As members of the superhit, female, R&B group TLC, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Tionne “T-boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, sold over 25 million records and won five Grammys, five MTV Music Awards, three Billboard Music Awards and one AMA. Their 1994 album “CrazySexyCool”, alone, selling over 15 million copies. Just before the release of the groups album, 3D, in 2002, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, was killed in an auto accident in Honduras while on a spiritual retreat. But we’re going to get to hear from her again.
Recordings by Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who died six years ago, will be released as a solo album on Nov. 11.
The album features a collection of songs Lopes recorded but never released, family friend Jay Marose said Wednesday.
Lopes, who was part of the hit ’90s group TLC, was killed in a car crash in Honduras on April 25, 2002. She talked often about her death and told friends she expected to die young, Marose said.
“She knew she was going to pass away and it was her plan to get all of this out there so people could learn what she had done,” he said. “She wanted people to hear it and wanted her family to do whatever they had to do.”
Proceeds from the album will benefit Lopes’ foundation, which aims to build orphanages and schools in Honduras, Marose said.
[From Breitbart.com]
Lopes wasn’t without difficulty and controversy. She grew up in an abusive, alcoholic home, had alcohol abuse issues herself, very publically fought with the other members of the group, and was in an allegedly abusive relationship with Atlanta Falcon’s wide receiver Andre Rison which culminated in Lopes setting fire to his tennis shoes which spread and burned his mansion to the ground. Lopes was on a spirtual trip to Honduras when she lost control of the SUV she was driving, she was the only fatality. She was a month shy of her 31st birthday.
I was in my early to mid twenties during the CrazySexyCool and Fanmail days, and as a dance club frequenter at the time, I was a big fan of TLC. I liked their whole sound, but anticipated Lopes’ quick rap interludes the most. She had a style, that’s for sure. The songs to be released for this album are all new and for fans of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, they are as anticipated as her solo in TLC’s Waterfalls, which was also engraved on her casket… “Dreams are hopeless aspirations, in hopes of coming true, believe in yourself, the rest is up to me and you.”
[Information details from Wikipedia]
Lisa Lopes is shown in the header at the Soul Train Awards on 3/4/00. Credit: Bauergriffinonline. She is shown below with the other members of TLC at the Grammy Awards on 2/23/00. Credit: PRPhotos
Her solo “Block party” single didn’t do too well when it was released a few years before her death- does anyone remember that song?
I absolute loved the song ‘Block Party’ I still play it, and my 4 year old niece likes it too. She asked me about “the block party girl” tonight, wanting to know if she was doing another song soon and I told her that she went to heaven to be with Jesus. She said she was sad and that she likes her music. Left Eye was truly phenomenal in life.
No, I don’t remember ‘Block Party’, but I did like her music with TLC. I was also on the club scene at the time TLC was popular and loved her pieces of each song the most. Didn’t care for her public persona much, but she was young and seemed to be chasing demons at the time, so I can understand it.
It’s still sad to think of her death – it was far too soon – but I’m ambivalent about the album. If it’s good, I’ll buy it, if not… I won’t
Will it include her cover of “Another one Bites the Dust” ?
She was beautiful. And I do remember ‘Block Party’
I was a big fan of TLC. I liked their whole sound, but anticipated Lopes’ quick rap interludes the most. She had a style, that’s for sure.