Lopes contributed her own self-written raps to many of TLC's popular singles, including "Waterfalls" and "No Scrubs". Lopes was also a self-taught keyboardist and displayed those talents during her solo spot on TLC's headlining concert performances. She was also known for wearing a pair of glasses with a condom in place of the left eye lens in the beginning of her career, which was one of the ways the group promoted safe sex.
TLC began life as a female trio called Second Nature. The group evolved into TLC - the letters of the band made up of the first initials of the three members - Tionne, Lisa and Crystal. Things didn't work out with Crystal, and TLC's manager Perri "Pebbles" Reid brought in her back up dancer, Rozonda Thomas as a third member of the group. To keep the "initial" theme of the band's name, Rozonda needed a name starting with C, so she took on the nickname Chilli. Fellow bandmate Tionne Watkins became T-Boz, while Lisa renamed herself Left Eye, as she had once been told she had beautiful eyes, "particularly the left eye." Left Eye celebrated her nickname by wearing glasses with a condom over her left eye (also a promotion for safe sex), later evolving to a black stripe under the eye.
The group appeared on the scene in 1992 with the album Ooooooohhh.... On the TLC Tip. With three hit singles, it sold 6 million copies worldwide and TLC became household names. After a few years' break, TLC came back with CrazySexyCool, selling over 15 million copies worldwide and cementing TLC as one of the biggest female groups of all time.
TLC's third album Fanmail was released in 1999 and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. The album's title was a tribute to TLC's loyal fans. The album's sleeve contained the names of hundreds of fans as a thank you to everyone who supported them.
During the recording of Fanmail, a public conflict began between the three members of the group. According to Lopes, their producer Dallas Austin was demanding too much money to produce the new album. As he was dating Chilli at the time, Chilli took his side. Lopes, frustrated by the delay in the recording of the album, sent a message to Vibe magazine saying "I've graduated from this era. I cannot stand 100 percent behind this TLC project and the music that is supposed to represent me." T-Boz and Chilli were furious at Lisa for her public outburst. They went to Entertainment Weekly magazine and told them that Lopes was acting like an abusive boyfriend. Chilli even called her selfish and evil. Lisa was crushed and told Sister 2 Sister magazine that she cried over the interview when she had to see the girls at a performance and pretend everything was fine. She then retaliated by issuing a challenge for T-Boz and Chilli and herself to release solo albums and let the public decide who was the greatest member of TLC:
“ I challenge Tionne 'Player' Watkins (T-Boz) and Rozonda 'Hater' Thomas (Chilli) to an album entitled "The Challenge"... a 3-CD set that contains three solo albums. Each ... will be due to the record label by October 1, 2000... I also challenge Dallas 'The Manipulator' Austin to produce all of the material and do it at a fraction of his normal rate. As I think about it, I'm sure LaFace would not mind throwing in a $1.5 million dollar prize for the winner.”
T-Boz and Chilli declined to take up the "Challenge", though Lopes always maintained she thought it was a great idea.
After Fanmail, Lopes began to expand her solo career. She became a featured rapper on several singles, including former Spice Girl Melanie C's "Never Be the Same Again", which went to #1 in 35 countries, including the UK.[9] She was also featured on the first single from Donell Jones' second album, entitled "U Know What's Up", and she sang "Space Cowboy" with *NSYNC on their 2000 album No Strings Attached Lopes also collaborated on "Gimme Some" by Toni Braxton from her 2000 release The Heat. In 2001 she appeared in two commercials for The Gap, one solo and the other with India.Arie, Liz Phair, and Sheryl Crow, where she was featured singing, instead of rapping, for the first time alone.
Lopes was also the host of the short-lived MTV series, The Cut, a precursor to American Idol in which a handful of would-be pop stars, rappers, and rock bands competed against each other and were judged. The show's winner, which ended up being a male-female rap duo, was promised a record deal and funding to produce a music video, which would then enter MTV's heavy rotation. A then-unknown Anastacia finished in third place, but so impressed Lopes and the show's three judges, that she scored a record deal as well. About nine months before her death, Lopes appeared on the singers' edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire along with Joey McIntyre, Tyrese, Nick Lachey and Lee Ann Womack. She dropped from a $125,000 question and won $32,000 for charity. A year later, in 2002, the episode of her drop was shown and was dedicated to her.
Lopes created "Left Eye Productions" to discover new talent. She helped the R&B trio Blaque to secure a record deal with Columbia Records. Their self-titled debut album was executive-produced by Lopes, who also made a cameo appearance on the album and in their music video "I Do". Lopes was also developing another new band called Egypt.[10]
Lopes spent much of her free time after the conclusion of TLC's first headlining tour behind Fanmail recording her debut album, Supernova. It includes a song titled "A New Star Is Born" is dedicated to her late father. She told MTV News: “That track is dedicated to all those that have loved ones that have passed away. It's saying that there is no such thing as death. We can call it transforming for a lack of better words, but as scientists would say, 'Every atom that was once a star is now in you.' It's in your body. So in the song I pretty much go along with that idea. ... I don't care what happens or what people think about death, it doesn't matter. We all share the same space."
