Lil Mama is making big moves. The “Lip Gloss” rapper has just landed a role as Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in the upcoming TLC biopic for VH1.
MC Lyte revealed the news at the inaugural VIBE Impact Awards. “I don’t know if I’m supposed to say, but I will,” Lyte told Hip Hollywood. “She just got the role as Left Eye in TLC’s new movie. I am so excited for her.”
The film is currently in pre-production, with the group’s two surviving members, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, serving as consultants and executive producers.
The hip-hop pioneer plans to take the 23-year-old under her wing. “I’m gonna put a little bit of my concentration and focus on helping to uplift a sister who is talented, smart, witty, and just had her chances cut too short, and that’s Lil Mama ’cause she is a talented young lady,” explained Lyte.
The two plan to hit the studio this weekend. “We’re working on a hip-hop sisters record,” she said. “I’ll be doing songs with her, with [Lady of] Rage. Monie [Love] will do a song with Yo-Yo. We’re gonna mix it up. It’s gonna be nice.”
The made-for-TV movie series will explore the Grammy-winning trio’s rise to fame with their 1991 debut Ooooooohhh… On the TLC Tip and 1994’s groundbreaking album CrazySexyCool, which sold more than 22 million albums worldwide and made them one of the most successful female groups of all time.
Fans will also relive darker moments from the group’s storied career including T-Boz’s battle with sickle-cell anemia, the ladies’ financial woes, Left Eye burning down her boyfriend’s home, and her tragic death in 2002.