There has been alot of attention on the April 2007 issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine, which features an article with SWV ex-member Leanne “Lelee” Lyons.
Lelee talked to Jamie Foster about her life – before, during, and after SWV – where she was very open with her past struggles. Until now, no one really knew anything about her, especially since ex-members Coko and Taj are still in the spotlight one way or another these days.
Lelee discussed everything from having her first child at 15, to the industry screwing her over, and to her being so homeless to the point where she had to stay in gay clubs. Rumors have speculated that Lelee was infact, a lesbian – though she said in the interview she was seeing somebody (male or female – that I don’t know).
But despite all that, it’s pretty sad if RCA only gave the woman $25,000 when SWV dismantled, which ended up going towards her mother’s funeral and burial. As popular as these girls were? RCA could do better than that!
And if you want to show Lelee some love, hit up her myspace that she visits frequently. Here’s a snippet of her latest blog entry:
I realize there are so many people who go through the same shit everyday,Entertainers are not exempt. My story of LIFE is so true and no book told me what to say or how to say it.There are people at this very moment in the media who are making jokes of my “TRUTH” and i expected that. Im so happy that i am at a point in my life where i dont give a shit what people think of me. They dont define who I am by no means.I realize being me is what makes me happy and I chose not to live for people. The only people that I feel i owe anything to is the FANS. The ones who have followed me thru the years,and supported the whole SWV movement, but never got to know Lelee as an individual.Take me or leave me baby. That was my life and I am forever grateful to all that are inspired by my story because it is the truth.And to all that have shared the struggle with me and millions of other people,be encouraged because when obstacles come your way and you’re going THROUGH…… You’re already half way there.On the other side there is an ending which means your job is done.I love you all and be blessed.
AND FOR THE RECORD,”Lelee is notttttttttt homeless. I sleep very well at night(smile).
Whether its two albums or three albums??? It still sounds like over $100,000 in 1990 when homes cost under $200,000! All of the Jackson 5 (Freddie, Reggie, Jesse, Samuel and Bo) are still living on their 1990′s money!
I agree with CalieSQ, “when God provides, you gotta run with the ball instead of dropping it.”
52. theboyabouttown, you need to chill out! If the $25,000 was part of the contract or arrangment, why are we upset with RCA? And, everyone knows that SWV was a group in the 90s! Whether it was 1991 or 1997, the cost of living was still in her rich favor! This was only one source of money that Lelee received!
If you or #53. Trebonique, know more about her downfall, then shed some light! Otherwise, don’t try to defend your girl and you know she’s bunko! Sometimes, the best way to get back on your feet is to face you’re demise! Who’s to say that she is not a drug taking, lesbian, who still frequents gay establishments???
All we know is that there are some big holes in her story and her motive is to get reconnected with the financial world…not the music industry! The partying has probably taken its toll on her singing!
Trebonique, you clubbed with her…is she lesbian? Or, will that incriminate you? I swear to good, you closeted folks are the 8 wonder of the world! You see the point when you only give have of the story, trying to keep the rest in the closet!
They had better albums than anybody I can name today…that sad.I loved them still do.But like I said before I don’t know if people would buy since this industry changed.
No disrespect to the woman the article is about, but ya’ll can’t get mad at these label’s for taking artist money. You should have you a GOOD ass lawyer and they tell you that. Some people will sign anything and wont even read it, then go on to complain about how they are not getting paid. That contract tells you everything and if you feel you’re getting robbed and didn’t see that shit in the contract get a new lawyer and sue. I read one of those contracts before…And I am so glad it fell through because I would have been screwed.
@ 52 aka “theboyabouttown.”
“Howyoudoin?” You tried to clown me by saying that we don’t know the terms of the contract. You are right. However, the ONLY way to know the terms of the contract are by reading the contract, not by what Lelee says in sister to Sister. But I know two things to be true:
1. You can find a lawyer to represent anyone or anything. If she had anything close to a case against RCA for more money, it could have been brought. She wouldn’t even need money to bring it — it could be done on contigency (lawyer gets a portion of the settlement). She didn’t bring a case. Why not Mr. “boyabouttown?” I am GUESSING that she realized that she didn’t have a case.
2. RCA entered into a contract with her and the rest of SWV for them to make and perform music. SWV and Leleee entered into this agreement FREELY (unless you believe that RCA held her by her feet over a balcony). I can GUARANTEE you that RCA didnt enter the contract so that SWV could go into “indefinite hiatus.” That to me sounds like the group broke up… THEY DIDN’T PERFORM THE CONTRACT. RCA surely didn’t drop them, as they were selling records. RCA probably wanted them to stay together, make more records, so RCA could sell more records. Tell me Mr “boyabouttown,” what should RCA have done differently?
I don’t really care that you are gay, but you are an idiot. You of all people are too dumb to tell me that I must be a bad attorney. Sorry to get personal with you, but you started talking about me incorrectly.
