4:04

| title6 = CrazySexyCool – Interlude
| writer6 = {{hlist|[[Tionne Watkins]]|[[Sean Combs]]|[[Chucky Thompson|Carl Thompson]]}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Chucky Thompson|Combs}}
| length6 = 1:42

| title7 = [[Red Light Special]]
| writer7 = Edmonds
| extra7 = Babyface
| length7 = 5:03

| title8 = [[Waterfalls (TLC song)|Waterfalls]]
| writer8 = {{hlist|Marqueze Etheridge|Lopes|Rico Wade|[[Sleepy Brown|Patrick Brown]]|Raymond Murray}}
| extra8 = [[Organized Noize]]
| length8 = 4:39

| title9 = Intermission-lude
| writer9 = Dupri
| length9 = 0:42

| title10 = Let's Do It Again
| writer10 = {{hlist|Edmonds|[[Jon-John Robinson]]}}
| extra10 = {{hlist|Babyface|Jon-John}}
| length10 = 4:16

| title11 = [[If I Was Your Girlfriend#Cover versions|If I Was Your Girlfriend]]
| writer11 = [[Prince (musician)|Prince Nelson]]
| extra11 = {{hlist|Combs|Thompson|Austin{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length11 = 4:36

| title12 = Sexy – Interlude
| writer12 = {{hlist|[[Rozonda Thomas]]|Combs}}
| extra12 = {{hlist|Thompson|Combs}}
| length12 = 1:34

| title13 = Take Our Time
| writer13 = {{hlist|Arnold Hennings|[[Debra Killings]]}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|Austin|Hennings}}
| length13 = 4:34

| title14 = Can I Get a Witness – Interlude
| note14 = featuring [[Busta Rhymes]]
| writer14 = {{hlist|[[Busta Rhymes|Trevor Smith Jr.]]|Combs|Thompson}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|Thompson|Combs}}
| length14 = 2:57

| title15 = Switch
| writer15 = {{hlist|Dupri|Seal|Lopes}}
| extra15 = {{hlist|Dupri|Seal{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length15 = 3:30

| title16 = Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes
| note16 = featuring [[André 3000|Dre]] of [[Outkast]]<!--he was not "André 3000" in 1994; that moniker came along in 2000-->
| writer16 = {{hlist|Wade|Brown|Murray|Etheridge|Lopes|[[André 3000|André Benjamin]]}}
| extra16 = Organized Noize
| length16 = 4:28
}}

{{track listing
| headline = Limited edition ''CrazySexyCoolBonus'' disc
| title1 = Creep
| note1 = Super Smooth mix
| length1 = 4:43
| title2 = Red Light Special
| note2 = L.A.'s Flava mix
| length2 = 4:27
| title3 = Waterfalls
| note3 = ONP remix
| length3 = 4:33
| title4 = My Secret Enemy
| note4 = Red Light Special single B-side
| length4 = 5:35
}}

===Notes===
* {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer
* The single vinyl LP edition omits "Case of the Fake People" and "Intermission-lude".

===Sample credits===
* "Creep" contains a sample of "[[Hey Young World]]" by [[Slick Rick]].
* "Switch" contains a sample of "[[Mr. Big Stuff]]" by [[Jean Knight]].

==Personnel==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''CrazySexyCool''.<ref name="notes">{{cite AV media notes |title=CrazySexyCool |type=liner notes |author=[[TLC (group)|TLC]] |publisher=[[LaFace Records]] |year=1994 |id=73008-26009-2}}</ref>

===Musicians===
{{Div col}}
* [[Phife Dawg|Phife]] – guest appearance {{small|(track 1)}}
* [[Dallas Austin]] – instruments {{small|(track 2)}}; keyboards, drums {{small|(track 5)}}; additional keyboards {{small|(track 11)}}
* Sol Messiah – scratching {{small|(tracks 2, 5)}}
* Rick Sheppard – [[MIDI]], sound design {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 11)}}
* [[Debra Killings]] – background vocals {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 16)}}
* [[Jermaine Dupri]] – additional vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
* LaMarquis "Marq" Jefferson – bass {{small|(tracks 3, 8)}}
* [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]] – synthesizers, drum programming {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 10)}}
* [[Tionne Watkins|T-Boz]] – background vocals {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 10)}}
* [[Rozonda Thomas|Chilli]] – background vocals {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 10)}}
* Bebé – background vocals {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 10)}}
* [[Chucky Thompson]] – all instruments {{small|(tracks 6, 12, 14)}}; keyboards, bass, drums {{small|(track 11)}}
* [[Sean Combs|Sean "Puffy" Combs]] – ad-libs {{small|(track 6)}}
* Dwight Sills – guitar {{small|(track 7)}}
* [[Organized Noize]] – drum programming {{small|(tracks 8, 16)}}; keyboards {{small|(track 8)}}; keyboard programming {{small|(track 16)}}
* Kenneth Wright – [[Wurlitzer electric piano|Wurlitzer keyboards]] {{small|(track 8)}}
* Jerry Lloyd – horns {{small|(track 8)}}
* Ronnie Fitch – horns {{small|(track 8)}}
* Charles Nix – horns {{small|(track 8)}}
* Shock – horn arrangements {{small|(track 8)}}
* Edward Stroud – guitar {{small|(track 8)}}
* [[TLC (group)|TLC]] – background vocals {{small|(track 8)}}
* [[CeeLo Green|Thomas "Cee-Lo" Burton]] – background vocals {{small|(tracks 8, 16)}}
* [[Jon-John Robinson|Jon-John]] – synthesizers, drum programming {{small|(track 10)}}
* Colin Wolfe – additional bass {{small|(track 11)}}
* Arnold Hennings – keyboards, drums {{small|(track 13)}}
* [[Tim & Bob|Tim Kelley]] – keyboards {{small|(track 13)}}
* Shorty B – guitar {{small|(track 13)}}
* Mike Patterson – MIDI, sound design {{small|(track 13)}}
* [[Busta Rhymes]] – guest appearance {{small|(track 14)}}
* [[Lisa Lopes|Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes]] – ad-libs {{small|(track 14)}}
* [[Trey Lorenz]] – background vocals {{small|(track 15)}}
* [[André 3000|Dre]] of [[Outkast]] – guest appearance {{small|(track 16)}}
* Sir Dean Gant – keyboards {{small|(track 16)}}
* Craig Love – guitar {{small|(track 16)}}
* Martin Terry – guitar {{small|(track 16)}}
* Carlos Glover – bass {{small|(track 16)}}
{{Div col end}}

===Technical===
{{Div col}}
* Jermaine Dupri – recording {{small|(tracks 1, 9)}}; mixing {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 9, 15)}}; production {{small|(tracks 3, 15)}}; remix {{small|(track 3)}}
* John Frye – recording assistance {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 9)}}; mixing assistance {{small|(track 8)}}
* [[Phil Tan]] – mixing {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 9, 15)}}; recording {{small|(tracks 3, 15)}}
* Dallas Austin – production {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 13)}}; co-production {{small|(track 11)}}; executive production
* Alvin Speights – recording {{small|(tracks 2, 5)}}; mixing {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 11)}}
* Leslie Brathwaite – recording {{small|(tracks 2, 5)}}; mixing {{small|(track 13)}}
* Carl Glover – recording assistance {{small|(tracks 2, 5)}}
* Brian Smith – recording assistance {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 13)}}
* [[Manuel Seal]] – co-production {{small|(tracks 3, 15)}}
* Brian Frye – recording assistance {{small|(tracks 3, 15)}}
* Babyface – production {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 10)}}; executive production
* Brad Gilderman – recording {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 10)}}
* Eric Fischer – recording assistance {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 10)}}
* Lamont Hyde – recording assistance {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 10)}}
* [[Dave Way]] – mixing {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 10)}}
* Chucky Thompson – production {{small|(tracks 6, 11, 12, 14)}}
* Sean "Puffy" Combs – production {{small|(tracks 6, 11, 12, 14)}}
* Rich Travali – recording, mixing {{small|(tracks 6, 12, 14)}}
* Organized Noize – production {{small|(tracks 8, 16)}}
* [[Neal Pogue|Nealhpogue]] – recording {{small|(track 8)}}; mixing {{small|(tracks 8, 16)}}
* Bernasky – recording assistance {{small|(track 8)}}; mixing assistance {{small|(track 16)}}
* Rico Lumpkins – recording assistance, mixing assistance {{small|(track 8)}}
* Mike Wilson – recording assistance {{small|(track 8)}}
* Jon-John – production {{small|(track 10)}}
* [[The Hitmen (production team)|Nash]] – recording {{small|(track 11)}}
* Arnold Hennings – production {{small|(track 13)}}
* Mike Patterson – recording {{small|(track 13)}}
* Scott Little – recording assistance {{small|(track 13)}}
* Ron Gresham – mixing {{small|(track 13)}}
* NHP Sound, Inc. – recording {{small|(track 16)}}
* Carlos Glover – recording {{small|(track 16)}}
* Blake Eiseman – recording {{small|(track 16)}}
* Alex Lowe – recording assistance {{small|(track 16)}}
* Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
* [[L.A. Reid|Antonio M. Reid]] – executive production
* Sharliss Asbury – project coordination
* Ivy Skoff – project coordination {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 10)}}
{{Div col end}}

