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3LW

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This article is about the group. For the group's eponymous album, see 3LW (album).

3LW
Also known as3 Little Women
OriginNewark, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1999–2007
Labels
Past members

3LW (initialism of "3 Little Women") was an American girl group formed in 1999 by Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, and Naturi Naughton. 3LW was signed to Epic Records, and released their debut studio album 3LW in 2000, which peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum. The album was preceded by the single "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)", which peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a top 10 hit in several countries.

In 2002, 3LW released the single "I Do (Wanna Get Close to You)", which was a moderate chart success. Following its release, Naturi Naughton left the group, citing conflicts with the group's management. The group continued as a duo and released the albums A Girl Can Mack (2002), and Naughty or Nice (2002), the latter of which was their first album not to have any contributions from Naughton. The releases did not match the success of their debut, and at the end of 2002, the group held auditions for a new third member.

Jessica Benson was announced as the 3LW's new third member in 2003 and the group signed with So So Def. Bailon and Williams became involved with the film The Cheetah Girls (2003), and as the project expanded into a real girl group, releases by 3LW were placed on hold. 3LW eventually released the single "Feelin' You" in 2006, but the song failed to find much success, and the group split the following year.

History

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1998–2001: 3LW

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In 1999, the group 3LW was formed by sisters Michelle and Tse Williams. Michelle's daughter and Tse's niece Kiely was the first member of the lineup and the group would soon be rounded out by Adrienne Bailon and Naturi Naughton with both Michelle and Tse as co-managers.[3] Singer Alicia Keys was also briefly considered for the group.[4]

3LW's debut single "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)", released in the fall of 2000, was a chart success, peaking at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a top 10 hit in several countries.[5] The group's self-titled debut album was released on December 5, 2000 and peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200.[5] It was certified platinum by the RIAA, selling 1.3 million copies in the US.[6] In April 2001, the group released their second single, "Playas Gon' Play", which failed to replicate the success of its predecessor, only peaking at number 81.[5] In the summer of 2001, the group embarked on the MTV Total Request Live Tour along with Destiny's Child, Dream, Nelly, Eve, and Jessica Simpson.[4] In 2001, 3LW recorded "What More Can I Give" as part of a supergroup of various artists including Michael Jackson, Reba McEntire, and Mariah Carey in response to the September 11 attacks. Late that year, they collaborated with Lil' Romeo and Nick Cannon for a cover of "Parents Just Don't Understand" on the Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius soundtrack.

2002: A Girl Can Mack and Naughton's departure

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3LW announced in February 2002 that they had recorded 10 tracks for their sophomore studio album to be titled A Girl Can Mack; it was later set for a release date of September 17, 2002.[7][8] In April, they appeared on Naughty by Nature's single "Feels Good (Don't Worry Bout a Thing)". On June 18, the group released the P. Diddy–produced single "I Do (Wanna Get Close To You)", featuring Loon. The song was a moderate chart hit, peaking at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5] It achieved greater success in New Zealand, where it peaked at number 13. In mid-July, the group was rehearsing for a concert special as part of the TEENick Summer Concerts series.[9] Prior to these rehearsals, Naughton was told that each girl would have an understudy as a precautionary measure. On the first day of rehearsals, however, there was only one understudy; she resembled Naughton and was learning her dance moves. Bailon and Williams admitted to there being an understudy, citing tensions between them and Naughton. However, the two found working with the understudy sans Naughton to be emotionally difficult, and all three members of 3LW made amends.[10] The concert special aired on August 25 and was released on DVD as Live on Sunset in November.[9]

The group was scheduled to release A Girl Can Mack in September when in mid-August, member Naughton left the group following an altercation between her and Williams involving a plate of food from KFC.[10][11] Williams and Bailon initially denied that this occurred; Williams later acknowledged the incident but said that "it was so much more than that".[12][13] Naughton cited numerous conflicts with the group's management (mainly Michelle Williams, Kiely Williams's mother) and said that she was forced out of the group.[14] Naughton also claimed that she was harassed by Michelle Williams for not pursuing a romantic relationship with a member of the hip-hop group St. Lunatics in a effort to get a spot on their tour.[15] Group members Williams and Bailon claimed that Naughton had been unhappy within the group for some time and lacked ambition.[13] Naughton filed a lawsuit against the group and their management for compensation of loss of income, the results of which were not made public.[16]

