I know it's generally known that she doesn't have a big voice.
I just listened to American Pie again after several years. The first millisecond of the song is already off key lol, and the rest of the song is laced with loud ass background singers. I never really noticed back then when it would come on the radio.
It just reminds me of how TLC is mostly Debra Killings on the background vocals.
I do think she sounded really good on some songs on Bedtime Stories and Ray Of Light. To me, Hard Candy was the start of her sounding really "robotic", like she's holding back in order to not get off key. The verses on Celebration are terribly bland.
In my opinion she's on a level with Jennifer Lopez when it comes to singing, maybe worse.