Vibe Magazine - Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes Tribute Issue (July 2002)

CREDIT TO @all.that.tlc FOR THE PROVIDED INFORMATION

SUPERNOVA

At the age of 30, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC was killed in an automobile accident in

Honduras, leaving the music world reeling with grief yet again. Mimi Valdés reflects on the flamboyant rapper's extraordinary spiritual journey, and on the days she spent with Lisa in the Central American country last year.

For me, TLC is like the Beatles. Groundbreaking, trendsetting, and loved by millions. As the first women to fluidly blend hip hop, R&B, and funk Left Eye, T-Boz, and Chilli were from the beginning in a class by themselves. Before Mary J. Blige, Destiny's Child, and Britney Spears, there was TLC, blazing new trails and dancing to their own rhythm along the way. 

I first saw the video for the group's debut single, "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg," on New York's Video Music Box in early 1992. I'll never forget Lisa, front and center, yelling, ""Yo, mike check one two, one two, we in the house, yeah, c'mon! 1992, TLC kicking off in your mother-" A long beep drowns out her curses before she ends the intro with an urgent, "Step on that sh-!" I couldn't Believe what I was hearing. Forget that they looked like teenagers and had condoms pinned to their Day-Glo baggy clothes. Music had never sounded quite like this. Sure, Bell Biv DeVoe had tread in similar waters, but the beautiful TLC made it freakier, funkier, and much more fun to watch.

Last summer, shortly before Arista planned to release her solo album Supernova, I traveled with Lisa to La Ceiba, Honduras, where she often went to Usha Village, a healing center she credits with triggering her spiritual awakening over the past four years. The center was overflowing with natural beauty, and, thankfully, wasn't as rustic as I'd imagined. The row of one-room cement cabins had running water, beds, and toilets. As Lisa gave a tour of the grounds, she excitedly explained how storage bins accumulate hot water from the nearby volcanic springs, which is then used in the village's sauna and bath huts. 'Its healing properties helped my uncle Tony lose more than 100 pounds," she told me. As we made our way to the kitchen, she pointed to a huge burlap bag full of what looked like herbs. "This is sea moss", she said. "It's excellent for you." As dusk fell, we sat on hammocks and talked until we couldn't stand the bugs anymore. Lisa spoke freely about herself and her commitment to living healthily and with purpose. "I come to Honduras because of this healing center and the tropical environment," she said. "I think everyone should have a chance to get away from everything. People don't realize that they can hear so much more when they're quiet." Lisa's spiritual journey began in late 1997. She realized she wasn't happy with her life and began dedicating herself to improving her mind and body. Once she started feeling the benefits of her new lifestyle, she urged anyone who'd listen to get on the same program. "There's a lot I have to offer based on my experiences," she said "and I think I could help improve the quality of

life for the young generation coming up".

The next morning at 5:30, Lisa knocked on my door so we could go hiking up a mountain she affectionately called "the bush." I followed her as she raced up a barely cut path full of thornbushes, bugs, and snakes. It took us half an hour to get to the top. She'd climbed the mountain many times, and still she had the most peaceful look on her face. Lisa loved that view, which extended to the Caribbean Sea in the distance. At that moment, it was hard to think that anyone would ever call this woman crazy. "The people close to me, they know that I'm the type of person who will offer help, whether it be money, spiritual guidance, or planting some trees," Lisa told me. "When I was growing up, I was the kid in the family who was called on to do everything - cut my auntie's hair, put up the wallpaper, paint the banners for church, sew clothing, make flyers, whatever. All that was easy for me because I was naturally good with that stuff. Even today, I'm still the one that braids my friends' hair or cooks up some food. I've always felt the need to help others. Lisa didn't believe in death - she thought of it as a transformation - and said that she wasn't one to cry at a funeral. And while it's hard not to cry for Lisa, because we will miss her energy, talent, and immense creativity, it's comforting to imagine her spirit transformed into something much bigger and brighter than her tiny body could contain. She will always be our supernova and she will forever live in the hearts of those who love her.

Lisa Lopes is remembered by some of her loved ones and colleagues.

