Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of TLC has reimagined the group’s iconic 1994 hit “Creep” as part of a powerful HIV-prevention campaign. The new track, titled “So We PrEP,” is designed to spark honest conversations around protection, pride, and health.
A Purposeful Reimagining of 90’s TLC Hit
Watkins teamed up with Gilead Sciences to launch the song under its “Care for the Culture” initiative. The campaign aims to elevate HIV awareness and PrEP usage, particularly in Black communities. According to Gilead, although Black people account for 42% of new HIV diagnoses, they represent only 14% of PrEP users.
“In the ’90s, we used our platform to speak truth and empower people to love themselves,” Watkins said in a statement. “That mission hasn’t changed.” She continued: “‘So We PrEP’ is about reclaiming that same energy … turning it into a conversation starter about protection, pride and Black joy.”
By tapping into her musical legacy, Watkins hopes to dismantle stigma around HIV prevention. “We don’t whisper about our health; we sing about it,” she added. The reimagined anthem echoes TLC’s tradition of addressing social issues through song. Their earlier hit “Waterfalls” famously referenced the AIDS epidemic.
T-Boz’s decision to revisit “Creep” is especially meaningful. The original track, written by Dallas Austin, was inspired by Watkins’s own experience with infidelity. At the time, group member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes expressed reservations, even threatening to silence herself in the video because of the song’s subject matter.
Gilead’s “Care for the Culture” campaign uses the song as its centerpiece — calling on trusted voices like T-Boz to reach communities where HIV discussions are often avoided. The campaign challenges stigma while emphasizing empowerment, especially among Black women. Data from Gilead shows that Black women make up half of new HIV diagnoses among women, despite being only 13% of the U.S. female population.
Watkins sees this as a continuation of TLC’s legacy. “That mission hasn’t changed,” she said, reaffirming the group’s long-standing commitment to truth-telling and social change through music.