===Artwork===
* Davett Singletary – creative direction
* Christopher Stern – art direction
* Dah Len – photography

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for ''CrazySexyCool''
! scope="col"| Chart (1994–1996)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|5|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Austria|16|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|20|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|25|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Canada|6|chartid=8533|rowheader=true|access-date=January 16, 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|4|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[European Top 100 Albums|European Albums]] (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/95/MM-1995-09-30-OCR-Page-0017.pdf |title=European Top 100 Albums |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |volume=12 |issue=39 |date=September 30, 1995 |page=13 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 6
|-
{{album chart|Finland|37|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"| French Albums ([[Institut français d'opinion publique|IFOP]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.infodisc.fr/Album_Liste_Selection2.php?Lettre=T |title=Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste |website=InfoDisc |language=fr |access-date=January 16, 2017}} ''Select "T L C" from the drop-down menu and click "OK".''</ref>
| 40
|-
{{album chart|Germany|4|id=2151|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|15|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|24|date=19960127|rowheader=true|access-date=January 16, 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|11|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|10|artist=TLC|album=CrazySexyCool|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|4|date=19950917|rowheader=true|access-date=May 21, 2019}}
|-
{{album chart|UKR&B|1|date=19950820|rowheader=true|access-date=January 16, 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|3|artist=TLC|rowheader=true|refname="BB200"}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|2|artist=TLC|rowheader=true|access-date=January 16, 2017|refname="BBR&B"}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1995 year-end chart performance for ''CrazySexyCool''
! scope="col"| Chart (1995)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://i.imgur.com/fUC5EgI.jpg |title=Australian Top 100 Albums 1995 (page 2) |magazine=[[The ARIA Report]] |via=[[Imgur]]}}</ref>
|59
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1995&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 1995 |language=nl |publisher=Ultratop |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref>
| 98
|-
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2839&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2839.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2839 |title=RPM Top 100 Albums of 1995 |magazine=RPM |volume=62 |issue=20 |date=December 18, 1995 |issn=0033-7064 |via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref>
| 10
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1995&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1995 |language=nl |publisher=[[Dutch Charts]] |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref>
| 38
|-
! scope="row"| European Albums (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/95/MM-1995-12-23-OCR-Page-0014.pdf |title=Year End Sales Charts – European Top 100 Albums 1995 |magazine=Music & Media |volume=12 |issue=51/52 |date=December 23, 1995 |page=14 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 49
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1995 |title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1995 |language=de |publisher=GfK Entertainment |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref>
| 27
|-
! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1995-12-31 |title=Top Selling Albums of 1995 |publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]] |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref>
| 18
|-
! scope="row"| Swedish Albums & Compilations (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=42&dfom=19950001 |title=Årslista Album (inkl samlingar) – År 1995 |language=sv |publisher=[[Hitlistan]] |access-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709120317/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=42&dfom=19950001 |archive-date=July 9, 2015}}</ref>
| 65
|-
! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1995/alben |title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1995 |website=hitparade.ch |language=de |access-date=July 23, 2022}}</ref>
| 49
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref name="UKyearend">{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19960107/37502/ |title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1996 |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref>
| 33
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506060832/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-billboard-200-albums |archive-date=May 6, 2018}}</ref>
| 5
|-
! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums |title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506060954/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums |archive-date=May 6, 2018}}</ref>
| 2
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1996 year-end chart performance for ''CrazySexyCool''
! scope="col"| Chart (1996)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1996/albums-chart |title=ARIA Top 50 Albums for 1996 |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=July 23, 2022}}</ref>
| 31
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1996&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1996 |language=nl |publisher=Dutch Charts |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref>
| 85
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref name="UKyearend"/>
| 93
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1996/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521153321/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1996/top-billboard-200-albums |archive-date=May 21, 2019}}</ref>
| 22
|-
! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1996/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums |title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521153054/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1996/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums |archive-date=May 21, 2019}}</ref>
| 51
|}

