3LW
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Michelle Williams, Tse Williams (management) |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Number of employees | 3 (members) |
| Website | myspace |
3LW—an abbreviation for 3 Little Women—was an American female vocal trio established in 1999, comprising Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, and Naturi Naughton. Under the Epic Records label, they launched their first album, 3LW, in 2000. This debut effort climbed to number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart and earned platinum certification. The album's lead track, "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)", reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and secured top 10 positions internationally.
The group followed up in 2002 with the single "I Do (Wanna Get Close to You)", which achieved moderate chart placements. Shortly thereafter, Naturi Naughton exited the group amid disputes involving management. Bailon and Williams continued as a duo, releasing both A Girl Can Mack and Naughty or Nice within the same year; the latter was their first project without Naughton. These subsequent albums did not match the commercial impact of their debut. By late 2002, auditions were conducted to find a third member.
In 2003, Jessica Benson joined 3LW, and the group signed with So So Def. Around this time, Bailon and Williams became involved with The Cheetah Girls (2003), a project that eventually transformed into an actual girl group, causing 3LW activities to pause. The single "Feelin' You" was released in 2006 but failed to generate significant attention, leading to 3LW’s disbandment in 2007.
1998–2001: 3LW
In 1999, sisters Michelle and Tse Williams initiated the formation of 3LW by recruiting Michelle's daughter Kiely Williams as the initial member. The lineup soon expanded to include Adrienne Bailon and Naturi Naughton, with Michelle and Tse assuming co-management roles. Alicia Keys was briefly considered as a potential member.
The group's debut single "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)" (2000) reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and secured top ten rankings in multiple international markets. Their self-titled first album, released on December 5, 2000, peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and achieved platinum status from the RIAA, selling approximately 1.3 million copies across the United States. The follow-up single "Playas Gon' Play" (April 2001) peaked at number 81. During summer 2001, they participated in the MTV Total Request Live Tour alongside acts such as Destiny's Child. That year also saw them contribute to a supergroup recording of "What More Can I Give" for September 11 relief efforts and collaborate with Lil' Romeo and Nick Cannon on a cover for the Jimmy Neutron soundtrack.
2002: A Girl Can Mack and Naughton's departure
By February 2002, 3LW had recorded ten tracks intended for their second album, A Girl Can Mack, originally scheduled for release in September. In April, they featured on Naughty by Nature’s single "Feels Good (Don't Worry Bout a Thing)". June saw the release of their P. Diddy–produced single "I Do (Wanna Get Close To You)", featuring rapper Loon; this track reached number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to number 13 in New Zealand. As they rehearsed for a TEENick Summer Concert special by July, internal tensions escalated.
In mid-August, Naturi Naughton departed following an incident involving a KFC meal; she cited ongoing disputes with management—primarily Michelle Williams—and alleged she was forced out of the group. Naughton also claimed harassment related to her refusal to engage romantically with a member of St. Lunatics as leverage for touring opportunities. In response, Williams and Bailon accused Naughton of lacking drive and expressed that she had been dissatisfied for an extended period. In October, Naughton filed a lawsuit seeking damages for lost earnings; however, Bailon and Williams later stated they had not been officially served.
Epic Records proposed possible replacements for Naughton, but Bailon and Williams opted to continue performing as a duo—a move that led media outlets to dub them "2LW." Despite Naughton's exit, her vocal contributions remained on A Girl Can Mack. Due to several tracks leaking online, the album's release was postponed until October 22, 2002; it debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of approximately 53,000 units. After the second single "Neva Get Enuf" underperformed commercially, 3LW issued a Christmas-themed third album titled Naughty or Nice, which failed to chart on major Billboard listings.
2003–2007: Abandoned album and group dissolution
Towards the end of 2002, 3LW conducted auditions nationwide and welcomed 15-year-old Jessica "J" Benson in December, who made her public debut in March 2003. That same month, they issued "I Need That (I Want That)" as the third single from A Girl Can Mack, but it did not enter the charts. With Benson onboard, the trio promoted the album through touring and initiated work on a third studio project. In June, 3LW parted ways with Epic Records and inked a deal with So So Def.
During this timeframe, Bailon and Williams starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie The Cheetah Girls, which was filmed in late 2002 and aired in August 2003. The movie's popularity prompted Disney to transform The Cheetah Girls into an actual girl group, resulting in several album releases. Bailon confirmed that she intended to pursue both endeavors concurrently.
The third album from 3LW, originally named Phoenix Rising (2003) and later retitled Point of No Return (2005), encountered numerous postponements. On August 15, 2006, they released the single "Feelin' You", which failed to chart. Ultimately, Point of No Return was never released, as Bailon and Williams shifted their attention to The Cheetah Girls project. The group officially disbanded in 2007.
In popular culture
- 3LW were featured as unlockable characters in the 2001 video game NBA Street.
- In January 2001, the group appeared on an episode of the Nickelodeon series Taina, portraying a fictional band called Blue Mascara.
- In October 2001, 3LW guest-starred on the Disney Channel show The Jersey in the episode "Speaking of Coleman," where a character overcomes stage fright by inhabiting Kiely Williams’ body.
- November 2002 saw 3LW perform on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show All That.
Past members
- Adrienne Bailon (1999–2007)
- Naturi Naughton (1999–2002)
- Kiely Williams (1999–2007)
- Jessica Benson (2003–2007)
Discography
- Studio albums
- 3LW (2000)
- A Girl Can Mack (2002)
- Naughty or Nice (2002)
- Point of No Return (unreleased)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | BET Award | Best Female Group | 3LW | Template:Nom |
| Teen Choice Award | Choice Breakout Artist | Template:Nom | ||
| Choice Pop Group | Template:Nom | |||
| Soul Train Lady of Soul Award | R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Group, Band or Duo | 3LW | Template:Won | |
| Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist – Group, Band or Duo | "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)" | Template:Won | ||
| Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo | Template:Nom | |||
| 2003 | "I Do (Wanna Get Close to You)" | Template:Nom | ||
| Source Award | Best Female R&B Act | 3LW | Template:Nom |
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Musical groups established in 1999
- Musical groups disestablished in 2007
- So So Def Recordings artists
- Epic Records artists
- American contemporary R&B musical groups
- American pop girl groups
- American girl groups
- American R&B girl groups
- Teen pop groups
- 1999 establishments in New Jersey
- Female musical trios