Number 65 however sad but true. These artist don’t read their contracts plain and simple. People lesson number 1 in contract negotions. The word is negotiations. You have an attorney go back and forth with cooperate attorneys to get a contract to you liking, hence the word Negotiate. If you don’t like contract don’t sign it. Plain and simple. These artist don’t read the contracts then get mad at the record labels in saying the gave them an unfair contract.
Attorneys have written books for you (people) the unlearned laymen, about the music industry. There is one by Donald Passam. Everything you need to know about the Music industry. It’s good start.
One more thing it’s called the Music Business. Business being the key word.
Ten specialist that an artist needs:
1. A good Attorney (one who actually tries and wins cases in court)!
2. A good tax Accountant (one who is current with the laws and has swagger)!
3. A good Realitor (one who you can trust)!
4. A good Doctor (like the one 50 cents had)! hehe!
5. A good Banker (someone who knows how to work it)!
6. A good Pastor (one filled with the spirit who knows the Old and New Testiment)!
7. A good Dentist (one who specializes in porcelain veneers)!
8. A good Plastic Surgeon (personal)!
9. A good Personal Trainer (opposite sex)!
10. A good Agent (one who has swagger and poise)!
The industry is a business. You have to be smart and know the game. It sucks she had to go thru that but it makes me wonder what people are doing with their ends when they have them. It seems like no one thinks about retirement and such! And she spent her last 25K on her moms funeral. Child please. You know damn well that you didnt and if you did, that was not the bidness!!!!! Your going to go broke putting your mom to rest. I dont want to sound ungrateful and hurtful but, have a small ceremony and stack the rest. It seems like she wasnt making smart decisions.
I LOVE SWV THO, THEY WERE THE BOMB. For those who dont know( cant believe someone asked who she is) listen to other things besides the radio. research ur history
Your ignorance is something to which I really should not waste my time responding, but I have a few extra seconds so here goes.
I make no claims about whether or not she should sue or was wronged. I only corrected your gross misunderstanding of the article and the facts. So points one and two of your post are both null and void. I did not speak to those issues- I only spoke to your inaccuracy.
I also make no claims regarding my sexuality. Further, your comments would only be valid if I believed that being gay is a bad/negative thing, which I don’t. I did not say I was gay and I also have no shame about gay people. Hence, the crux of your argument that suggests that gay/ignorance are two states of being to be avoided ring on deaf ears with me. Ignorance, of course, is something that I want to alleviate, which is why I just checked your reality.
Any decent lawyer has to be a critical reader and your recount of the events was just busted. Accept the fact that you got exposed and corrected, try better next time and move on. Personal attacks will get you nowhere.
i always thought she might gay. so what. i love SWV! keep ya head up lele!
When i hear news that old school musicians and actors/actresses are broke, homeless, etc, i just ask myself, “Why can’t they get a regular job like everyone else?” Why are they selling themselves, or doing drugs and all types of destructive things? Go work at Home Depot, they have great benefits. lol
@ theboyabouttown:
Damn. Why do you insist on wallowing in your own stupidity? And we already know that “you have a few extra seconds” to respond to my post — you’ve posted on this topic a whopping SIX TIMES! You certainly seemed to have enough time to correct me with regard to the exact timing of the RCA pay-out… fine. Whatever date it occurred is IRRELEVANT you idiot! The point is, what should RCA have done differently, and what shold Lelee have done differently?
The other “point” you had, regarding what YOU termed as “hush money,” I never used those words. Maybe YOU need to read before you post. Finally, I said that I don’t reeally care that you are gay, I cared that you talked all this dumb “Bench Slap” and “subway rat” stuff, without knowing any details about me… yet you expect everyone else to know all the details about damn nobody Lelee. Every time you post you further confirm my suspicions that you are as dumb as the day is long. Look, I realize that you are sticking up for Lelee because she has a connection to the gay community — I don’t have a problem with the gay community. I do have a problem with artists always crying about how the record company did them wrong, knowing damn well they were begging to get signed. I have a problem with people expecting Coco and Taj to give Lelee their hard-earned money because Lelee made bad choices. I also have a problem with people jumping on other posters for irrelevant issues, as you have done with me.
Don’t feel guilty if you want to respond — what’s one more post when you already have 6 on this topic?
Okay i am a bit confused here people. On the other blog every one is so mad at Beyonce for taking her career to another level. She knows their’s people out here more talented then her, and considering her age maybe she is trying to live it out as long as she can before it is over (look at Janet) anyway. LeeLee and the other women in the industry may have sad stories as well, let’s face it people in the industry then and now are greedy and dont pay attention to what’s going on with THEIR LIVES. Yeah the companies are wrong, but the world is built on people screwing people over. It does not take 25000.00 to bury anyone so if she spent that much on a funeral then something was wrong. these people where living reckless and didnt realize what she needed to do to help herself.
@ # 61 Meatloaf… You are extremely ingnorant and that will never change… I never once tore anyone down in this post huh HOMO..
Most artist have a story but why should they continuously suffer for past mistakes and as the article states she has been reaping the consiquences of her past actions .. So what are you saying absoulitley nothing.. What made you think I was defending her. I was talking about the industry itself by way of using the group as an example.
