Announcement, Interview, News, Tribute

Left Eye’s New Headstone to be Laid During 50th Birthday week, Update on ‘Supernova’ Album, Hologram and Biopic TV Series

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Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes would have celebrated her 50th birthday this week (May 27). Her sister, Reigndrop Lopes, took a moment to touch base with the fans to celebrate Lisa’s milestone birthday!

Just like she did last year for the first time, Reigndrop again decided to celebrate via simultaneous live streams on Instagram and Facebook, where she both offered Q&A sessions with fans and did some trivia questions for fans to win items with Left Eye on it.

  • Reigndrop Lopes on Facebook Live May 27, 2021

Reigndrop revealed that the new one-of-a-kind, 3D-textured headstone, created by Tim Morris aka Tim Cemetery which was announced in 2019, will finally be installed at Lisa’s gravesite at Hillandale Memorial Gardens in Stonecrest, Georgia on May 29.

“The next time you visit the gravesite you will see the new headstone”, Reigndrop announced to the fans. “We are laying it on the 29th”. Tim Cemetery also posted a cryptic message via Facebook on Lisa’s birthday, stating that he was on his way!

Reigndrop, Wanda and Ron Lopes unveil Left Eye’s updated headstone in 2019
Tim Cemetery on his flight to Atlanta to prepare for the instalment of Lisa’s new headstone

Future Left Eye music plans

“The music that we have left from Lisa, I’m probably going to use it for one of her film and book projects, and I’ll probably release a couple more. But I don’t like messing with and changing Lisa’s music as far as remixing it. I don’t like doing that, because she puts so much of her into the songs on “Supernova”, I kinda just want to leave them alone and use them like that. But, I may do a poetry book with her lyrics.”

Covering a Left Eye rap in a TLC song

“Of course [I would], any time! It would just have to be the right opportunity. I would do that in a heartbeat!”

Book plans

“I’m working on Lisa’s book. I’m actually working on two books. One book is a memory book, with people’s memories of Lisa. And one is her biography.”

Biopic TV series

“I’m working on her film which I actually want to be a series. It’s more fitting, because you can’t really fit someone’s entire life story in a 2-hour movie. It’s just not possible. I’ve always thought that, so I want it to be a series. I do not have a release date for it yet, as I am still working with the writer. When I get to the point where I think it’s ready to come out I will let the fans know first. I think I’ll do a documentary with lots of footage and then a series about her life”.

“Supernova” release on 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. 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”.

First time meeting T-Boz and Chilli

That was so long ago! I don’t really remember because when TLC first came out I wasn’t aware of how big the group was, I just saw them as my sisters friends, until TLC became more established I realised how big they were. But yeah, they were like my big sisters. They will always be family”.

Left Eye Hologram

“I’m okay with it but how do you guys feel about a Left Eye hologram? I think it would be dope! I’m definitely for it.”

Keep up with the latest on Reigndrop Lopes on Instragram.

For more info on the work of Cemetery Tim follow him on Instagram.

Do you want to see a Left Eye hologram?

Announcement, Appearance, Lifestyle, News, Television

Pandemic Movie ‘After Masks’ Starring T-Boz Scheduled For Release In May 2021

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The beautiful Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins is making her way back into the movies this year! Vision Films are proud to announce the upcoming release of their latest movie, ‘After Masks‘, scheduled for release in May.

As we previously revealed back in October, T-Boz will be playing the role of Cheryl in the film. ‘After Masks’ is a 5-part anthology film, each addressing a different theme, and are seamlessly woven together with interstitial artistic commentary by Narrator, Mitchell Hoog (Saved by The Bell 2020).

T-Boz will star in the chapter, ‘Hold On‘, with a Black Lives Matter theme, directed by Tayo Amos. Synopsis: A spirited black woman’s personal and professional relationships are strained when she confronts the trauma of racist police brutality.

Other stories in the movie include:

Isolation: Winners
Directed by Manaal Khan and featuring Alexandra Rodriguez
An over-zealous, aspiring writer loses herself in routine in order to endure months-long solitude.

Faith: Ushering The Light
Directed by Rebekah Wiggins and featuring Frances Lee McCain, Drea Berg
A conservative Jewish couple struggle to preserve their relationship after the loss of their two-year-old son.

Identity: Clownfish
Directed by Rebekah Wiggins and featuring Lindsay Sparks, Ruth Lieberman
At odds with society’s expectations, a grieving widow slowly supplants her own identity with that of her late husband.

Self: Quarantales
Directed by John Crockett and Brian McCulley and featuring Krista Allen (Baywatch), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), Eliza Roberts (Animal House), Debra Wilson (MadTV), Michael Welch (Twilight), Amber Lynn Ashley, Ted Maritz, Brian McCulley, Jason Potter, and John Crockett
During months-long isolation, six individuals confront their inner demons when they are no longer able to hide from themselves.

A bonus chapter, Past Cure, directed by Carmelo Chimera and featuring Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager) will be available exclusively on the DVD.

The film will even feature one of TLC’s greatest tracks from recent years, the thought-provoking “American Gold“, lifted from their last album in 2017, which will serve as the perfect soundtrack to ‘After Masks’.

