FanMail's packaging - which they devised themselves - exuding a futuristic, "hi-tech with fashion" feel. This theme extends to the inclusion of a computer-generated fourth 'virtual' member called Vic-E, who will feature in videos and rapping on the album. "She sort of directs the album but she's very sexy. I'm going to have to push her to the curb," says T-Boz.

T-Boz might say that now, but it was her and Dallas' idea to have her on the album! Dallas got the idea from The Tribe Called Quest album, "Midnight Marauder's." If you heard any of the interludes, you would understand what I am talking about.

Dallas took that to another level, and used his own computer to create a similar voice with a Speak (voice generation) program. With this, he was able to create this voice just by typing the words on the computer, pressing enter, and it would read the words back to you, in a computerized voice.

A virtual element added to TLC's third album would give it that cybernetic feel that TLC focused on, and T-Boz as well as the rest of the ladies of TLC loved the idea!

So, from the particles of gigabytes and electrons, a spark was born. The system enabled to create one voice, a female virtual voice. One that would take on the personality of a female, but not just any female. The female that stood for everything TLC stood for. She became Ooooooohhh... On the TLC tip. She became CrazySexyCool. She has the attitude of all three women combined to create the 4th member of TLC. With her Cybertronic voice she was programmed to improve and lend her talent to the TLC's album, FAN MAIL, the Compact Disc that would be dedicated especially for the fans.

She was named Virtual Vic-E. Her voice was featured on such tracks as "Fan Mail": where she gives the opening dedication speech, and some ad-libbing with Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Also, the futuristic, out of this world track, "Automatic", and the smash radio single, Silly Ho where she makes her rapping debut. She is also on such interludes as "Communication", as well as her own, "The Vic-E Interpretation", where she speaks on the fact of men and women's human nature at picking up the opposite sex in clubs.

Lisa has stated that, "Virtual Vic-E is an entity that changes shape, personality, and character." She does not have one true form. She can morph into any shape she pleases" That may all change soon as her true image is still in the design stages, but a digital editing company as well as Dallas is working on her image as we speak. You can catch the first known public image of Virtual Vic-E on the main page of this website, and also on the TLC Fan Mail Tour! Her image is described as sexy, virtual, but very much cybernetic. She will be the dawn of Music for the next century.

Vic-E has now been signed to Free World Records, Dallas record company, and she appears on VEGA's Album "Life On Earth". She starts off the song by describing a "Playette" (also the title of the song), as comparing "Playette" to a "Player" that gets what he wants, only in a female version.

Virtual Vic-E also has plans of becoming more realistic as the year 2000 progresses, and also her own album! One interlude from the upcoming album, speaks on The Great Event, and she will go back in time to right all the wrongs in this world. It's a very deep poetic interlude, with a soothing melody in the background. Yet I am sure that Vic-E will be making everyone dance, with her futuristic beats and cybernetic sounds. The album is being produced by Dallas Austin for now, but no one knows what this new Virtual music will sound like.

But that's the interesting about this virtual character turned superstar, the mystery behind it. Only time will tell of this Sexy computer voice, Vic-E.

Shawn T. Anderson (Dedicated fan of TLC) was inspired by this Cybertronic personality that he created the first website dedicated to her. "TLC: The Virtual Vic-E Website" started in Jan. of 1999 and featured art work on Vic-E, as well as updated news on Fan Mail. Expect more of Vic-E on this site in the year to come.