And Didnt the artical state that she went to gay clubs while living in Atlanta during her homeless era. (why would you ask me about being gay shouldnt you have asked me about being homeless too). I live in NYC… since you are so curious. Anyway my sexuality has nothing to do with the story. But, if I am gay what is the relevance to your point? (if you have a point) and what does that make me to you? I never once posted anything about her sexuality (or yours) during my comment. I will only comment on the things I want you to know and not elaberate on anything else about her life.
The rest of my post was refeering to career choices and what it means to be sucessful with or without a degree. Its all personal choice of where you want to be in life and how hard you work to get there. Let me speculate like you did during this post.. You probably dont work and if you do you are the lowest on the totem pole at your place of employment. If I am wrong you will see that speculation on your life actual leads to misjudgement and if you misjudge things you with no knowledge of the subject you will always be a bottom feeder. I never stated anything about the $25,000 she received and what she did with her money that would be speculation. I did say that she worked extremely hard to get a record deal. What do you work hard at huh Meatloafer surfing the comment section trying to tear someone down while doing it (you wanted to be a cop or a lawyer)….
I stated that of course she didnt tell the entire story and people visting this site have a right to question what she is saying by finding “wholes” in her story. But, you just run you fag ass out and Read the rest of the story “when her book comes to a store in your neighborhood”.
@ 44 Listen to the New Beginnings album… Taj can sing.
CalieSQ and Boyaboutthecity, Let’s stop the hate. This Post should be about LE LE from SWV and he lack of knowledge about the game, and mis management of her money. Not about how much either of you know. So please stop with the banter I could see if you were in front of each other live. But these typing drive buys have gotta stop. LOL it’s rediculous. Niether of you are getting paid to do this, but I know you getting paid to do something you aint doing right now. Which is work. Unless you work for yourself like I do.
I’m with you #71, I hate to hear about these old school folks hitting rock bottom but she obviously bought into the celebrity hype and was on an ego trip. Why couldn’t she get a regular job? It’s not like they had a hit in YEARS. Not to mention how was she providing for her 4 kids? What was she thinking?
The music industry messes up folks minds as well as bank accounts.
lele stole my dildo last night…my pussy so cold without her.
25 Grand on a funeral!?! I’m sorry I love my Moms too but for that damn much, that coffin must have been made of gold! I know that’s cold but didn’t Leelee’s mom have insurance. If not, since her daughter was in thebiz, she should have hooked mom up with some life insurance instead of dropping her draws for every Tom, Dick, Laquita, and Raheem that took a sniff!
In the interview she stated she went to school got her Associates degree in Accounting and worked as an accountant but she did not like the job…
@80, yea right..
Coko was the best singer. I had their albums back in the day and on some of the songs Taj would sing, she is an okay singer. I didn’t hear much from Lelee, just saw her lips move. But she got an associates degree in accounting, finish that shit out and try to help artists that got burned like SWV did. She didn’t get a second chance to do nothing.
I don’t know!
I didnt really notice Lelee I knew there was three girls in the group but…. (coko and Taj made a bigger impression to me,Its like destinyschild Beyonce and Kelly leave impressions but Michelle doesnt really leave as much of an impresion as them I mean we know shes there)but anyways $25,000 its wrong but its right at the same time, these groupmembers spend like money is going out of style (and you all know it). She got kids, sweety you shouldve pinched off that money.And you have all those baby daddies and none of them guys gave you money or nowhere to stay with their babies, thats not good.There are familys in these current years who can live off of $25,000 and she couldnt ten years ago, give me a break there resources, if you have to get on money from the state for a while with your kids(dont squander the free money)get it. What really has me is she went to gay clubs to find people to go home with so she can have a place to stay meaning(she didnt say she was gay but… but why a gay club?) she put herself in dangers way alot of times when she decided to go to homes of strangers. You mean she had NO family to go to? now when she had money I bet family came out the woodwork. but I gotta say maybe she was stubborn and didnt want people to know she was going through hard times.You got kids its not the time to be stubborn there are resources everywhere. If COKO and TAJ gave her tough love it was good because she is trying to get her life together but Lelee learn money management. You cant buy a fendi purse and not somewhere to stay.Her story had me thinking she came out with this story because someone was gonna come out with the story. This story just came out of nowhere to me because shes not famous anymore (Is her CD comming out or something because thats usually the time singers wanna be REAL and talk about life). Someones hanging something over her head about her past behavior I believe. Because for her to come out and talk about the gay clubs… Somethings not right.
SWV need to reunite. That group was one of my favorites.
This is a shocker I allways loved swv. I did not know Lelee had it that bad, (they all had good voices check out their live videos on youtube)*anyway* I personally think Coko and Taj helped Lelee alot but Lelee was allways the greedy one I remember going to one of their concerts and They song ”You’re the one for me” and you know Coko the lead singer but Lelee would allways interupt her in the middle of the songs. I love Lelee but I know she had some difficult pass shit everybody do. But for yall 411 they are coming back with a cd this year I think the summer look out for it. AND LELEE I WILL PRAY FOR YOU. LOVE YOU.
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