14. Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes
TLC may have been a company-formed girl group, but they managed to break out nicely as the performers threw their creativity behind it. Lopes proved that, writing several of their hits like “Waterfall” and pushing their fun style. Their “CrazySexyCool” album sold 23 million copies, making them one of the biggest music acts around. However, stories began to abound of Lopes’ ego making her turn on the band and the famous story of setting fire to her ex-boyfriend’s mansion.
Battling substance problems didn’t help but she seemed to clean up her act, a new solo album and made it clear she wasn’t totally against a TLC reunion one day. On April 25th, 2002, Lopes was driving in Honduras and swerved to avoid an incoming truck. It went off the road, flipping several times with Lopes killed instantly. She was mourned as snuffed just as her career was really taking off more and how her TLC career left more of a legacy behind.
13. Aaliyah
Few times has such a lovely talent been snuffed out too soon. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Detroit, this gorgeous young woman appeared on Star Search at 10. She began breaking out in the late 1990s as a singer and model, her R&B tunes winning over those looking for a break from the “bubblegum pop” of the time. Aailyah also began appearing in movies like Romeo Must Die and her soulful tunes and terrific style soon had her being called the “Young Queen of R&B.”
On August 25th, 2001, she joined members of her recording company on a flight from the Bahamas. The pilot was unlicensed and had drugs in his system when the plane crashed off the islands, killing all on board. It was a shocking move as Aailyah was about to promote her newest album and had just filmed her role as a vampire in Queen of the Damned. Many have mourned not just her, but the great career cut too short and a wonderful life ending fast.
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