Phoenix Rising | Point Of No Return Era

3LW’s fourth LP had many different titles in the process Phoenix Rising, Under 21, Strictly Business and Point Of No Return. They spent a huge chunk of 2003-2007 recording and trying to give the fans what they wanted. Throughout all the drama and negative publicity 2LW finally became 3LW again with new member Jessica Benson who replaced Naturi Naughton after her controversial departure from the group in August of 2002. Tse Williams who runs Nine Lives Entertainment (3LW’s Production Company) commented on Jessica Benson in a Sister 2 Sister article back in 2003 and this is what she had to say: “Jessica had to learn in a month what the other girls have been doing for three years. The difference with former member Naturi is that she wasn’t comfortable with what the group wanted to style her. This is not the case with Jessica. Although she isn’t as talkative as the other girls. Jessica wears what she wants. She’s “emotionally stable beyond her years.” With a new member and re-found determination to bounce back after a brief hiatus 3LW gets released from Sony/Epic label and find themselves talking to the head of So So Def’s Jermaine Dupri whose label was an imprint of Arista at the time.In 2003 3LW did an interview on MTV.com discussing the album process. The announced that they were doing a reality TV Show "The Cheetah Girls" may be one of two upcoming TV projects for 3LW. Bailon said the trio are in talks about filming the recording process for their next release as a reality show."I think it's gonna be called 'Welcome to Atlanta' or something like that," she said. The working title refers to the home of their new label head, Jermaine Dupri, with whom they will record Phoenix Rising (see "3LW Sign To So So Def, Ask 50 Cent To Get 'Gangsta' With Them"). "We're going to Atlanta on December 8, and we'll actually be living there for two months," Bailon said. "We finished our part of the album, all seven songs, and JD will add his four," Williams added. "We're gonna make history."Finished tracks so far include "After This," which they performed at the Lady of Soul Awards, "Bling Bling" and "Gangsta."Jermaine Dupri in a MTV article "They're still young [and] they're still in that marketplace that I like to deal with," Dupri said on Tuesday. He had just finished meeting with the singing trio and was in New York's Right Track Studio producing a track with Usher. "At the same time I feel So So Def is very male-dominated. I don't really want any more guys. I've got a contract with Daz, I'm getting ready to sign him too. So it's more dudes. I felt we needed some girls. 3LW got major producers and feature on the album at the Source Awards in 2003 they asked rapper 50 Cent if they would get “Gangsta” with them. "We actually have a song that we wanna put 50 [Cent] on," Adrienne said, openly soliciting the rapper. "So if you're [listening] 50, it's called 'Gangsta.' " “We want you, man, we want you,” Jessica interjected. We need you.” “You gotta be on it, “ Adrienne said. “It’s all about you.”"At the 2003 Source Awards 3LW stated they have completed ten songs and were in the process of moving to ATL to work with Jermaine Dupri 3LW’s recording process had went to a hult with member's Kiely Williams and Adrienne Bailon had to film for the Disney franchises “The Cheetah Girls”. Finally back with their rumored first single off their new album “Phoenix Rising” they went on to perform after this at the 2003 Lady of Soul Awards which had people seeing that 3LW didn’t go anywhere to definitely had something in store for them. 3LW spoke on the album in late summer of 2003 on what their title off the new LP stood for and a new new first single to replace After This. "A phoenix rises out of the ashes after it burns itself," Kiely Williams explained at last week's BET Awards "And after all the controversy we've been through, we've sort of burned ourselves, but now we're rising out of the ashes, and like a new phoenix arises, a new 3LW has arisen. And we're back and we're bling blingin'." 3LW said in June of 2003 a song called "Bling Bling" would be the first single, but it has since been replaced by "Watcha Doin After This," which they performed at the recent Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. The track was produced by Bradley Spalter (O-Town). 3LW had again paused the process again since Kiely and Adrienne’s involvement with the “The Cheetah Girls” The album title would change a few times between 2004-2005 when the settled with the title that seemed fitting for the trio Point of No Return which was based off the title track from their LP. Kiely had this to say about the track "Actually 'Point of No Return' is the name of one of the songs that Dre and Vidal produced [on our album],” "[In the song,] we're talking to our man [and saying], 'You've waited, you've been patient, and now you can get it.' But the reason I thought it was a good idea for us to have that as the album title, it leaves room for us to do everything. We've been through so much as a group, as individuals, it's time for our fans to see that we have reached the point of no return. There is no stopping us." also Adrienne talked about their growth with the record and how there's no turning back "The album's title also speaks to our personal growth in our careers," says Adrienne. "We're no longer teenagers and our decision to return to music is challenging and unpredictable, but there's no turning back." with several false release dates the album was set release in August 16th 2006 They would go on to drop a couple off buzz singles off the groups Myspace page but in June of 2006 they would release the first official single that featured Jermaine Dupri Feelin’ You but that would be the only single to get a release from the album months later we still didn’t see a release and fans were starting to question if they were going to hear the album. In 2008 3LW would be dropped from the So So Def label and 3LW would disband. The reason of 3LW being dropped and broke up got brough up when Dimension TLC contacted Tse Williams and she stated "Jermaine Dupri just didn't seem intrested in doing business with Jive after LA Reid was let go from Arista. Also Kiely and A just found it easier to be Cheetah Girls. Kids are nicer than teens. They just didn't want to be 3LW anymore after all that Naturi crap. The joy was gone. Believe me. It was torture. The Hatred was real." Kiely and Adrienne would go on to film a final Cheetah Girls film and pursue solo careers and Jessica would join another group NLA. Currently Kiely along with former member Naturi are mothers to baby girls and Adrienne is still pursuing music and is a host of the Emmy nominated show “The Real”.

Here is a list of tracks that have been for each album and some info about them.

Phoenix Rising:

The Way I Feel About You (feat. Bow Wow) - Bryan Cox (Unreleased)

If I Were Your Girl (for the If I Were Your Girl Soundtrack) - Babyface (Unreleased)

Bling Bling (performed on mall tour)

Gangsta (feat. 50 Cent)

Beat Of My Drum - Jermaine Dupri

Big Girl

I Don’t Mind (feat. Shaya)

Ayo - Chris Henderson (Given to Mya) - performed on mall tour

Phoenix Rising (Unreleased)

The Club is Over (feat. The Rain) -Cool & Dre

Act Like U Know (feat. Raz B)

Things You Never Hear a Girl Say

Fall Back

Hate 2 Luv U (appeared on Love Don’t Cost a Thing Original Soundtrack)

After This (was going to be the first single also performed @ lady of soul awards in 2003)

So Young (So Good)

Pass The Drama

Do U Ever

Mr. New Guy (given to Tynisha Keli) (Unreleased)

Point Of No Return:

Forever (Unreleased)

No Matter What - Scott Storch (Unreleased)

It’s Not All About Me (released through Myspace)

Strictly Business (released through Myspace) - Mike City

Point Of No Return - Dre & Vidal

Throwback - Maestro (Unreleased)

Hot - Dre & Vidal

Phone Sex - Maestro

Do Ya - Rich Harrison

Feelin’ You (feat. Jermaine Dupri) - released as the 1st single - Jermaine Dupri

Senses - Scott Stroch (Unreleased)

You Ain’t Ready - The Dream

Ain’t Enough - Sean Garrett (Unreleased)

Other Unknown Tracks:

That’s Whats Up- Beau Dozier

Got Me On Lock

Let’s Just Be

How U Gonna Act (feat. Penelope Magnet)

Got Ur Candy - Co Stars

I Like It When

Fire

Take My Body (feat. The Rain)

Into It (Unreleased)

Hold It Now (Unreleased)