The legendary video director Hype Williams, who dominated the music scene during the late 90’s and beyond, is set to help one of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’ dreams finally become a reality — he wants to release a book using photographs he shot with her in Honduras back in 2001.
Left Eye originally had plans to release a book, which she wished to title, “Open“, to feature a variety of exclusive photographs she shot with Hype in Honduras. The Lopes family initially cited lack of Lisa’s input as reasons why the book was discontinued after her unfortunate passing in 2002 — she hadn’t written enough material to create the book.
Hype Williams recently took to social media (Oct 30) and shared numerous throwback photographs of some of his greatest moments on his video sets and photo shoots with Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Diddy, Ma$e, Aaliyah, Mariah Carey, Kim Kardashian, Kelis and Foxy Brown.
He also posted a beautiful shot of Lisa from a photo shoot he did with her in 2001, wearing a bubblegum pink Paul Frank flannel pyjama set.
Left Eye in Honduras (2001)
“Left Eye was the sweetest! Like my little baby, and a good friend!”, Hype reminisces. He recalls the time he spent with her in Honduras on the photoshoot. “We shot this in Honduras at Usha Village about one year before she passed. Literally hundreds of rolls of film!”, he exclaimed. “One of the great lights!”.
Following the overwhelming outpouring of love from TLC and Left Eye fans, Hype thanked everyone and told them, “The real thing to do would be to release them all as one Lisa Lopes book. That’s what she wanted”, referring to her planned book, “Open”.
Lisa’s younger sister, Reigndrop Lopes, co-signed his sentiments once she saw his comments a week later. She urged Hype to release the book, saying, “Let’s do it! That’s what she wanted!”.
Left Eye in Honduras (2001)
Hype later announced that the proposition was indeed going to become a reality. On Nov 8, Hype wrote a statement:
“Actually Lisa’s sister and I are going to be working together to release all of them in [a] special limited book and gallery show. Paying homage and tribute to Left Eye and putting the pics out there the way she originally intended”.
Hype then shared a candid shot of himself shopping with Lisa at a local grocery store in Honduras. In the caption he said, “Me and lil Left Eye, grocery shopping in La Ceiba Honduras ❤❤❤ circa 2001”.
Hype Williams directed the 1999 MTV VMA-winning TLC music video, “No Scrubs“, as well as Left Eye’s debut solo release, “The Block Party“, in 2001. Hype made his feature length movie directional debut in 1998 with the film, ‘Belly‘, starring Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Method Man and DMX.
Lisa will most definitely be proud to know that another one of her dreams will soon become a reality.
Will you be purchasing the Lisa Lopes book?
Linda Banks
Can’t wait for the book 💜