Other tracks covered personal issues including her relationship with Rison. Amongst the album's 12 tracks was a posthumous duet with Tupac Shakur that was assembled from the large cache of unreleased recordings done prior to his murder in 1996. The unreleased song "Left Pimpin" was sampled for the song "Quickie", which is featured on TLC's fourth album, 3D. Initially scheduled for release on a date to coincide with the 10th anniversary of her father's passing, Supernova was then delayed for two months before her American label chose to shelve the project. The album was eventually released outside of the United States, and hardcore American TLC fans caused a demand for import copies of the album from the UK and Japan.
After numerous talks with Death Row Records CEO, Suge Knight, Lopes severed her solo deal with Arista Records (she remained contracted with the label as a member of TLC) and signed with Knight's Tha Row Records, intending to record a second solo album under the pseudonym N.I.N.A. (New Identity Not Applicable). N.I.N.A. was to include several songs recorded by and with Ray J.
Lopes had already started work on both her second solo album and on songs for the fourth TLC album, 3D, when she was killed in a car accident in La Ceiba, Honduras on April 25, 2002. She was the sole fatality of eight people in the vehicle, a Mitsubishi Pajero that she was driving. The vehicle rolled several times, throwing Lisa out of the window. She died from severe head injuries. Lisa's mother Wanda later tried to sue Mitsubishi Motors, as the Pajero was prone to rollovers, according to a 2001 Consumer Reports review. She was thirty years old when she died.
Her funeral was held at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia. Over 30,000 fans came from all over the world to bid her farewell. Engraved upon her white casket was her rap from "Waterfalls": "Dreams are hopeless aspirations, in hopes of coming true, believe in yourself, the rest is up to me and you." Lopes was buried at Hillandale Memorial Gardens, in Lithonia, Georgia
Listen
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now
Now what do you believe?
Who do you receive?
Where do you go next?
And through what exit do you leave?
The questions that I believe confessions go to He
This is for my breed and all life that is conceived
Energy told me you manifest your destiny
What is energy?
It's what you eat
It's what you breathe
It's what you think
It permeates throughout your being
And serves a link to all other energies
That's anything and everything
Moving light that you have never seen
And light carries information
Without hesitation vibrations glean
Through the constellations, manifestation stimulated
Better destination, total creation realizations
And mental concentration
Alienated from the truth
Is why we conversated
Savin' the nation for the youth
Is for my observation
[Chorus: x2]
It don't matter where you come from
If you're gone you like to run, run
Cause the past or the present
Here goes the future
What's your destiny?
I can make you (listen, listen)
Do you ever (listen, listen)
Past or the present
Here goes the future
What's your destiny?
Let's touch on Christianity
I question all humanity
Is God so full of vanity?
That children enter this family
Who haven't yet to see that Jesus is the key
Or suffer this calamity, I cast you down for an eternity
Insanity
You can call me what you want to
But the man in me
Separated from this false reality
Would never be the victim of casualty
For my lack of understanding there's a guarantee
Spirituality hath immortality
No matter your status or nationality
What's your locality notice the fallacy
We all separated by principalities
Billions of galaxies and all you see is this
In the totality of eternal bliss
A life of sin it's all the thin
[Chorus: x2]
You see, we like to make things complicated
You don't have to read books and go to church
To learn about God
And find answers
We don't know how to talk to each other
You know if we all, shut up, be quiet
Then we'll realize that we can really hear each other
And then you'll realize that you already have the answers
[Chorus: x2]
In "Listen", Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes is asking listeners to think deeply about their own beliefs, decisions, and futures. She starts by urging listeners to be open-minded and to consider what they really believe in terms of their origins, destinations, and who or what they receive their guidance from. She explains that energy -what we eat, breathe, and think- is responsible for manifesting our destinies and connecting us to everything else in the universe. She stresses the importance of mental concentration and realizations in order to achieve a better destination and total creation.
Lisa also talks about her questioning of Christianity and its beliefs, asking why God would punish innocent children who haven't even had a chance to learn about Jesus. She emphasizes the idea that spirituality and immortality know no boundaries of nationality, status or locality, and that we are all separated by principalities. She ends the song by urging listeners to find answers within themselves rather than in books or church, and to learn to listen closely to each other and themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
It's for the open minded
This song is meant for those who are open to new ideas and concepts.
Now what do you believe?
Questioning one's own beliefs.
Who do you receive?
Examining where one's beliefs come from.
Where do you go next?
Questioning what actions to take next.
And through what exit do you leave?
Contemplating the consequences of one's actions.
The questions that I believe confessions go to He
The singer believes that confessing one's thoughts and intentions is best done through prayer or other spiritual practices.
Count your many lessons and blessings that they bring
Being grateful for the lessons learned and blessings received in life.
This is for my breed and all life that is conceived
This song is for all people and all living beings.
Energy told me you manifest your destiny
One's energy and thoughts play a role in creating one's own destiny.
