Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, the 30-year-old rapper/singer, died last week in a car accident late Thursday night while she was vacationing in Honduras. She is survived by the other two members of the multi-platinum hip-hop trio TLC, her partners Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas.
"I was really shocked to hear about it," said freshman Divya Prasad. "She's the second major pop star we have lost this school year." Prasad was referring to another female pop icon, Aaliyah, who died tragically in a plane crash in August.
Lopes had been scheduled to return from Honduras on Sunday, after volunteering at a children's development center and at the Usha Herbal Resource Institute, an herbal healing center. She was driving a Mitsubishi Montero SUV, traveling from La Ceiba to San Pedro Sula. Sources say that a three-person group called Egypt, her brother, sister and two producers were in the vehicle with her.
Authorities in Jutiapa report that Lopes was not licensed to drive internationally and was apparently speeding when she lost control of the vehicle, tipping it over. She suffered a blow to the head and was the only passenger to die in the accident.
After news of the accident reached the U.S, Watkins and Thomas released the following in a statement: "We had all grown up together and were as close as a family. Today we have truly lost our sister."
Indeed, the trio had spent many years together in the business. They made their debut 10 years ago, in 1992, with Ooooooohhh . On the TLC Tip. The group easily made a name for itself with its hip-hop beats and identifiable b-girl style, with condoms on their clothes and sagging, baggy pants. As the resident rapper of the trio, Left Eye immediately stood out.
Freshman Ben Schellhase commented on her impact in the music world: "Lisa Lopes influenced many young people with her lyrics and unique style. The music industry has lost one of its stars."
It's true that Left Eye's influence was far-reaching. Though my own musical preferences have changed since seventh grade, I remember clearly that the group's second album, Crazysexycool, was my first CD and a key to popularity among the middle school crowd. To this day, I still catch myself humming "Creep" or "Waterfalls."
At the time of her death, Lopes was involved in two major projects - a fourth album with TLC and a new solo album. Her spokesperson reports that at least four tracks on the group's album had been completed. Lopes had also been working in the studio on a track with David Bowie and had hoped to do a song with Eve and Pink. There is no word yet on how much Lopes recorded for her solo album or what plans there are, if any, for the release of either album.
Meanwhile, the media questions the future of TLC without its flamboyant rapper. The group had already been on rocky terms for the past five years, and many doubt that the remaining two will be able to maintain the necessary fanbase.
"The future of TLC is bleak without their biggest star, Left Eye," speculated freshman Brennan Greene. "They'll have to change their name, at any rate." (TLC was an acronym created for the girls' three nicknames.)
The funeral was held Tuesday morning at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga, following a Wednesday memorial in Atlanta.
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