===Decade-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Decade-end chart performance for ''CrazySexyCool''
! scope="col"| Chart (1990–1999)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mayfield |first=Geoff |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=SL680-PA20 |title=Top Pop Albums of the '90s |magazine=Billboard |volume=111 |issue=52 |date=December 25, 1999 |page=YE-20 |issn=0006-2510 |via=Google Books}}</ref>
| 25
|}

===All-time charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ All-time chart performance for ''CrazySexyCool''
! scope="col"| Chart
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums |title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502201956/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums |archive-date=May 2, 2019}}</ref>
| 126
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200 (Women)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums-by-women |title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums by Women |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329062845/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums-by-women |archive-date=March 29, 2019}}</ref>
| 35
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for ''CrazySexyCool''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=TLC|title=CrazySexyCool|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=1994|certyear=1996|access-date=July 16, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=TLC|title=CrazySexyCool|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1994|certyear=1996|date=February 29, 1996|access-date=June 27, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=TLC|title=CrazySexyCool|award=Platinum|number=8|type=album|relyear=1994|certyear=1998|date=December 9, 1998|access-date=June 27, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=TLC|title=クレイジーセクシークール [CrazySexyCool]|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=1994|certyear=1999|certmonth=2|access-date=December 28, 2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=TLC|title=CrazySexyCool|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1994|certyear=1995|access-date=August 23, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=TLC|title=CrazySexyCool|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1994|id=1995-09-15|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|date=September 17, 1995}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=TLC|title=CrazySexyCool|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1994|certyear=1995|id=1554-157-2|date=December 1, 1995|access-date=January 4, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=CrazySexyCool|artist=TLC|award=Platinum|number=12|relyear=1994|certyear=2019|date=October 11, 2019|access-date=October 16, 2019|refname="RIAA"|salesamount=8,970,000|salesref={{efn|As of July 2017, ''CrazySexyCool'' had sold 7.7 million copies in the United States according to [[Nielsen SoundScan]],<ref name="billboard2017"/> with an additional 1.27 million sold at [[BMG Music Club]].<ref name="bmgclub"/> Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the [[BMG Music Service]], which were significantly popular in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046724/ask-billboard |title=Ask Billboard: One More for 'One More Time'? |magazine=Billboard |date=January 25, 2008 |access-date=January 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102051334/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046724/ask-billboard |archive-date=January 2, 2019}}</ref>}}}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|artist=TLC|title=CrazySexyCool|award=Platinum|type=album|certyear=1996|access-date=June 27, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|title=|artist=|type=album|award=|nocert=true|salesamount=23,000,000|salesref=<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-06-25 |title=Taylor Swift Follows Prince |url=http://billboard.com/music/reviews/tlcs-crazysexycool-at-20-classic-track-by-track-album-review-63|access-date=2025-09-20 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==See also==
* [[List of best-selling albums by women]]
* [[List of best-selling albums in the United States]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{TLC (group)}}
{{Grammy Award for Best R&B Album}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1994 albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Babyface (musician)]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Dallas Austin]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Jermaine Dupri]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Organized Noize]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Sean Combs]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Tim & Bob]]
[[Category:Arista Records albums]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best R&B Album]]
[[Category:LaFace Records albums]]
[[Category:TLC (group) albums]]