What is energy?
Defining the concept of energy and what it encompasses.
It's what you eat
Energy can come from the food one consumes.
It's what you breathe
Energy can come from the air one breathes.
It's what you think
Energy can come from one's thoughts and mindset.
It permeates throughout your being
Energy is constantly present within oneself.
And serves a link to all other energies
One's energy can connect with and affect the energies of others and the universe.
That's anything and everything
Energy is present in all things, animate and inanimate.
Moving light that you have never seen
Energy takes a form of moving light that is not visible to the human eye.
And light carries information
The movement of energy carries information and knowledge.
Without hesitation vibrations glean
Vibrations of energy move without hesitation, and can provide insight and understanding.
Through the constellations, manifestation stimulated
Energy can manifest itself throughout the universe.
Better destination, total creation realizations
By channeling one's energy, one can attain a better future.
And mental concentration
Mental focus and concentration is key to harnessing one's energy.
Alienated from the truth
Feeling disconnected from one's true self and purpose.
Is why we conversated
Communication and conversation can help one find direction and meaning.
Savin' the nation for the youth
The singer's goal is to improve society for future generations.
Let's touch on Christianity
The singer now shifts focus to Christianity.
I question all humanity
The singer has doubts and questions about human nature and existence.
Is God so full of vanity?
The artist ponders whether God is self-absorbed and egotistical.
That children enter this family
Children are born into a family that follows Christianity.
Who haven't yet to see that Jesus is the key
Children may not yet understand the importance of Jesus in Christianity.
Or suffer this calamity, I cast you down for an eternity
The singer suggests that those who do not accept Jesus will suffer eternal damnation.
Insanity
The belief in eternal damnation may be considered crazy by some.
You can call me what you want to
The artist is open to criticism or differing opinions.
But the man in me
The artist's true self and beliefs.
Separated from this false reality
The singer feels disconnected from modern society and its values.
Would never be the victim of casualty
The artist would never let themselves be harmed because of their beliefs.
For my lack of understanding there's a guarantee
The singer acknowledges that they may not fully understand everything.
Spirituality hath immortality
One's spiritual beliefs can provide a sense of eternal life.
No matter your status or nationality
One's beliefs transcend societal status or cultural background.
What's your locality notice the fallacy
Being aware of the limitations and falsehoods in one's immediate environment.
We all separated by principalities
Societal structures and power dynamics can create divides between people.
Billions of galaxies and all you see is this
The universe is vast and complex, yet humans often only focus on their immediate surroundings.
In the totality of eternal bliss, a life of sin it's all the thin
In the grand scheme of things, a life of sin is insignificant in comparison to eternal happiness or salvation.
You see, we like to make things complicated
Humans tend to overcomplicate things and make them more difficult than they need to be.
You don't have to read books and go to church
One can find spiritual guidance and understanding without traditional religious practices.
To learn about God
One can seek knowledge and understanding of a higher power, regardless of religious affiliation.
And find answers
Seeking spiritual guidance can help one find answers to life's questions.
We don't know how to talk to each other
Lack of effective communication hinders understanding and progress.
You know if we all, shut up, be quiet
By being still and listening, one can gain insight and understanding.
Then we'll realize that we can really hear each other
By quieting our own voices, we can better hear and understand others.
And then you'll realize that you already have the answers
When one quiets their mind and listens, they may find that they already possess the answers they seek.
What's your destiny?
Asking about one's fate or purpose in life.
I can make you (listen, listen)
The artist can help others listen and understand.
Do you ever (listen, listen)
Asking if others take the time to listen and be still.
It don't matter where you come from
One's background or upbringing does not define their worth or potential.
If you're gone you like to run, run
If one is always running away or avoiding facing their problems, they will never find resolution.
Cause the past or the present, here goes the future
The choices made in the past and present influence the future.
Chorus: What's your destiny?
Reiterating the theme of questioning one's purpose or fate in life.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amberrxcore
It doesn't matter how long you've been gone from us, we don't miss you ANY less. we love you, lisa!! rest in eternal peace.
@jessicawilliams1176
I just love this song and album so much, more importantly, I love her voice. Happy heavenly 52nd Birthday to my favorite female rapper ever, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes! ❤🥳🎉🎊🕊️5/27/2023
@elohr82
Yes she did believe in God. She had questions and was speaking them into existence to hopefully have others ask these same things if they're listening to her music. Continue. And yes she was.
@tanyaraquel9383
In "A new star is born" she explains most of the stuff
@damitajo10
😱🌌✨❤ OMG I've always wanted to be like her when I was a kid, but I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING UP TO HER NOW AFTER THIS 🎑 🎇 I'm sooo amazed and blown away. Love u sister Lisa!!!
@robertlesuer2755
Deep person 💪, RIP Left Eye 😭, respect 💪💖🤛.
@jamaldavis8709
Love the beat!
@KingIshaqq
this go so hard, perfection
@keandrebarnes648
Left eye my inspiration
@janetandaaliyah
This is my ringtone rite now...