3LW
Encyclopedia
3LW was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 hip hop soul
Hip hop soul
Hip hop soul is sub-genre of contemporary R&B which fuses R&B, neo soul and dance elements with hip hop. The term did not originate until the promotion for Mary J. Blige's debut album What's the 411? in 1992 when Uptown Records proclaimed her to be the "Queen of Hip Hop Soul" and generally...

 and R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...

 girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...

 that enjoyed a number of modest hits during the early 2000s. Its founding members were Naturi Naughton
Naturi Naughton
Naturi Cora Maria Naughton is an American singer, rapper and actress best known for formerly being one-third of the R&B trio 3LW, and the starring role of Denise in the remake of Fame.- Early life :...

, Adrienne Bailon
Adrienne Bailon
Adrienne Eliza Bailon is an American actress, singer-songwriter, dancer, and television personality. She was a member of former girl groups 3LW and The Cheetah Girls, and is also known for her roles in the Disney Channel Original Movie of the same name and latter sequels which brought the group to...

, and Kiely Williams
Kiely Williams
Kiely Alexis Williams is an American singer, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is best known for being a member of former girl groups 3LW and The Cheetah Girls.-1999-2006: 3LW:...

. Jessica Benson later replaced Naughton after she left the group in 2002. 3LW was signed to the label Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...

, and later moved to So So Def
So So Def Recordings
So So Def Recordings is a record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, and owned by producer Jermaine Dupri, specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B and bass music.-Beginnings:...

.

Members

  • Adrienne Bailon
    Adrienne Bailon
    Adrienne Eliza Bailon is an American actress, singer-songwriter, dancer, and television personality. She was a member of former girl groups 3LW and The Cheetah Girls, and is also known for her roles in the Disney Channel Original Movie of the same name and latter sequels which brought the group to...

     - born Adrienne Eliza Bailon on October 24, 1983, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
  • Kiely Williams
    Kiely Williams
    Kiely Alexis Williams is an American singer, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is best known for being a member of former girl groups 3LW and The Cheetah Girls.-1999-2006: 3LW:...

     - born Kiely Alexis Williams on July 9, 1986, Alexandria, Virginia
    Virginia
    The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

    , United States
  • Naturi Naughton
    Naturi Naughton
    Naturi Cora Maria Naughton is an American singer, rapper and actress best known for formerly being one-third of the R&B trio 3LW, and the starring role of Denise in the remake of Fame.- Early life :...

     - born Naturi Cora Maria Naughton on May 20, 1984, East Orange, New Jersey
    New Jersey
    New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

  • Jessica Benson - born in 1988, Severn, Maryland
    Maryland
    Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...


3LW (1999–2001)

In 1999, the original line up of 3LW formed. Their first single, "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)
No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)
"No More " is the debut single from 3LW's self-titled debut album 3LW. The single was released in the late 2000, but did not chart in most countries until early 2001. It reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is considered 3LW's signature song...

", was released in the fall of 2000. "No More" was a chart success and was followed by "Playas Gon' Play
Playas Gon' Play
"Playas Gon' Play" is the second and final single from 3LW's self-titled debut album 3LW. The single was released in May 2001. Although it was a favorable song among fans, the song only peaked at #81 on the Billboard Hot 100. It performed moderately on the UK Singles Chart where it peaked just...

" in early 2001. The group's self-titled debut album, 3LW
3LW (album)
-Release history:-Chart performance:...

 was released on December 5, 2000. The album went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA, selling 1.3 million copies in the US. In the summer of 2001, the group embarked on the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....

 Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...

 tour along with Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...

, Dream, Nelly, Eve
Eve (rapper)
Eve Jihan Jeffers , is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actress. Her first three albums have reached a total of over 8 million albums sold worldwide. She has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She won a Grammy Award in 2002 for the...

, and Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...

.

In 2001, 3LW recorded a song with various artists including Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...

, Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...

, Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...

, Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...

, Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...

 and Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...

 in response to the 9/11 attacks called "What More Can I Give
What More Can I Give
"What More Can I Give" is a song written by American musician Michael Jackson and recorded by a supergroup of singers following the September 11 attacks in 2001. The inspiration for the song had initially come to Jackson after a meeting with the President of South Africa Nelson Mandela in the late...

". In late 2001 they collaborated with Lil' Romeo
Romeo Miller
Percy Romeo Miller, Jr. , better known by his stage name Romeo , is an American rapper, actor, basketball player, entrepreneur, and model. He is the son of rapper and entrepreneur Master P and former rapper Sonya C. He is the nephew of rappers C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker and the brother of...

 and Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon
Nicholas Scott "Nick" Cannon is an American actor, comedian, rapper, entrepreneur, record producer, radio, and television personality. On television, Cannon began as a teenage sketch comedian on All That before going on to host The Nick Cannon Show, Wild 'N Out, and America's Got Talent...

 for "Parents Just Don't Understand" on the Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (film)
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius is a 2001 computer-animated film based on a few three-minute animated shorts shown on Nickelodeon between the years 1999-2002, and a pilot in 1998. The film was produced by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies with O Entertainment and DNA Productions...

 soundtrack.

3LW spent the first half of 2002 in the studio, recording an album tentatively titled Same Game, Different Rules. The album and its intended lead single "Uh Oh" were presented to the label, who felt it did not have enough urban radio appeal. The tracks from Same Game, Different Rules were leaked to the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...

 in MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...

 format, and Epic considered dropping the girls. A fan support campaign for 3LW named 'Never Let Go Of 3LW' after their song "Never Let Go" spread to the radio, and the act was retained, despite the album loss.

A Girl Can Mack and downfall (2002–2003)

Recording a new set of tracks, the group returned in the summer of 2002 with the P. Diddy-produced single "I Do (Wanna Get Close To You)
I Do (Wanna Get Close To You)
"I Do " is the first single off 3LW's second album A Girl Can Mack and featured P. Diddy & Loon. The single peaked at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 during 2002. It achieved greater success in New Zealand, where it peaked at #13 on the New Zealand Top 40...

", featuring Loon
Loon (rapper)
Amir Junaid Muhadith best known by his stage name Loon, is an African-American rapper that was formerly part of P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records, where he released his self-titled debut album, Loon. He has also made many guest appearances on songs of the R&B and hip hop genres. He is best known for his...

. By August, the group was set to release its newest LP, A Girl Can Mack
A Girl Can Mack
A Girl Can Mack is 3LW's second album. It is their follow-up to 3LW, their first release. In this album, they grow more mature here and it is evident that they have evolved from their little girl image. It is a mixed bag of ballads and upbeat songs. The follow-up to their platinum self-titled debut...

, when member Naughton had left the group for good after heated arguments. A Girl Can Macks release date was pushed back a month, but sales were still disappointing debuting at #15 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

 with a disappointing 53,000 copies sold in the first week. Approaching the time that the group was ready to deliver their second album, Naturi Naughton
Naturi Naughton
Naturi Cora Maria Naughton is an American singer, rapper and actress best known for formerly being one-third of the R&B trio 3LW, and the starring role of Denise in the remake of Fame.- Early life :...

 announced that she was no longer a member of the group. Naughton alleged that she had a number of conflicts and arguments with Bailon, Williams, and their management, which led to a heated argument in August 2002 involving an altercation with KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...

 food. Not long after, Naughton claimed that she was forced out of the group.

Williams and Bailon continued as a duo while using the "3LW" name, causing the press to jokingly refer to them as "2LW". According to a cover story for the October 2002 issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine, Kiely & Adrienne said they received death threats and that they had to beef up security. The departure of Naturi greatly affected the group's popularity and album sales. After the second single released from the album, "Neva Get Enuf", underperformed, auditions were held across the country for a new third member. Jessica Benson made the cut and joined 3LW in early 2003. Without Jessica, the group might have had to split due to "bankruptcy". Jessica's first performance was on Live with Regis & Kelly, followed by a performance on Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...

.

Point of No Return (2003–2008)

In fall 2003, 3LW departed from Epic, signing with Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...

's So So Def label.

The group's third studio album was originally called Phoenix Rising, but was renamed Point of No Return. The lead-off single, "Feelin' You", was added on radio stations July 12, 2006. The album was supposed to be released later that year but was pushed back to a 2007 release because of Adrienne and Kiely's involvement with Disney's Cheetah Girls franchise, and eventually fell off the release schedule. As a result, the album was never released. In early 2007, Bailon stated in Girls Life magazine that 3LW was on hold because of the Cheetah Girls project. However, rumors were finally put to rest by Bailon in an interview with Jonathon Jackson in 2008. Bailon confirmed that 3LW officially disbanded after they were removed from the So So Def roster. Bailon and Williams decided to then pursue The Cheetah Girls franchise full-time.

However, in January 2009, The Cheetah Girls announced they were splitting to focus on solo projects. Williams stated she "didn't think" there would be any future Cheetah Girl projects, as well as Bailon saying that the franchise was over. However, Bryan has said many times she would never say no to any future Cheetah Girl projects. While Williams and Bryan remain close friends, Williams confirmed via an online chat on her official website that she has not spoken to Bailon since the final date of The Cheetah Girls: One World Tour 2008
The Cheetah Girls tours
In late 2005, The Cheetah Girls went on tour to support their album, Cheetah-licious Christmas. Aly & AJ went along with them, as the opening act, to support their own album Into the Rush, although the Jonas Brothers performed as surprise guests opening for both The Cheetah Girls and Aly & AJ for...

 citing that she and Bailon were "both busy" and "doing [their] own thing" while original member Naughton and Bailon have since reconciled, as well as Bailon and Benson who reconnected during a Recording Session in Atlanta for Adrienne's solo album. A video of the Reunion can be found on Youtube.

Bailon announced she is working on her debut solo album, due for a Summer 2010 release via Island Def Jam Records. Bryan and Williams are collaborating on a talk show together, which Williams described as "a young version of The View". In 2008, Williams filmed a music video for her first solo single "Make Me A Drink" in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. A teaser of the video was released online in October 2009 with news that the single would be released soon. A full length solo album is currently being recorded and is set to be released in the Summer of 2010 as well, on her family's own Nine Lives Entertainment brand. She has also been cast in three feature films, all set to be released in 2010.

Acting careers

Besides their singing work, the original lineup of 3LW appeared as guest stars on Christina Vidal
Christina Vidal
Christina Abbi Vidal is a former American film and television actress. She is best known for her roles in the films Life with Mikey, Brink! , Freaky Friday ,...

's Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...

 show Taina
Taina (TV series)
Taina is an American sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon and was one of the last live-action comedy shows taped at Nickelodeon Studios but later moved to the Nickelodeon On Sunset in Hollywood, for its second season. The show aired from January 14, 2001 to May 11, 2002.-Premise:Taina Morales is a...

 as Leah, Ria and Gia.

After the birth of The Cheetah Girls, Kiely and Adrienne both starred with Raven Symone and Sabrina Bryan
Sabrina Bryan
Reba Sabrina Hinojos , better known by her stage name Sabrina Bryan,is an American singer, actress, author, songwriter, fashion designer, choreographer, dancer, and television personality best known as a member of the girl group, The Cheetah Girls, and for starring in the Disney Channel Original...

 in the film The Cheetah Girls
The Cheetah Girls (film)
The Cheetah Girls is a 2003 musical Disney Channel Original Movie, the first for Disney Channel, based on a bestselling series of young adult books of the same name by Deborah Gregory...

 as well as its two sequels The Cheetah Girls 2
The Cheetah Girls 2
The Cheetah Girls 2 is the 2006 sequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie, The Cheetah Girls. Its premiere received the highest ratings of all Disney Channel Movies at its time, a total of over 8.1 million viewers, beating the premiere ratings of High School Musical , and beating previous highest...

 and The Cheetah Girls: One World
The Cheetah Girls: One World
The Cheetah Girls: One World is a 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie. It is the third and final film of The Cheetah Girls film trilogy, and premiered on August 22, 2008...

.

Adrienne has also appeared in several episodes of the Disney Channel show That's So Raven
That's So Raven
That's So Raven is an American cable television teen sitcom/fantasy series. The show premiered on the Disney Channel on January 17, 2003, and ended on November 10, 2007. The show spawned Disney Channel's first spin-off series: Cory in the House...

