{{{TLC Singer Killed in Car Crash http://story.news.yahoo.c...s_death_25
Fri Apr 26,11:18 AM ET
By TANIA FUENTEZ, Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA (AP) - Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, the effervescent, sometimes volatile member of the Grammy-winning trio TLC, was killed in a car crash while on a humanitarian visit to Honduras, officials said.}}}

Lopes, who would have turned 31 next month, was traveling in the Central America nation when the accident happened Thursday night, Arista Records' spokeswoman Laura Swanson said.

"No words can possibly express the sorrow and sadness I feel for this most devastating loss," said Arista president L.A. Reid, who helped shape the career of the Atlanta-based R&B group, one of the best-selling female groups in history.

The crash happened near Jutiapa, 150 miles north of Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital. "The car rolled for reasons that we still don't know, and that are being investigated," police spokesman Luis Aguilar said. The other six people in the car were taken to a hospital.

She had been visiting La Ceiba, another Honduran city. According to the U.S. Embassy spokesman in Honduras, Carlos Bakota, Lopes often visited the region and was working with a child development center there.

TLC, which also includes Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, had such hits as "Waterfall," "No Scrubs" and "Unpretty." Their latest album was "FanMail."

"We had all grown up together and were as close as a family," the surviving bandmates said in a statement. "Today we have truly lost our sister."

Their songs delivered a message of female empowerment, using sassy, tongue-in-cheek rhymes. The lyrics to "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "Waterfalls," and "No Scrubs" were straight from the streets yet poignantly addressed safe sex, AIDS (news - web sites), black on black crime and self-respect.

The group made its debut in 1992 with the disc "Ooooooh ... On the TLC Tip!" Their unique sound, which paired Watkins and Thomas' vocals with Philadelphia-born Lopes' fast-paced, squeaky-voiced rhymes, along with their baggy wardrobe with condoms attached, made them an immediate sensation.

Lopes' nickname came from her habit of replacing one lens of her glasses with a condom during performances.

In 1994, the band returned with "CrazySexyCool" — Lopes was dubbed the "crazy" member of the group, Thomas the "sexy" one and Watkins the "cool" one. The quadruple platinum album saw the women abandon their sometimes gimmicky image to evolve into a critically acclaimed group. The disc included the No. 1 hit "Creep" and won them the first two of their four Grammy Awards.

The band also soon became know for its flashy, hyper videos and picked up a clutch of MTV Video awards. Lopes even was a host for MTV's daily show, "The Cut."

Lopes delivered her lines with authority.

"No Scrubs," written by members of another Atlanta group, Xscape, drew attention for its take on underachieving men with overactive egos. "I'm looking like class and he's looking like trash," it says. It even inspired an answer song from the hip-hop group Sporty Thievz, "No Pigeons," which took aim at gold-digging women. "You birds wanna take over?" it says. "Get some cash and a Jenny Jones makeover."

But with success came enough turmoil to fill a VH1 "Behind the Music" special. The trio declared bankruptcy a few years ago, citing poorly structured recording contracts. Watkins was hospitalized several times, suffering from sickle cell anemia.

In 1994, Lopes pleaded guilty to arson in a fire that destroyed the million-dollar mansion of her boyfriend, former Atlanta Falcons receiver Andre Rison. Lopes was sentenced to a halfway house and five years' probation, plus a $10,000 fine.

Lopes admitted she started the fire after an argument with Rison. The two later broke up, only to reunite and break up again. However, last year they announced plans to marry.

Infighting among group members also was reported. In 2000, after the release of the triple-platinum disc "Fanmail," Lopes challenged Watkins and Thomas to put out solo albums, and let fans determine who was the most popular group member. But her own solo album, "Supernova," was shelved last year when radio stations showed little interest.

In an interview with The Associated Press last year, Watkins dismissed talk of a rift.

"With three women, you agree to disagree. I'm not always going to agree with Lisa and she's not always going to agree with me," she said. "That's fine."

TLC had been on hiatus, but had recently been in the studio working on a new record due to have been released this year.

In the past few months, Lopes reportedly signed a solo deal with Suge Knight's Death Row label to put out another solo project under the pseudonym, "N.I.N.A." (New Identity Not Applicable). She also helped start the group "Blaque," an R&B trio who had the hit "Bring It Home To Me."

The embassy said Lopes had visited Honduras frequently since Hurricane Mitch killed thousands and caused billions of dollars in damage across Central America in 1998.

