FROM using condoms as fashion accessories in the early 1990s to Left Eye's battle with alcoholism and setting fire to her boyfriend's house after a fight, TLC are known just as much for their controversial antics as their music.

Tionne T-Boz' Watkins, Lisa Left Eye' Lopes and Rozonda Chilli' Thomas definitely didn't play anyone else's game.

The Very Best of TLC: Crazy Sexy Hits leaves the controversy behind and in its 15 tracks documents why the trio are one of the best-selling groups of all time.

Waterfalls manages to criticise drug-dealing and unprotected sex while still being blissfully soulful and other pleasers like No Scrubs, Creep and Red Light Special are similarly smooth.

The only real negative of the album is the male rap-heavy track Come Get Some featuring Lil' Jon and Sean Paul.

TLC are funkily playful, with their lyrics dealing with female empowerment and being equal to, if not stronger than, the men in their lives.

But by letting the men dominate the track, it misrepresents them and, I think, detracts from the group's original ethos.

This aside, it is easily possible to enjoy the tracks without any knowledge of the back story.

Crazy Sexy Hits is both a classic blend of R n' B, hip hop and pop for those keen to rediscover the band as well as being a perfect place for anyone starting their TLC collection, working back one record at a time.