Left Eye Gets Interviewed with Sonicnet News
Sonicnet News: Left Eye's Solo Sonicnet, 1999
LOS ANGELES — Though TLC's Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes says she will record her first solo LP next year, the spunky performer insists it won't spell the end of the soul-rap trio.
"We're like family — we're very, very close," Lopes said backstage at the Source Hip-Hop Music Awards here on Aug. 18, referring to her relationship with bandmates Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. "There's no truth [to the rumors of a breakup]; we're going on a world tour."
Lopes, who hosted the Source awards with Naughty by Nature MC Treach, said she hopes to recruit rapper Lil' Kim and rocker Lenny Kravitz to appear on her solo debut, tentatively titled Fantasy.com.
One TLC fan believes Lopes' decision to fly solo is inevitable, temporary and worthwhile. "Left Eye drops the baddest rhymes, and I think it's time she shows off what she can do on her own," wrote 19-year-old fan Janice Glover of Detroit. "TLC's never gonna go away. They're gonna be old grannies still bustin' on the scrubs."
TLC have not announced dates for their world tour, which is slated to kick off in October. A spokesperson for the group said the trek will include a string of U.S. shows.
Arriving at the Source awards in an Indian-style outfit designed by her uncle, Kyle Young, the petite, girlish Lopes struck diva poses and smiled flirtatiously for the cameras as she strolled the red carpet leading to the Pantages Theatre. Though she made a few costume changes during the ceremony, she emerged in the press room after the show wearing her original outfit.
"It was a learning experience," Lopes said of her hosting chores, adding that she would consider doing the job at another awards show. She compared the experience to hosting the MTV show "The Cut," which allows unsigned talent to audition for the chance to have a music video produced and aired on the network.
" 'The Cut' was a real learning experience, because I learned how to get real comfortable with the audience," Lopes said. The show's second season is on hold.
Lopes was decidedly matter-of-fact when asked about the success of TLC's triple-platinum third album, Fanmail, which features the new single "Unpretty".
"TLC fortunately was able to come out for the third time and have a successful album — three times in a row," she said. "Right now, we're at about 7 million [sold] worldwide, which is pretty good."
Fanmail has sold 3.4 million copies domestically, according to SoundScan. The album's hit single, "No Scrubs" prompted New York hip-hop group Sporty Thievz to answer the tune with a number called "No Pigeons," which jokes as pointedly about women as the TLC song does about men.
Lopes said she didn't like the parody at first, but, she admitted, "I like it now. It's funny — I took myself outta TLC and listened to it with an open mind."
The Atlanta trio came together in 1991 when they were discovered by producer Dallas Austin and his then-partner, singer/producer Perri "Pebbles" Reid. TLC released their debut album, Oooooooh ... on the TLC Tip, in 1992 to instant acclaim. Three consecutive top-10 hits followed in 1992, including "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg." Next came Crazysexycool (1994), which featured three #1 singles and has sold more than 10 million copies.
Lopes herself has helped stir rumblings that TLC were planning to go their separate ways after Fanmail. A story in the May issue of Vibe magazine quoted her as saying, "I've graduated from this era. I cannot stand 100 percent behind this TLC project."
Associates of the group, including Austin, have said that such comments are part of Lopes' off-the-cuff nature, and that Watkins and Thomas are accustomed to it now and find it easy to shrug off.
Lopes made headlines shortly before the release of Crazysexycool when she was arrested for burning down the house of her then-boyfriend, NFL player Andre Rison. She was sentenced to five years' probation for the crime..