How good is TLC? So good that they survive the tragic, early death of a key member -- Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was killed in a car accident during the recording of 3D -- with grace and style, turning out a record that sits comfortably next to their modern classics, Crazysexycool and FanMail. Perhaps surviving members Chilli and T-Boz spend a little too much time in the lyrics paying tribute to their colleague, but it's easy to glide past that and just concentrate on the strong songwriting and stylish production. Like their previous albums, the particulars don't matter as much as the overall impression. No member of TLC has an astounding voice, but their skills are exploited to the hilt, since the material not only suits them, it's melodic, memorable, and grows in stature with each play. Best of all, the production plays to the strength of the song, balancing the group's character and abilities with the hooks and character of the song. Perhaps 3D doesn't blaze trails like their other albums, but it never plays it safe and it always satisfies, and it's one of the best modern soul albums of 2002. A bittersweet triumph, perhaps, but it's better to go out on a positive note. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
3D is the fourth album by American R&B and hip hop group TLC, released by Arista Records on November 12, 2002 (see 2002 in music), seven months after the death of rapperLisa "Left Eye" Lopes. 3D debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 with 143,000 copies sold. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA, shipping over 1,000,000 copies in the US within its first year and almost two million worldwide.[8][9] Prior to release, there had been reports that Left Eye would be prominently placed on the album, when it was released, however, she was only on featured tracks; a similar thing occurred with the release of the group's prior album, FanMail.
Engineers: Carlos "El Loco" Bedoya, Paul Boutin, Leslie Brathwaite, Josh Butler, Andrew Coleman, Sean Davis, John Frye, Morgan Garcia, Brian Garten, Carlton Lynn, Fabian Marasciullo, Rick Sheppard
Assistant engineers: Cedric Anderson, Steve Fisher, Tim Lauber, Victor McCoy, Christine Sirois, Rob Skipworth, Craig "Niteman" Taylor
Mixing: Gerry "The Gov" Brown, Kevin "KD" Davis, Jimmy Douglas, Jean-Marie Horvat, Rodney Jerkins, Phil Tan, Timbaland
Mixing assistance: John Horesco IV, Dion Peters, Tim Roberts, John Tanksely
