As far as succuss goes for 90's R&B groups, TLC lead the way for the girls, while Boyz II Men did the same for the guys. This is not discussing No Scrubs, One Sweet Day, End of the Road etc. as these songs all came before and after TLC and Boyz II Men's sophomore albums.

By memory, looking back they were both huge and I've always leaned towards Boyz II Men being more successful during thier 2nd album. But in recent years when I looked back, I'm not so sure as it could go either way...

I remember I'll Make Love To You tying Whitney's record for longest stay on the Hot 100 at #1 at the time. I think it was 14 weeks or something like that. And then they sang at the Summer Olympics in 1996, sang for Michael Jordan, had some on tv documentary thing I remember watching... you name it these guys were everywhere after End of The Road pushed them to the top a few years earlier. You just couldn't escape Boyz II Men in 1994/95. II was so huge I remember there was a press conference on tv when the next album was coming out. II sold a bit more units than CSC, had bigger #1's, much longer stays at #1 on the Hot 100. Hell, they even replaced themselves at #1 (On Bended Knee replaced I'll Make Love To You) and broke/tied Billboard records.

But TLC was also just as huge as well (if not, more) from memory. It seems like TLC was performing at every damn awards show (MTV, Grammys, Billboard, Soul Train etc.), and their videos got more play from what I remember. Also whats crazy is CrazySexyCool sold 11 million, but never touched the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. I think CrazySexyCool also did better internationally as far as sales and charting album/singles then II did. Also, all the singles did top 5 or better and this album I believe won more awards across the board. CSC also had much more acclaim and ratings from Rolling Stone and other publications. TLC was also inescapable in 1994/95.

I had each album on cassette. Boyz II Men's broke, but I still have CrazySexyCool somewhere in my basement. lol

II and CrazySexyCool each:

-put out two Billboard Hot #1's (I'll Make Love/Bended Knee, Creep, Waterfalls), and a #2 (Water Runs Dry, Red Light Special) single as well as other singles.

-was certified diamond or better (12X for B2M, 11X for TLC).

-each album won 2 Grammy awards.

-had only one single (Waterfalls, I'll Make Love To You) reach #1 on the R&B charts (9 weeks each).

Overall, which 90's R&B group do you think was bigger during their sophmore album? TLC or Boyz II Men?

Internationally, I would say TLC.

BIIM were never as popular here in the UK. TLC were huge here, you coudn't escape them.

I definitely agree that internationally it's not even a competition, TLC were much bigger, "Waterfalls" is still remembered up to today. For the US it might be a tie based on chart success, but then again CSC gave TLC bigger longevity as BIIM quickly faded after 1996...

Anyway, the actual winner from these two albums was Babyface, this era is his peak coupled with the Waiting To Exhale OST and Madonna's Bedtime Stories.

mrjun18 said:

-had only one single (Waterfalls, I'll Make Love To You) reach #1 on the R&B charts (9 weeks each).

Small correction here: both lead singles topped the R&B charts ("Creep" and "I'll Make Love to You").

AlexdeParis said:

mrjun18 said:

-had only one single (Waterfalls, I'll Make Love To You) reach #1 on the R&B charts (9 weeks each).

Small correction here: both lead singles topped the R&B charts ("Creep" and "I'll Make Love to You").

Oops. That was a typo. It was definitely Creep. Not Waterfalls. Good catch.

mrjun18 said:

AlexdeParis said:

Small correction here: both lead singles topped the R&B charts ("Creep" and "I'll Make Love to You").

Oops. That was a typo. It was definitely Creep. Not Waterfalls. Good catch.

Thanks. "Waterfalls" was the single that officially marked TLC's crossover into pop stars. It managed to dominate the Hot 100 for almost 2 months while stalling at #4 R&B behind smashes by Biggie, Monica, and Shaggy. Virtually every subsequent single the group released performed as well or better on the Hot 100 than the R&B chart.

AlexdeParis said:

mrjun18 said:

Oops. That was a typo. It was definitely Creep. Not Waterfalls. Good catch.

Thanks. "Waterfalls" was the single that officially marked TLC's crossover into pop stars. It managed to dominate the Hot 100 for almost 2 months while stalling at #4 R&B behind smashes by Biggie, Monica, and Shaggy. Virtually every subsequent single the group released performed as well or better on the Hot 100 than the R&B chart.

Yeah, it was the song of the summer of 1995.

Biggie's "once more chance remix" held back a lot of songs from #1 including Jodeci's lead single of their 3rd album "Freek'n You".

"I'll make love to you" and "on bended knee" were huge record breaking hits worldwide ("I'll make love to you" also ranks in the top 20 of the decade on billboard). To me that prob means Boyz were bigger at that time. But not by too much.