The late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes, former TLC member, would have today celebrated her 51st birthday.

The American rapper, who died in a Honduras car crash 20 years ago, just a month before her 31st birthday, was a part of one of the best selling girl groups in history.

To date, she is the only TLC member to have released a solo album. The trio also consisted of Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins and Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas, who named their group using the first letters from all three of their names.

Lopes stage name is said to have originated from a compliment she received from New Edition member Michael Bivins, who once told her he was attracted to her because of her left eye, which was more slanted than the right eye.

In honour of the American rapper, let us take a look at several timeless TLC and Left Eye bops to add to your playlist.

8. The Block Party

The third track from the artiste’s solo debut album, Supernova, this track tells the story of her fun-filled life as a child.

The accompanying music video for this 2001 song is equally youthful, filled with children doing kid-friendly activities.

7. Red Light Special

Perhaps the trio’s most sensual song, Red Light Special, released in 1994, was written and produced by American singer-songwriter, Babyface.

Released on the groups CrazySexyCool album, Red Light Special hands down fulfills the sexiness of the album’s title.

Speaking about the track, Left Eye said: “You have all these love songs about what the girl’s going to do to the guy. This is like, ‘Look, this is what we want. Do it up’.”

6. U Know What’s Up (Remix)

The U Know What’s Up remix, featuring Left Eye, was recorded by American singer-songwriter Donell Jones.

Both the original and remixed version were featured on Jones’ 1999 album, Where I Wanna Be.

5. Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)

The 16th track from Lil Kim’s Hard Core album, Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix), features a few big names in the industry. This includes Missy Elliot, Da Brat, Angie Martinez and of course, Left Eye.

This female ’90s rap anthem of unity was featured as a bonus track on the Hard Core album and on the soundtrack of the 1997 film, Nothing To Lose.

This version of the song samples Kool and the Gang’s Ladies Night.

4. Unpretty

Unpretty, a 1999 track from the trio’s Fanmail album, focuses on women’s insecurities. In the song, the group encouraged their fans to look inside themselves for confidence rather than through hair extensions, plastic surgery and makeup.

The song was originally a poem written by group member T-Boz, who at the time felt that she was at her lowest.

3. Creep

Another track from the CrazySexyCool album, Creep tells the story of a cheating boyfriend. In need of affection, the girlfriend cheats on him as well.

This song, their first #1 hit, won the group a Grammy Award.

2. No Scrubs

The lead single from the group’s Fanmail album, Scrubs is about men who have nothing going for them, i.e, a worthless man.

Despite being ‘scrubs’, the track goes on to note that these men pursue women nonetheless, while ‘hanging out of the passenger side of their best friend’s ride’.

Gaining huge success, Scrubs won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 2000.

1. Waterfalls

Arguably the groups most recognisable song, Waterfalls, an emotive piece, is the group’s way of expressing how people chase intangible dreams with no thought of the consequences.

With back up vocals from American singer Cee-Lo Green, the track tells two different stories of how two males came to lose their life.

“I was working at the same studio and of course I know the girls too, because we were on the same label, so they just asked me. I didn’t realise at the time what a big song it was going to be,” Cee-Lo shared.

Left Eye, who co-wrote the track, here delivers one of her most memorable rap verses.

Bonus Track

Released on the group’s 1992 debut album, Ooooooohhh… On the TLC Tip, this record takes a deep look into friendships.

It raises concerns about how genuine your friends are, if they will be when you need them or if they are just taking advantage of you.