. Adrienne had a cameo appearance in the movie Coach Carter
Coach Carter
Coach Carter is a 2005 American film directed by Thomas Carter. It is based on a true story, in which Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter made headlines in 1999 for benching his MVP and undefeated team due to poor academic results....

 in 2005, and in 2006 co-starred in the MTV straight to video/television movie All You've Got
All You've Got
All You've Got is a 2006 sport/drama film, which debuted on MTV and is directed by Neema Barnette. It stars Adrienne Bailon, of the pop group The Cheetah Girls as Gabby and Ciara in her film debut as Becca Watley.-Storyline:...

 beside fellow R&B singer Ciara
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...

. Also she made was on some episodes of "Keeping up with the Kardashians"

Kiely played sorority sister Lilly in the 2008 comedy, The House Bunny
The House Bunny
The House Bunny is a 2008 romantic comedy film directed by Fred Wolf, written by Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah Lutz, and starring Anna Faris as a former Playboy bunny who signs up to be the "house mother" of an unpopular university sorority after being conned by a rival into believing she's now...

 and has been cast in three new feature films, all set to be released in 2010.

Naughton starred in the Tony Award winning Broadway musical Hairspray
Hairspray (musical)
Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues...

 as Little Inez from 2005-2008. Naturi played rapper Lil' Kim, in Notorious, a big screen biopic on the late Notorious B.I.G. Notorious opened at #4 at the box office with over $21 million made opening weekend. Naturi has also done a commercial for Truth.com, titled "It Must've Been A Typo". In September 2009, Naughton played a pianist named Denise in the remake of the 1980 movie and TV show musical Fame, which opened up at #3 at the box office. Also she played in the movie "Lottery Ticket" Bow Wow

Adrienne will star as "Vanessa" alongside Ja Rule
Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...

 in the upcoming 2011 movie In Love with A Church Girl. No release date has been officially announced.

Other

The group was also featured as bonus characters in the 2001 video game NBA Street
NBA Street (video game)
NBA Street is a basketball video game developed by EA Canada. It was released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2 and in 2002 for the GameCube. It combines the talent and big names of the NBA with the attitude and atmosphere of streetball. NBA Street was followed by NBA Street Vol...

.

Adrienne Bailon also has had many appearances in the E! Network's reality TV show Keeping Up With the Kardashians as a friend to the Kardashian clan and ex-girlfriend of Rob Kardashian.
  • In March 2011, 3LW fans launched a worldwide campaign to reunite the original members of the group.

Discography

Studio albums
  • 2000: 3LW
    3LW (album)
    -Release history:-Chart performance:...

  • 2002: A Girl Can Mack
    A Girl Can Mack
    A Girl Can Mack is 3LW's second album. It is their follow-up to 3LW, their first release. In this album, they grow more mature here and it is evident that they have evolved from their little girl image. It is a mixed bag of ballads and upbeat songs. The follow-up to their platinum self-titled debut...

  • 2002: Naughty or Nice
    Naughty or Nice
    Naughty or Nice is 3LW's Holiday/Christmas album. They recorded the album without Naturi Naughton because of her departure from the group. The album gives a hip hop/R&B type flavor to Christmas music. Shortly after this release, 3LW was dropped by Epic/Sony.-Track listing:...



Unreleased albums
  • 2006: Point of No Return [Leaked]


Other albums
  • 2005: Neva Get Enuf
    Neva Get Enuff (album)
    Neva Get Enuf is 3LW's compilation album. The album only features songs from the original 3LW lineup of Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, Naturi Naughton...



Awards and nominations

Year Award
2001 Soul Train Music Award
Soul Train Music Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication, and honors the best in Black music and entertainment...

 Win for "Best New R&B or Hip-Hop Artist"
Soul Train Music Award
Soul Train Music Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication, and honors the best in Black music and entertainment...

 Win for "Album of the Year"
BET Award
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...

 Nominated for Best Female Group
2002 BET Award
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...

 Nominated for Best Female Group
2003 BET Award
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...

Nominated for Best Female Group

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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