Following Naughton's departure, Epic Records quickly introduced Williams and Bailon to two potential replacements for Naughton.[13] Williams and Bailon decided to continue 3LW as a duo, causing the press to jokingly refer to them as "2LW".[11] A Girl Can Mack's planned September release date was pushed back a month and the duo returned to the studio to record five new tracks after several songs intended for the record leaked online.[17] The album was released on October 22, 2002, and debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 with 53,000 copies sold in its first week.[18] After the album's second single "Neva Get Enuf" underperformed, 3LW released their Christmas-themed third studio album Naughty or Nice, which failed to appear on any major Billboard charts.[19]

2003–2007: Canceled album and breakup

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Beginning in late 2002, 3LW held nationwide auditions for a new third member. Fifteen year old Jessica "J" Benson was selected and made her first public appearance with the group in March 2003.[20] With Benson, the group continued to promote A Girl Can Mack with several tour dates.[21] That year, 3LW departed from Epic Records and signed with So So Def.[22]

Amidst 3LW's public drama, Bailon and Williams signed on to star in the Disney Channel Original Movie, The Cheetah Girls, alongside Raven-Symoné and Sabrina Bryan.[23] The movie was filmed in October and November 2002 and premiered in August 2003.[24][25] The film's success prompted Disney to turn the project into a real girl group.[26] The Cheetah Girls project grew, with several albums released, however, Bailon noted that both projects would continue concurrently.[27] The release of 3LW's fourth studio album, tentatively titled Phoenix Rising in 2003 and later Point of No Return in 2005, was delayed several times.[28][29][30]

On August 15, 2006, after four years, the group released the single "Feelin' You", but it did not impact any major charts. Point of No Return was shelved and Bailon and Williams continued with The Cheetah Girls. 3LW officially disbanded in 2007.[4]

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  • 3LW are featured as bonus characters in the 2001 video game NBA Street.[31]
  • In January 2001, 3LW appeared in an episode of the Nickelodeon series Taina as a fictional girl group (along with the same name of this episode) called Blue Mascara where the main character (Christina Vidal) is overjoyed to become a member of the popular all-female singing group at school until they tell her that she must get rid of her best friend Renee (Khaliah Adams).[32][33][34]
  • In October 2001, 3LW appeared on the Disney Channel series The Jersey in the episode "Speaking of Coleman" where after freaking out at a debate competition, Coleman Galloway (Jermaine Williams) gets a lesson in handling stage fright by jumping into the body of one of the three members of the group which in general was Kiely Williams.[35]
  • In November 2002, 3LW appeared in an episode of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That.[36]

Past members

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Discography

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Further information: 3LW discography
Studio albums

Awards and nominations

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Year Award
2001 Soul Train Lady of Soul Award Win for "Best New R&B or Hip-Hop Artist"
Soul Train Lady of Soul Award Win for "Album of the Year"
BET Award Nominated for "Best Female Group"
2002 BET Award Nominated for "Best Group"
2003 Source Award Nominated for "Best Female R&B act"
2003 BET Award

"Nominated for "Best Group"