ROZONDA "CHILLI" THOMAS

It's been so hard for me and Tionne. I don't even know what to do with myself. Sometimes I'm okay, then I break down. Half the time I'm in denial about it. I miss and love her so much. You never get over something like this. It's something that we gotta deal with forever, because we have to continue to work. TLC still goes on. Tionne and I are still working in the studio; Lisa is already on songs. The whole album is dedicated to her. Lisa and I clicked real quick. She immediately moved into my house, 'cause she was staying with Perri [Pebbles]. We lived together for like two months. I was waking up and going to sleep with this girl every day. It's like the love started right there for me. That's why everything that we've ever gone through, even during the difficult times, it's like there was never love lost. When I was over at Lisa's mom's house, just seeing her broke my heart. All I was able to ask her was if she wanted something to eat. Other than that, I was scared and just felt uncomfortable. I mean, it's sad when anything happens to anybody, but it's like I just never ever thought in a million years it would be this.

TIONNE "T-BOZ" WATKINS

Lisa and I were actually in a group together before Rozonda, called Second Nature. We clicked right off, 'cause she was outgoing, fun, feisty, and down, like me. She liked to ride roller coasters and party. So I was like, Oh we gonna click, she's like right up my alley. I remember one of my first birthdays spent with her and Chilli. Lisa airbrushed this whole yellow outfit for me. It was when Gap had out the color jeans and jacket to match. She airbrushed it

right in Rozonda's basement. It was the most awesome thing I had ever seen in my life, and I had no idea that she could draw like that. I still have that outfit. It was just one of the best gifts I'd ever gotten, 'cause it came from her natural talent. She could set her mind to anything she wanted. We got along a lot more than we argued. I've always accepted Lisa for how she was, whether we agreed or not. In any person's life and family, you can always agree to disagree, but that doesn't mean you don't love them

DALLAS AUSTIN

When I met with TLC to do the first record, Lisa and I became the tightest first. We were like Bonnie and Clyde at one point. This never started off as a business. It's hard enough to lose a friend that you might have hung out with on a normal basis, played basketball, whatever. But when you lose a person who's involved in the biggest experiences of your life? You really can't express the importance of a person who you've shared that stuff with.le's so big that it's not like losing a person; ie's like the rest of that experience goes somewhere else. I want people to know that I love her. The magic that all of us had in making records together... We didn't start an album until we sat down with her. Once I met with Lisa, and once she told me the visual ideas, once me and the other girls more or less could hear all that, then I could make that come to life with the production end of it. Nobody could move without that kickoff from Lisa. From day one, it was never a misunderstanding that she wanted to do her own record. She was like, "You're right that through TLC we have a certain image that can only go so far, but I should be able to express myself in some way if I can't get it through. People thought she was crazy to go to Death Row, but I understood it. She was looking for a creative outlet. You can't even imagine the frustration when a creative person can't express herself. She'd always be like "I'm not just an eight-bar rapper." Her creativity was number one."

HYPE WILLIAMS

At one time, Lisa was a very confused person, and what she found in Honduras was peace. She was always a very rare and creative person, and I connected with her in various stages in her life. Honduras really helped her to learn to love herself for who she was. People should realize that, no matter what happened, she was really happy there. I don't think anybody realizes the girl was there, like, six times a year, even going by herself. No matter how tragic the situation was, she died in the place that she loved most. That's not Atlanta, not being in front of a camera; it's none of those things. She looked everywhere - different religions, disciplines, yoga - looked through all kinds of things to find peace. And she finally found it in Honduras. If we can die happy, that's all anyone can ask for.

ANDRE RISON

She was a blessing to this earth. She was not only my best friend. she was my soulmate and like a wife to me. Her stature was small, but you can't put a size on her heart. A lot of times people couldn't see what I could see. I really didn't give a damn, because I knew the true lady, and I knew what her heart carried. I was down with her 'til the end, and I'm still down with her.

ADRIENNE MUHAMMAD, close friend and former Left Eye Productions employee

When I got a call to come work for her,I was like, Oh no, I would never work for her, But I went to the house to meet her anyway. She had this little rag on her head, and was wearing a little tank top and some funny little shorts. She just looked at me, didn't even say hi, just gave me a hug and said, " So you're my new A&R person." Her energy was so inviting, and it was so different from what F thought it would be, r was hooked. I didn't know about

my salary, didn't have a start date, didn't know anything. Our first event was at e children's hospital in Atlanta. She

stayed all day signing autographs and visiting with the children. She cried because these kids were dying, and I never expected her to be that way. She was in the process of starting a nonprofit organization, with all the money going to children's charities, every bit of it. She had acres of property next to Dr. Sebi [founder/director of Usha Village] and wanted to expand his whole herbal retreat operation. She really was a beautiful person.

