Today in Hip-Hop: Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes Burns Down Andre Rison’s Mansion
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes
Age: 30 (Deceased)Years Active In The Game: 12
Notable Songs: “No Scrubs”; “Waterfalls”; “Girl Talk”
Why She Is The Best: Better known as one-third of the Grammy Award-winning group TLC, Left Eye had boundless potential that showed in her original raps. Balancing out the hip-pop melodies of T-Boz and Chilli, Left Eye’s rhymes were often dynamic. We can recite many of her lyrics from TLC’s hits that sometimes make it feel like she never left. While the late lyricist had a short solo run with her only posthumous release, 2009’s Eye Legacy, she’ll forever be remembered for her outspoken attitude and flamboyance. That colorful personality can never be replicated.
On this day, June 9, in hip-hop history...
1994: Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC was not only the fire spitting MC of the '90s girl-group era, but she was also a firecracker when it came to fighting.
Just after TLC dropped their debut album, 1992's Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip , Lopes began dating Atlanta Falcons football star Andre Rison. The tumultuous couple had many physical altercations in the past but nothing that compared to what happened in the early morning hours of June 9, 1994.
When Andre returned home around 5 A.M. from a night of clubbing, Lisa was furious that the wide receiver had bought himself a bunch of new shoes and didn't buy her any. After fighting in the driveway and inside the house, Andre attempted to leave. That's when Lopes took all the new gear, threw it in a bathtub and lit it on fire. She then took a vaccuum cleaner pipe, went outside and started bashing in the windows to his cars. Amid their struggles, the couple forgot about the fire until smoke was billowing out of the roof.
The fire engulfed the entire mansion, burning it to the ground and leaving just a charred skeleton structure.
The next day, on June 10, Lopes turned herself into the Atlanta police and was charged with felony arson. She was released on $75,000 bail and five days later, her lawyer announced that Lopes would voluntarily entered rehab. Lopes was sentenced to live in a halfway house, was charged with $10,000 in fines and would remain on probation for five years.
Related: J. Cole Features TLC In Their New Video “Crooked Smile”
25 Great Left Eye Photos
Today In Hip-Hop: R.I.P. Left Eye