Police did not identify the other six people riding in the car with Lopes, but Bakota said he believed they also had been working at the child development center with Lopes.

Lopes' manager flew to Honduras to bring her body home, her record label said.

Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

left eye closes both eyes now.... ;(

They're my favorite girl group. My first concert was a TLC show a few years ago when they were promoting "Fanmail".

It's awful waking up to news like this.

Left Eye was a unique talent and I for one will miss her dearly....

The girl had so much life in her...so many more years to live...and then the talk of marriage...the girl was really settling down.....May God rest her soul and may she have experienced Sweet Salvation....
In Jesus Name

I AM SO SORRY AND VERY SADDEN ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN 2 LISA LEFT EYE..MY HEART GOES OUT 2 HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS.I KNOW THAT SHE WILL BE LOOKING DOWN ON HER LILTTLE GIRL WITH A SMILE EACH AND EVERYDAY.MAKING SURE HER LIFE IS FILLED WITH LOVE.LISA HAS FOUND HER LADDER.SHE HAS NOW CLIMB UP IN 2 THE ARMS OF GOD.SHE WILL BE MISSED.

R.I.P.... will her death row records album ever come out then?

1st Alliyah now Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes...the music world has lost 2 gifted talents but Heaven has gained 2 more angels for the choir.

R.I.P. Sweet Baby...

This is a sad loss to music, very sad...

peace we rise

Just as time allowed us to get over the tragic death of Aaliyah, the RnB world mourns the loss of another of it's members. Just like with Aaliyah's "Age ain't nothing but a number",We went through College with "CrazySexyCool" on everyones walkmans. May she rest in peace.

REST IN PEACE.
LOVE 2 HER CLOSEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
CHILLI & T-BOZ I'M WITH U...I LOVE U GIRLS. SHE WAS GREAT AND SO BEAUTIFUL...IT'S SO SAD BUT @ LEAST AALIYAH WON'T B ALONE NO MORE.
FROM URUGUAY WITH SO MUCH LOVE. I ALSO TURN ON A CANDLE IN HER HONOR, AND I'M PLAYING TLC MUSIC...RED LIGHT SPECIAL.
I LOVE THE PRINCE'S COVER OF IF I WAS UR GIRLFRIEND.

AND...BUDSMOKER SUGE KNIGHT SAID HE'LL NOT RELEASE ANY OF THE CUTS SHE HAS RECORD 4 DEATH ROW, COZ HE DON'T WANT MAKE A TREASURE OF THIS TRAGEDY. AND I'M AGREE WITH THAT. SUGE AIN'T PUFF DADDY.
PEACE AND B WI

I didn't know Lisa personally, but I feel very close to the sorrow and smpathy that is shared among family, friends and fans alike. Despite all of the controversial media that seemed to have surrounded "left-eye", I always felt that she was a very serious artist and a very down-to-earth kind of person. This tragedy really weakens my emotions for the group, TLC. These ladies really knew have to jam. My prayers and thoughts are with T-Boz and Chilli, their family and freinds; not to mentioned, the family of Lisa Lopes. May the comfort of the HOLY SPIRIT bring you peace, hope and closure in this hour of sorrow.

You know, you got to have loved her! I mean, seriously! She stood out! And she wasn't ashame of showing her feelings. And she is so sexy! I've always loved her eyes and the way she danced. Heaven couldn't have found a more beautiful angel. However, it seems as though we are losing a lot of good young talent at the height of their careers. Aaliyah, Left-Eye, 2pac, Biggie and maybe a few others that I can not name right now. But as for Lisa, we all love and have loved you! Your life will be sorely missed upon this land. Your voice, your style and your very presence will always remain in our hearts. Sleep peacefully! We love you!

Mark A. Walker - College Park, Ga

My heart goes out 2 her family and friends, especially Prince cause eye know that he was very good friends with her. First his mom passes away this year and then 1 of his
good friends, this is so sad. Keep ur head up P, eye luv u.



























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Like with Aaliyah, I've been a fan of T.L.C. right from the beggining.I also loved all three non T.L.C. singles of Lisa (although I haven't purchased "Supernova").
Baby girl you will always have a very special place in my heart and your music will always stand out as the very best of '90s R&B
Rest In Peace beautiful.We'll never forget you

I am not a fan. But it's tragic that such a young talented girl who was loved by many ,died in such a horrible way.
Rest in Peace.