Despite the movie being filmed by the actors themselves during the stay-at-home order due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, this is not a recorded Zoom call. Co-Executive producer Andrew Burrill hopes that viewers enjoy the movie like a time capsule of the current times.

“We approached ‘After Masks’ with the utmost respect and aimed to create an authentic, living time capsule that reflects a multigenerational and diverse perspective of Covid-19″, he told PR Newswire. “I hope audiences find a moment of truth within After Masks and that our film inspires and provides an opportunity for others to reflect and ultimately follow hope above all else.”

‘After Masks’ will be available on major streaming and cable platforms in the US on May 18 including: iTunes, Microsoft Xbox, Amazon Instant, Google Play, Vudu, Vimeo, Hoopla, and across hundreds of cable providers including Comcast, Spectrum, Charter, Cox, Dish, DirecTV and more.

Canadian cable providers include Rogers and Shaw. The DVD will be available at online retailers including Amazon on June 8.

Everyone has a story. What’s yours?

Announcement, Appearance, Interview, News

T-Boz & Chilli Add Some TLC on Tiana Kocher Single “Same Lame”

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Singer-songwriter Tiana Kocher surprised the world today (April 9) with the release of her new single, “Same Lame“, which appeared to feature some very familiar TLC vocals on the track!

She initially revealed that the single featured T-Boz, and had this to say about the amazing collaboration when she spoke to Clout. “Growing up I’ve always listened to TLC and I consider them one of my biggest inspiration when it comes to my music alongside SWV, Aaliyah, Brandy, Tamia and others.”

Speaking of working with her TLC idols, Tiana says it “was definitely a big ‘pinch me’ moment and I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to work with her and learn from her. We wanted to create the “No Scrubs” of 2021 so this is how the song came about. I want this song to serve as a friendly reminder to always remember your worth.”

TLC fans were quick to notice that Chilli’s distinct tones could also be heard with the harmonies along with T-Boz, leading to Tiana announcing the surprise and updating the credentials on her social media.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNdPbAOHKHs/?igshid=1lhux6d170le0

The talented singer-songwriter Candace Wakefield also worked on the track with her. Candace worked on various tracks for the final TLC album in 2017.

Tiana collaborated with TikTok to raise money for the Philippine Red Cross through her #DontTripChallenge, which has generated over 24 million views marking an amazing “staying connected” awareness and community campaign, as well as driving much needed funds to the charitable organization.

To learn more about Tiana, check out her website https://www.tianakocher.com/about/

You can hear the full track with TLC below. Let us know your thoughts on the new single!

History, Interview

Kandi: “I Wasn’t Sure ‘No Scrubs’ Would be a TLC Single With Chilli on Lead Vocals Instead of T-Boz”

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Kandi Burruss of the 90’s R&B girl group Xscape and most recently known as a long-term cast member on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta, opened up to Entertainment Weekly this week about some of the mega-hits that she has helped to carve out for other artists during her Xscape downtime.

Along with her group member Tameka “Tiny” Harris, the duo penned a number of Billboard number one hits and Grammy Award winning singles, most notably for their girl group peers, “Bills, Bills, Bills” for Destiny’s Child, and before that, the worldwide record-breaking “No Scrubs” for TLC.

Kandi reflects on the moment record label boss LA Reid got hold of her “No Scrubs” demo, produced by Shek’spere, and immediately wanted it for TLC. “I was like, ‘Cool. Let them have it’, because I always wanted to write for other artists, I just didn’t know how to do it”, Kandi admits.

She then touches on the subtle rivalry the industry placed on girl groups. It was also no secret that Jermaine Dupri wanted himself a group like TLC, and would guide Kandi to sing low like T-Boz. “There’s always that low-key rivalry thing that would go around in the industry. It was like, ‘How are you going to get somebody else to let you write for them, and you’re in a whole other girl group?'”

Despite “No Scrubs” being hugely successful and remains her biggest writing credit to date, Kandi admits that she wasn’t completely sure if the song would make it on the 1999 ‘FanMail‘ album at all.

The main reason for Kandi’s uncertainty was the fact that “No Scrubs” marked the first time the roles had switched on a TLC single, with Chilli leading the vocals on the track instead of the regular formula of T-Boz on lead vocals.

“They were going back and forth on what they wanted to do with the song because that’s the first song that Chilli sang lead on. So that’s why I wasn’t really sure if that song was going to be a first single, or even a single at all. Normally, T-Boz was the lead, so I didn’t know if they were going to keep it”, Kandi said.

LA Reid later ran into Kandi at a party and promised her that he was going to make “No Scrubs” the biggest writing hit of her career. “I’m looking at him like, ‘Okay.’ But in my mind I was thinking, ‘Well Xscape, we’ve had some big records… Whatever you say.’ But he wasn’t lying. He was serious, and he really did.”

Chilli did her thing on “No Scrubs” and helped the song to go down in history as the biggest female anthem in the world, that men can also relate to! The song took on a life of it’s own and Left Eye once called it ‘a national anthem’!

Switching up the vocal format was a smart idea which helped to keep TLC fresh and on top of their game.

Which other TLC songs would you want the girls to have fun with? T-Boz leads on “No Scrubs”? Chilli on “Waterfalls” leads? Let us know!