2003 Soul Train Music Award Nominated for "Best Group, Band or Duo R&B/Soul Single"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Paoletta, Michael (December 16, 2000). "Reviews & Previews - Albums". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 51. p. 26. Retrieved June 12, 2022. With its eponymous debut, the young ladies of 3LW (3 Little Women) are the latest pop-infused R&B act to join the youth-driven musical movement
  2. ^ Carter, Brooke (March 13, 2017). "What Happened to 3LW 2018 – News & Updates". Gazette Review. Retrieved September 24, 2022. The all-girl hip hop trio, 3LW first made themselves known to the world with the release of their debut single, No More (Baby I'ma Do Right) in 2000.
  3. ^ Now A Duo, 3LW Is Still ‘Mackin’ Billboard
  4. ^ a b c Nardino, Meredith (June 19, 2020). "Alicia Keys Was Almost Part of Early 2000s Girl Group 3LW". Us Weekly. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "3LW | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  6. ^ "3LW Is A Trio Again". Billboard. March 4, 2003. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  7. ^ Reid, Shaheem (February 12, 2002). "3LW Dis Lil' Bow Wow, Leave Club With a Taller Baller". MTV. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "New Album News!". Sony Music Entertainment Inc. Archived from the original on June 9, 2002.
  9. ^ a b "34TunesOnTV". Billboard. August 19, 2002. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "3LW: One Story, Two Sides". MTV. March 9, 2006. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original on September 28, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  11. ^ a b Oh, Minya (August 21, 2002). "3LW Become 2LW – News Story". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 4, 2002. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  12. ^ "Kiely Williams explains why KFC was thrown at Naturi Naughton | ABC Audio Digital Syndication". digital.abcaudio.com. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c "Special: 3LW interview". Sister 2 Sister. November 2002. Archived from the original on December 22, 2004.
  14. ^ "3LW : Naturi Describes Alleged 3LW Food Fight That Led To Split". VH1. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
  15. ^ "3LW's Naughton Makes Sex Accusation". Billboard. October 10, 2002. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  16. ^ "Naughton Sues 3LW For Ouster". Billboard. October 9, 2002. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  17. ^ Moss, Corey (October 4, 2002). "Remaining 3LW Pair Too Busy to Hold Auditions For New Member". MTV. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021.
  18. ^ D'angelo, Joe (October 30, 2002). "Santana's Shaman Blessed; Foos At #3 On Albums Chart". MTV. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2008.
  19. ^ Moss, Corey (September 30, 2002). "3LW Holiday Album Due; Members Land Film Roles". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  20. ^ "3LW Become a Trio Again ... Finally". MTV. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017.
  21. ^ "Babyface Oversees 3LW's First Track With New Member". MTV. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017.
  22. ^ "3LW : 3LW Sign To So So Def, Ask 50 Cent To Get 'Gangsta' With Them – Rhapsody Music Downloads". VH1. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  23. ^ Moss, Corey (October 4, 2002). "Remaining 3LW Pair Too Busy To Hold Auditions For New Member". MTV News. Archived from the original on August 20, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  24. ^ Dangelo, Joe (October 29, 2002). "3LW Don't Judge Others By Color Of Their Spots In 'Cheetah Girls'". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  25. ^ "How 'Cheetah Girls' Paved The Way For Disney Channel's Future Musical Movies". International Business Times. August 15, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  26. ^ "Hey, Hey, It's the Cheetah Girls" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. October 10, 2004. p. 10.
  27. ^ Miller, Gerri (August 25, 2006). "CHEETAH GIRLS 2". Scholastic. Archived from the original on October 25, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  28. ^ Reid, Shaheem (July 25, 2005). "Jermaine Dupri Boosting Grown-Up 3LW With Their Sexy Return". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  29. ^ Moss, Corey (July 2, 2003). "3LW Celebrate New Beginning". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 4, 2003. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  30. ^ "Platinum R&B Female Group 3LW Set to Release Their Third Anticipated Album Point of No Return August 15th!!". Sony. May 22, 2006.
  31. ^ "GameSpot Video: NBA Street Movie 12". Gamespot.com. June 18, 2001. Archived from the original on April 10, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  32. ^ "Taina - Blue Mascara - Part 1". Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via YouTube.
  33. ^ "Taina - Blue Mascara - Part 2". Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via YouTube.
  34. ^ "Taina - Blue Mascara - Part 3". Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ "Disney's The Jersey - S02E19 "Speaking of Coleman"". Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via YouTube.
  36. ^ "3LW - All That Skit 2002". Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via YouTube.
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