3LW Looks Back On "A Girl Can Mack"

3LW.COM

2002 July 23

It's been two years since 3LW--Kiely Williams (16), Adrienne Bailon (18), and Naturi Naughton (18)-- scored platinum sales with their self-titled debut and took TRL by storm with their hook-laden hit, "No More." But it's clear that the dynamic R&B; trio, which snagged Best New R&B; or Hip Hop Artist and Album Of The Year at the 2001 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, hasn't lost its touch on the sophomore CD, A Girl Can Mack. "We chose the title because we wanted something really empowering," says Adrienne of the fall release. "It's just saying a girl can do anything a guy can do. Women in music are tearing it up." High-energy dance tracks like "Leave" and "Meet Me at the Crib" boast irresistible beats and boyfriend banter, while ballads including "Crazy" and "More Than Friends" showcase sultry vocals and lush melodies. "We've all grown up since our last album," explains Kiely of their mature sound. The girls even appear on racy nineties sensation Naughty by Nature's new radio smash, "Feels Good," which deals with forgetting your worries and partying all night long. "We've experienced a lot more, and have been exposed to different people," says Kiely of 3LW's coming-of-age. "So, obviously, our feelings about life have changed." Two of the new acquaintances the girls met during their travels was Mario Winans and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, who, together produced 3LW's bouncy first single, "I Do," at P. Diddy's Big Apple-based studio, Daddy's House. The single features P. Diddy and his new rapper Loon. "I can't imagine anybody hearing the song and not wanting to sing along," says Naturi. "Yo, the hook is catchy." Her bandmates share her sentiments: "It's the perfect introduction to A Girl Can Mack," says Adrienne, who's unlikely to forget her fateful first meeting with their high-profile producer. "The first day Puff came to work with us, I was in the recording booth," recalls the New York City native. "I had the lights off because it helps me sing better--the girls say I look crazy while I'm performing. It was dark, and I didn't have my contacts or glasses on. So when he walked in to say hi, I didn't recognize him! I tried to play it cool, but it was so embarrassing." The Bad Boy Records executive wasn't the only music mogul enlisted to write and produce for A Girl Can Mack. 3LW also teamed up with: Beau Dozier (son of legendary songwriter Lamont Dozier), whose production credits include work with B2K and Dream; John John who has produced hits for TLC and Jon B; and Tony Prendatt, who worked on the Grammy Award Winning The Miseducation Of Lauren Hill. Their new CD was completed in just four months, following the threesome's two-and-a-half month trek on last year's TRL Tour with Destiny's Child, Nelly, Eve, Dream and Jessica Simpson. "We literally went straight from the bus to the studio," remembers Kiely. "We were already in Los Angeles so we said, 'Let's just start recording now.'" It's no surprise that this persistent attitude paid off. Ever since the petite performers joined forces in 1999, they've been setting out to make a big impression. "We called ourselves 3LW for Three Little Women," explains Kiely. "We're little, but we're smart and savvy." Kiely's mom, who's managed pop stars Joe and Jodeci, recognized her daughter's talent at an early age and decided to form a girl group to show off Kiely's rhyming skills. Her first discovery was Adrienne, a Manhattan choir singer who heard about the audition from a friend at school. Next up was Naturi, whose affiliation with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center made the East Orange, New Jersey native a natural candidate. But it wasn't until the ladies stepped into the limelight that their voices were truly heard. "We struggled to break through barriers every day," says Kiely. "People in the industry thought that just because we were young women of color, we shouldn't get the amount of respect we felt that we deserved. I'm proud that people really admire 3LW today." Still, the trio isn't content to cater solely to their loyal fans. They have lofty plans for their upcoming promotional tour. "Our routines are sexier and edgier than they used to be," says Naturi. "We have a lot more interaction with our dancers. The dance moves aren't so scripted out." Adds Adrienne, "It's been a lot of hard work but we've come a long way as performers. When we get on that stage, it shows. We're really reaching out and connecting with the audience. And that," she says triumphantly, "is what it's all about."