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3LW (acronym of "3 Little Women") is an American pop/R&B singing girl group that enjoyed a number of modest hits during the early 2000s. Its founding members, Naturi Naughton (born May 20, 1984 in East Orange, New Jersey), Adrienne Bailon (born October 24, 1983 in Manhattan, New York), and Kiely Williams (born July 9, 1986 in Alexandria, Virginia), signed with Epic Records, with Kiely's older sister and legal guardian Michele Williams serving as manager.
In mid-1999, the original line up for 3LW was formed. Their first single, "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)", was released in the summer of 2000. "No More" was a success and was followed by the second single, "Playas Gon' Play" in early 2001. The group's debut album, 3LW, released on December 5, 2000. The album went platinum, selling 1.3 million copies in the US. In the summer of 2001, the group went on the MTV TRL tour along with Destiny's Child, Dream, Nelly, Eve, and Jessica Simpson.
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 didn't have enough urban radio appeal. The tracks from Same Game, Different Rules were leaked to the Internet in MP3 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 on the label.
Recording a new set of tracks, 3LW returned in late summer of 2002 with the P. Diddy-produced single "I Do (Wanna Get Close To You)", featuring Loon. By August, the group was set to release its newest LP, A Girl Can Mack, when Naturi Naughton announced that she was no longer a member of the group. Naughton alleged that the other two girls and their manager forced her out of the group and that she left after Kiely Williams threw a piece of fried chicken at her and got mashed potatoes in her hair.
Williams and Bailon continued as a duo, though still using the "3LW" name, leading the press to jokingly refer to them as "2LW". The ousting of Naturi would affect the group's popularity greatly. According to a cover story for the October 2002 issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine, Kiely & Adrienne said they would even receive death threats and that they would have to beef up security. The group departure of Naturi would affect album sales as well. A Girl Can Mack debuted at #15 on the Billboard 200 with a disappointing 53,000 copies sold in the first week. After the second single released off the album, "Neva Get Enuf" underperformed, auditions were held across the country for a new third member. Jessica Benson made the cut and officially joined 3LW in December 2002. Jessica's first performance was in 2003 on Live with Regis & Kelly; the song was "Ain't No Maybe" and she also performed "I Need That (I Want That)" and "This Goes Out" on Soul Train with solo spots.
In fall 2003, 3LW departed from Epic, signing with Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label. The group's latest album, Phoenix Rising, now titled Point Of No Return, was originally slated for release later that same year.
Besides their singing work, 3LW has appeared as guest stars on Christina Vidal's Nickelodeon show Taina and in the film The Cheetah Girls, as well as Adrienne co-starring in the MTV straight to video/television movie All You've Got beside fellow R&B singer Ciara in 2006, and a small appearance in the movie Coach Carter in 2005.
As of late 2006, the girl's newest single's Feelin' You video premiered on Yahoo Videos and was #9 on the top 100 videos. The single went for adds at radio stations on July 12. The album Point Of No Return, which is to include the single Feelin' You was pushed back to a 2007 release, because of the extension of members Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams other girl group The Cheetah Girls, Party's Just Begun Tour. Group member Adrienne Bailon stated in GL Magazine that 3LW is on hold because of the Cheetah Girls project despite rumors of a breakup because of Kiely and Adrienne's involvement in The Cheetah Girls.
The group was also featured as bonus characters in the 2002 video game, NBA Street.
Presently, the group have been unactive as 3LW since 2006 and many fans speculate the group have disbanded. This is due to their album receiving no current release date, no single confirmed and Adrienne's announcement of her own up and coming solo projects including a solo album. In July 2007, after a long period of waiting for the group, the groups most popular fansite and forum 3LWFANS.net was forced into closure. Another reason for the speculation about the split of 3LW is their involvement with the Cheetah Girls. The Cheetah Girls are well established and generate more money than 3LW who have been away from the scene for so long that many feel their comeback would infact be a second introduction. Therefore both Adrienne and Kiely are suspected to have opted to take the safe route and chosen to stick with the Cheetah Girls rather than make a long awaited return to 3LW.
"Point Of No Return" Put On Hold & Kiely speaks 3LW confirmed to put a hold on "Point of No Return" while they tour off with The Cheetah Girls, and the release date has not been scheduled. Rumors say that 3LW might release in august, or until later in 2008. 3LW still has not confirmed when to release the album or the tracks for the album. 3LW has confirmed "Point of No Return" is still going to be released. Kiely Williams said: "Our fans have been really excited to find out when our new album is going to be released out in stores. We been getting these anonymous questions about that I can't say but I can tell you this. We been in the studio for awhile now making tracks to our cd, & Adreienne and I are touring and making our last movie with The Cheetah Girls, & that's all I'm gonna say I can't give out anymore information it's a secret..."
Further information: 3LW discography
Year
Information
Chart positions
RIAA certification
U.S.
U.S. R&B
UK
3LW
29
19
6
Platinum
A Girl Can Mack
15
12
23
- Uncertified (400,000 copies sold[citation needed])
Naughty or Nice
December 10, 2002 (US)
23
22
- N/A -
Point of No Return
- N/A -
Year
Single
Album
Chart positions
U.S.
U.S R&B
UK
AUS
NZ
"No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)"
3LW
1
4
6
26
5
"Playas Gon' Play"
3LW
23
18
21
1
6
"I Do (Wanna Get Close To You)"
A Girl Can Mack
14
12
23
20
13
"Neva Get Enuf"
A Girl Can Mack
18
16
23
"Feelin' You"
Point Of No Return
9
12
18
28
15
Two of the members of 3LW, Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams, are also in the girl group The Cheetah Girls with Sabrina Bryan Fans of both stars can now feast on all the albums they have released. Their first album released was a Christmas album, Cheetah-licious Christmas, which peaked at #74 in the U.S.. However, since "The Cheetah Girls" started out as a film and spawned a sequel, there are two soundtracks containing several songs by "The Cheetah Girls".
Adrienne and Kiely also filmed the sequel to The Cheetah Girls movie in March 2006 in Spain. The Disney Channel premiered the film on August 25. They also went on tour from September-March with fellow Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan to promote the soundtrack. They've been writing songs while on tour and plan to hit the recording studio directly after their tour wraps up to begin recording tracks for The Cheetah Girls' second official studio album, Who We Are which is due in stores on September 18, 2007.
