3LW, which stands for “3 Lil Women,” was a girl group from the United States that came together in 1999. Its original members included Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, and Naturi Naughton. Later on, Naturi Naughton was replaced by Jessica Benson in 2002.
The group started their musical journey with a record deal from Epic Records, and they later moved to So So Def. Some of their well-known songs are “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right),” “Playas Gon’ Play,” and “I Do (Wanna Get Close to You).”
Here’s the group’s history:
In 1999, 3LW was formed with the initial members being Michelle and Tse Williams, who were sisters. Kiely Williams, Michelle’s daughter, and Tse’s younger sister or niece, was the first member to join the group. The lineup was completed with the addition of Adrienne Bailon and Naturi Naughton, with Michelle and Tse managing the group. Their first single, “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right),” was released in the fall of 2000 and became a chart success.
It was followed by “Playas Gon’ Play” in early 2001. Their self-titled debut album, “3LW,” was released on December 5, 2000, and achieved platinum certification by the RIAA, selling 1.3 million copies in the US. In the summer of 2001, the group joined the MTV Total Request Live Tour along with other artists like Destiny’s Child, Dream, Nelly, Eve, and Jessica Simpson.
In 2001, 3LW recorded “What More Can I Give” as part of a supergroup of various artists in response to the September 11 attacks. They also collaborated with Lil’ Romeo and Nick Cannon for a cover of “Parents Just Don’t Understand” on the Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius soundtrack.
From 2002 to 2003, 3LW worked on an album called “Same Game, Different Rules” but faced challenges when the label believed it lacked urban radio appeal. Tracks from the album were leaked online, and the group faced the possibility of being dropped.
However, their dedicated fan campaign, “Never Let Go Of 3LW,” helped them stay in the game. They returned in the summer of 2002 with a new single, “I Do (Wanna Get Close To You),” produced by P. Diddy and featuring Loon. Around the same time, they performed a concert special on Nickelodeon called “Live on Sunset.” However, in August, Naturi Naughton left the group. She cited conflicts with Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, and their management, even mentioning an altercation involving a plate of food from KFC in August 2002. Naughton claimed she was forced to leave.
Following Naturi’s departure, Kiely Williams and Adrienne Bailon continued as a duo using the name “3LW,” leading to jokes about them being “2LW.” This change significantly impacted the group’s popularity and album sales.
Their album “A Girl Can Mack” was delayed and debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, selling 53,000 copies in the first week. The group released the second single from the album, “Neva Get Enuf,” but it underperformed. They also released a Christmas-themed LP titled “Naughty or Nice,” which did not chart on major Billboard lists. After conducting nationwide auditions, they selected fifteen-year-old Jessica ‘J’ Benson as the third member, and she made her public debut with the group in March 2003.
