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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2009 > January > 26 > Entry
First Listen: Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’s “Eye Legacy”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Eye Legacy” Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. Mass Appeal Entertainment. 14 tracks. Grade: C+
If this CD came out today — and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes were still alive— it would probably be considered extraordinary; if for no other reason than there isn’t a single female rapper on Billboard’s current rap singles chart.
Instead, this CD comes out almost seven years after the Atlanta hip-hop superstar died in a car accident in Honduras. And it is really just ordinary Left Eye.
(A description that will surely make those who knew and/or followed the 30-year-old over the course of her four-CD career with Atlanta trio TLC laugh— as she was anything but ordinary).
Here, as on her TLC records and guest appearance on others, Lopes is fun (“Crank It”); inspirational (“Spread Your Wings”); a gifted storyteller (“Let It Out”) and at times a rapper a little too focused on delivery and each last word of a line rhyming that she comes across forced (“Listen”).
The occasional problem with posthumous hip-hop albums — think late rappers 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G. — is that they almost inherently crackle with the energy and language and melodies of the moment. Put that same material out years after it was recorded, it sounds dated.
Luckily “Eye Legacy” doesn’t have that issue — as while only a few of these singles might actually feel 2009 (“Block Party,” “Let’s Just Do It”), Lopes’s specialty was rapping about emotions, hopes and fears. Topics that can’t be confined to a particular time period. And quite a legacy, indeed.
Plan to pick up “Eye Legacy”? Did you hear her solo CD “Supernova”? Have a favorite Left-Eye verse?
(See YouTube clips of some of her more memorable video performances below)
Comments
By Get Educated
January 27, 2009 8:42 AM | Link to this
Who the hell cares?
By Rich
January 27, 2009 9:27 AM | Link to this
Never heard of her.
By You Care
January 27, 2009 9:32 AM | Link to this
You care. You took your valuable time to comment. Why waste the keystrokes if you don’t care.
By LAKEISHA
January 27, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this
GET EDUCATED and Rich, where have you to been?
By Get Educated Rich
January 27, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this
Sorry we’re idiots!
By KayKay
January 27, 2009 10:11 AM | Link to this
Rich is either a liar or the most ignorant person walking… One third of the most successful girl group of all time should be someone you’ve heard of. And, if you truly have not heard of Left Eye, you’re obviously not a music lover… why are you even reading this article??
I miss Left Eye’s talent and unique rap style. RIP…
By Mike D
January 27, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this
Great back in the day. Just a little dated now. Bring back Salt and Pepper.
By TexasBoy
January 27, 2009 10:45 AM | Link to this
I don’t think that it’s nobody cares, but it has been a long while since TLC has been on the scene. So people probably aren’t interested in hearing anything musical from Left Eye. Even if T-Boz and Chili were to put something out now. People just wouldn’t be interested.
By malika s. flowers
January 27, 2009 11:00 AM | Link to this
sonia, i love you, but you know how the racists do whenever comments are enabled to talk about black celebrities. blacks don’t get on here and go “who cares?” or “who is that?” when a white celebrity is mentioned, but the moment a black celebrity is mentioned, racists want to jump all over the board, point fingers and call names. i wish that whites would understand that just because they aren’t familiar with something or someone that doesn’t downplay its/their relevance. left eye did a lot of good and she was extremely talented. i’m all for free speech, but the ajc boards cross the line from free speech to hate speech all too often.