HOLLYWOOD — The album TLC are finishing without the late Lisa

"Left Eye" Lopes will include what producer Rodney Jerkins described as "the

most beautiful ballad that I've ever done in my life."

Jerkins took a break Tuesday from recording with Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and

Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas to attend the BET Awards (see [article id="1455416"]"Ja Rule, Missy, B2K Win, Suge And Snoop Exchange Words At BET

Awards"[/article]).

"It was very emotional when we first started, 'cause we started around the

time when [Lopes] passed," Jerkins said before the ceremony as he made his

way up the red carpet. "But we started, and it's clicking now, and I think

everyone's working harder because of the situation. Expect the best from

this project, really, the best from all of us."

The album, which will include vocals Lopes recorded before she died in a car

accident on April 25, is mostly filled with what Jerkins called "innovative

bangers." Dallas Austin and Raphael Saadiq have also contributed production

work (see [article id="1453803"]"T-Boz, Chilli To Complete

Fourth TLC Album"[/article]).

Aside from tracks for the TLC album, Jerkins has recently produced a song

called "Wishful Thinking" with Chilli and Carlos Santana for the latter's

upcoming album and a remix of Cher's "A Different Kind of Love Song."

"It's incredible to be able to work with a true diva," Jerkins said. "Cher

said she just wanted me to do my thing, which was the most incredible thing

in the world. And I had fun doing it."

Jerkins is planning to work with Whitney Houston in the next few weeks and

is also focusing on developing a new rapper from Harlem named Fats. His

debut, Follow Your True Story, is due later this year and will

include the single "Stand Up," featuring Freeway.

"I really believe that he's gonna be that next rapper that everybody talks

about," Jerkins said.

For complete coverage of the Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes

tragedy, see Remembering Left Eye: The

Lisa Lopes Reports.