During and after the release of TLC's third studio album, "FanMail" (1999), Lopes made it known to the press on multiple occasions that she felt that she was unable to fully express herself working with the group. Her contributions to the songs had been reduced to periodic eight-bar raps, and studio session singers such as Debra Killings often took her place on the background vocals for the group's songs. In its November 26, 1999, issue, "Entertainment Weekly" ran a letter from Lopes that challenged her group mates to record solo albums and let the fans judge which of the three was the most talented: