This week marks 22 years since the tragic passing of the iconic, trendsetting and the center of TLC, the dearly beloved Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.
It is an annual tradition for TLC and Left Eye fans to request the release of the debut solo album of Left Eye, ‘Supernova‘, to streaming platforms, on her birthday. And this was no different on the 22nd anniversary of her passing.
To put things into perspective, Left Eye’s album was partially released in 2001, excluding the United States after a lackluster reception to her solo single, “The Block Party“.
Following the tragic loss of Left Eye in April 2002, the future of her solo career was left in limbo, and the rights to her material were put on hold.
The Lopes family had released a tribute album in 2009 via Mass Appeal in the form of ‘Eye Legacy‘ — a compilation of remixed tracks taken from her original album, ‘Supernova’.
‘Eye Legacy’ received mixed reviews, and the majority of fans preferred to have the original album released in its entirety, the way in which Left Eye would have wanted. ‘Supernova’ was a body of work that she was proud of, and it should be kept intact and released to honor her wishes.
Left Eye’s younger sister, Reigndrop Lopes, finally gained control and ownership of the masters for the original ‘Supernova’ album in 2021. Fans have been excited at the news, and Reigndrop hinted that she may release the album on the date Lisa initially wanted it to be released on, August 16.
However, three years have passed since the announcement, and the album has yet to be seen on any streaming platforms. “My family own Lisa’s masters, so you don’t have to go to anyone else to ask them to put it out on streaming”, Reigndrop said in 2021.
“We’re working on it, we’re working on a lot of other stuff, so just be patient. Timing is everything, it’s going to come out when it’s supposed to come out. Just know that your voices are being heard and we’re working on it. A lot of things are happening at the same time which is overwhelming, so we have to pace it out. But it will be out, I promise”.
“We’re working to release ‘Supernova’ to streaming on the date that she originally wanted her album to be released”, Reigndrop announced in 2022. “And if you’re a real fan you already know what the date is, so I don’t have to say it”. Although she added that “plans can change”, she was adamant that,”That date meant something to Lisa, so we’re going to stick to that”.
When questioned about the topic of the album release in 2024, Reigndrop decided to clear the air and make it clear that nothing was set in stone. “Life happens and no promises were made!”, Reigndrop states. “Rest assured, it will be released at the right time. Sometimes things don’t happen when you want them to, but when they need to”.
So, the bottom line is, the album will be released on streaming platforms when the time is right. Reigndrop teased details of a Left Eye biopic in the works in 2022, and that she was working with executive producer Grammy and Oscar winning Elizabeth Hubbard.
The Lopes family will be hosting their first ever annual Left Eye Wellness Expo and birthday party on Sunday, May 26, 2024 to honor Lisa’s memory and legacy.
The location will be at The Atrium, 5479 Memorial Dr. Stone Mountain, GA 30083.
For further details, head over to the Left Eye Expo instagram page.
