The music world is shocked and saddened Friday morning, upon hearing that Lisa ?Left Eye? Lopes, the free-spirited member of TLC, was killed in a car crash in Honduras Thursday night.

Lopes, 30,was vacationing in Central America, a place she frequently visits to relax. She was among seven people in the car but the only fatality, the AP reports.

“We had all grown up together and were as close as a family,” the surviving bandmates, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, said in a statement Friday. “Today we have truly lost our sister.”

TLC debuted in 1992 with “Ooooooh … On the TLC Tip!” They successfully combined the rhythmic vocals of Watkins and Thomas, with the rapping styles of Lopes. The songs “Waterfall,” “No Scrubs” and “Unpretty” put the girls on the map to become one of the best selling female R&B groups.

“No words can possibly express the sorrow and sadness I feel for this most devastating loss,” Arista president L.A. Reid said in a statement. “Lisa was not only a gifted and talented musical inspiration, but more importantly, she was like a daughter to me. My thoughts and prayers are with Lisa’s family and friends. Her legacy will be remembered forever.”

Although the group went on hiatus, a new album was scheduled to be released in September of this year. In recent months, Lopes signed a solo deal with Suge Knight?s ?Death Row Records? under her new persona, “N.I.N.A” (New Identity Not Applicable). She had tried to release a solo album under Arista?s label, but it never hit shelves in North America due to poor radio support.

Ricky J, a rap artist from Montreal, toured with TLC when they visited Canada.

?I actually got to hang and talk to Lisa,” he told andPOP. “She was a kind girl and I had the occasion to make her laugh and I got our times together on video tape. I will cherish those memories.?

Lopes and Ricky J were hoping to soon collaborate on a project.

?Lisa wanted to work with me but she started doing other projects and I was getting involved into other projects. So I guess it got put off for another time… I guess that time shall stand still in time forever now.?

Her manager has flown to Honduras to bring her body back to the United States, the AP reports.






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