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CNN Live Today

Interview With R&B Radio Host Frank Ski

Aired April 26, 2002 - 13:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk more about the life and the work about TLC member Lisa Lopez. R&B radio host from Atlanta, Frank Ski, is my guest now. Good afternoon to you.

FRANK SKI, RADIO HOST: Good to see you.

HEMMER: Wish we could talk in other circumstances. You knew her. How well?

SKI: She was good people. She was good people. You know, living here in Atlanta, she is home grown, home town talent. So, for us, we see her out, see her in the club and see her all the time.

HEMMER: What legacy is left behind by her loss?

SKI: You know, she had a creative edge that was kind of like second to none. The fact that she was part of a group that crossed so many barriers, and she added that special edge to that group that a lot of groups now are trying to get. Many of the R&B female groups nowadays have to go outside the group to get that kind of talent to bring in. But she was part of that group, and just the whole...

HEMMER: You mentioned the edge to her. And if you reflect back upon her life, it was a rocky one at times. Andre Rison (ph), everybody knows about the mansion burning down in Atlanta. The tattoo she used to wear, originally a condom over her left eye. Later, kind of a reflection on a football player, essentially, possibly a reference to Andre Rison (ph), I don't know, but talk about that edge and what that did to the music and the composition.

SKI: You know, it kept it real. You know, it kept it real. A lot of the group nowadays, R&B female groups that are out there, they don't have the connection like that. But having that street connection, having that edge, being real. Bottom line is, you know what, we all have an edge. We all have problems. Fortunately, a lot of our problems are not put on the news, because we're essentially not as famous.

HEMMER: They have an album that was due to be released possibly this summer. That's what the target date was, anyway. Do you know much about it and what the message was?

SKI: Yeah. You know, it's kind of like -- they've been going through transition of having different leads and different people having the creative synergy in there. And before this album was done, there was a lot of talk about the group coming together and using all three of them. So this was going to be an album that really crossed the creative energies of all three of them.

And you know, I talked to Rodney Jerkham (ph) who just produced Michael Jackson's album. I talked to Rodney this morning, and Rodney was with Chilli last night talking to Chilli about producing a couple of the songs on the album. So here's Rodney just coming off Michael Jackson, now he's getting ready to produce their album.

HEMMER: What do you hear from fans calling in on your radio show?

SKI: Sadness. You know, it was too close to be, behind Aaliyah and what we just saw with Aaliyah, same time last year. And you know, and now to see another R&B artist that had such a promising career. She just signed with (UNINTELLIGIBLE), to be lost as well. It's too close.

HEMMER: Have you had a chance to talk with the surviving members of TLC?

SKI: Yeah. I talked with Chilli this morning. And first thing, you know, when I picked up the phone and I said "it's Frank," she started crying, you know, and that's the way it is. She was a sister. She was a family member, and that's, you know, the sad part this morning.

HEMMER: You mentioned Chilli, the surviving members of TLC are going to be on "TALKBACK LIVE" later today, 3:00 Eastern. You know, the Atlanta connection that forges the opportunity here.

Thanks for coming in, Frank.

SKI: Appreciate it. Good to see you again.

HEMMER: Good to see you again, too.

SKI: All right, man, looking good as always.

HEMMER: Kind man. Talk to you later. Thanks.

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