April 25 marked ten years since Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes perished in a car crash in Honduras. The firecracker rapper from TLC was just 30 years old, and Left Eye’s bandmates and friends, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, have continued to face the challenge of recording and performing without her by their side. Though there have been fits and starts — remember the 2005 UPN reality series, R U The Girl, and winner, O’so Krispie? — TLC has mostly remained on permanent hiatus.

Just this past weekend I was commenting to a friend that T-Boz and Chilli should get on with it already, though I didn’t realize the anniversary of Left Eye’s death was just days away. It’s been a real shame we’ve been left without the surviving TLC members’ talents for so long, and I suggested T-Boz and Chilli consider incorporating a Left Eye hologram for any live performances, a la 2Pac’s resurrection at Coachella.

Well, things seem to be cooking again on the TLC tip. In an exclusive Essence interview marking the 10th anniversary of Left Eye’s death, T-Boz and Chilli shared details of an upcoming VH1 biopic about the group (penned by the writer of What’s Love Got To Do With It) and disclosed that a new TLC album and tour are also in the works. For the latter, it’s likely that footage of Left Eye will be projected on screen rather than a hologram, though there is time for that to change.

These new plans coincide with TLC’s 20th anniversary, a much happier milestone and one that deserves recognition. The ’90s wouldn’t have been the same without TLC, who remains one of the biggest-selling girl groups in music history. As it happens, 20 years ago this week, T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their debut single, “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg.”

Produced by Dallas Austin, who co-wrote it with Left Eye, “Ain’t To Proud 2 Beg” was a perfect introduction to TLC’s playful, forward attitude. The song was basically a request for sex, and one that quickly had us all singing along. “Two inches or a yard, rock hard or if it’s saggin’…”

Purchase TLC – “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.