PERRI "PEBBLES" NIXON, former manager

Lisa was a very special person in my life. I can still remember the joy and excitement we shared forming and developing the vision for TLC. She truly was like a daughter to me. The trials and tribulations we shared in the music business seemed far behind us when we talked together last year. She still had that same loving smile, energy, sparkle, and drive. I told her how proud I was of) her growth and accomplishments. At the end of our joyous conversation, I said, Lele, I have always loved you, and always will. She replied, "I love you too, Perri." That meant so much to me.

ANTONIO "L..A." REID

Lisa oftentimes would reach out to me. And where I could offer guidance, F would. But for t the most part, I was just an ear for Lisa; I was there to listen. She told me that she thought me of as her father in many respects. I had no idea that I had that kind of impact on her life. She explained to me that she'd never raise her voice, she'd never use profanity in my presence, she'd never be disrespectful in my presence. I have so much love for Lisa... and she will be missed, absolutely.

KENNETH "BABYFACE" EDMONDS

She was a sweet girl, but she came hard. She had edge, and it was not an act. We never had any bad blood, and even in bad times, she would come and get my opinion about things. She felt things passionately and brought that to TLC. Lisa was pure rock 'n' roll.

NATINA REED, of Blaque

When I met her in 1993, I already felt connected to her. She came up to me and said, "You remind me a lot of myself. You're not ashamed to rap in front of people. You're very energetic. You have an attitude, and I love that about you." We were like sisters. My son, Tren, is her godson. And right before she went to Honduras, she asked me to bring the baby by. The last memory have is her telling me that she doesn't know how to burp a baby. We kind of just laughed. She was like, "I gotta get used to this if I'm gonna have a godson." She was like an angel -there's really no other word to describe her.

USHER

I think I cried for an hour straight. i tried to go out, but it didn't work - I just broke down right where I was. I will make sure that the individuals like Lisa who paved the way for us to be successful are not forgotten.

JERMAINE DUPRI

Left Eye stayed with me sometimes before TLC got signed. She was like the cool tomboy, always having fun. I was young back then, so she used to get me to do crazy shit. Like one night I stole my mother's car to pick her up from some dude's house down in the 'hood. We just got a lot of memories like that. As long as you were in her mix, it was all good.

MAX GOUSSE, personal manager from 1999 to early 2001

Lisa was one of the most creative artists I've ever worked with. She was the driving force behind a lot of TLC's marketing. She really cared about the fans and did everything possible to please them, like the whole Fanmail concept. She taught a whole generation of young females to speak their minds. And when confronted with the establishment, she always stuck to her guns and did what she wanted to do, and she was respected for that.

SALAAM REMI, producer, "The Block Party" single, other tracks on Supernova

We started to record about a year ago. During that time, my mom passed. Lisa went to the botanical gardens and got these plants. She and her assistant came into the studio with their arms full of them. And I'm asking, Where are those going? And she's like, "They're for you. I was still in mourning, and that was a little bit of compassion. She brought me something that was gonna have life.

ESTHERO, singer, collaborator on Supernova

She was more connected to her spiritual world than she was to the physical. She gave me Letter to Earth, by Elia Wise. Inside, she wrote, "Aside from the book called The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, by Deepak Chopra, this book would be my favorite. Very easy to read, lots of info. I hardly ever read a book from front to back cover, because all the answers are within. This will serve you as great food for thought. And thank you so much for everything, Lisa."

ROCKWILDER

She was always putting me up on what was going on spiritually and mentally. I smoke, so she rolled up a blunt in an

onion peel. She took a little slice of an onion and rolled this weed up, and said, With this, there's no toxins in the blunt." It was real natural and didn't taste like an onion. I learned something new every time I was with her.

SEAN NEWMAN, former boyfriend

The last time I saw her was right before she went to Honduras. We remained friends, so we hung out, went to clubs, talked. She was very down to earth, didn't think she was a superstar, didn't act like a superstar. There was nothing vain or materialistic about her. The only thing that mattered to her was the real stuff. She wasn't about cars, clothes, or houses. She was more of a people person. A beautiful person lost...people don't even understand.

RAPHAEL SAADIQ

I had a very enlightening experience working with her on the forthcoming TLC album. She was always smiling, coming up with ideas, understanding the concepts-she just really wanted to be involved with the whole music-making process. About three months ago, she kept me in the studio until six in the morning. She kept wanting to redo this song called "Us." The other girls had gone home, but she just wanted to stay and keep working all night.