3LW is the debut studio album by American girl group 3LW. It was released through Epic Records on December 5, 2000 in the United States. Over the course of nine months, the group recorded material for the project, working with a range of producers and songwriters to craft a contemporary R&B sound aimed at the teen pop market. Contributors to the album included Chrissy Conway, Chad Elliott, production teamss Full Force and Poke & Tone, Trackmasters (Poke & Tone), and Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs.
Reviews for 3LW were generally positive, with critics praising its fresh, radio-friendly blend of R&B and pop and strong vocals, while noting its manufactured image and occasional formulaic songwriting. The album peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). By March 2003, it had sold 1.3 million copies in the United States. 3LW produced the band's their debut single "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)" which peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, and their follow-up single "Playas Gon' Play".
In April 1999, Kiely Williams, Adrienne Bailon and Naturi Naughton met each other at an audition. The following week later the trio went to a recording studio to record a 4-song demo tape. Eventually they caught the attention of Sony Music Entertainment chairman/CEO Tommy Mottola and after performing for him he signed them to his label. For nine months the girls recorded material for their debut album. Bailon discussed the developmental experience saying, "We've become like sisters. We sing, pray, and go to church as unit". She continued," We have bunk beds, and "the bond we share is unbreakable".
The album was originally scheduled to be released on November 14, but was delayed to December 5, 2000. Beginning in May 2000, a marketing campaign was implemented to promote the group. 3LW cassette tape samplers and bounce-back postcards were distributed on the 'N Sync, Sisqó, and Christina Aguilera tours. 3LW were a part of Ed McMahon's mall and high school tour to promote his internet venture, "Nextbigstar.com". They had sponsorships with Adidas and Jump Magazine. Following the album's release, 3LW made several televised appearances on BET, Soul Train, and Nickelodeon, and were featured in teen-oriented magazines such as Seventeen and Teen People. 3LW also embarked on a European promotional tour in support of the project.
Ed Hogan from AllMusic praised the album for having a "fresh sound that deftly mixes hip-hop/R&B and pop." Overall, he felt that "The group's strong vocals and an overall adventurous vibe supplied by the album's producers and songwriters makes 3LW a pleasure." Barry Walters from Rolling Stone felt that the group radiate prefab vibes due to their "jerky beats" and the "kewpie-doll coo of their radio-friendly crooning". Ultimately, he declared 3LW "rise above the crassness behind their creation by laying low: no bombastic ballads, no embarrassing between-track skits, no strained displays of virtuoso technique and fake emotion".
Michael Paoletta from Billboard felt the album was full of "radio-ready singles", and like their contemporaries the group is targeting their peers with their material in which they succeed at doing. Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian considered the music on 3LW stronger than the band's name implied, noting that the trio's harmonies and experimental rhythms were clearly influenced by Destiny's Child and impressively executed given the members' young ages. She praised the opening track "No More" for its promising sound but felt the album ultimately became too formulaic and lyrically clichéd. Overall, she viewed it as polished and enjoyable, if somewhat repetitive "ear candy."
In the United States, 3LW peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and number 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. A steady seller, it was eventually certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), signifying shipments of one million copies in the United States, and had surpassed 1.3 million copies in domestic sales by March 2003. In Canada, the album reached number 32 on the Canadian R&B Albums chart compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. In the United Kingdom, the album peaked at number 75 on the UK Albums Chart and number 21 on the UK R&B Albums Chart.
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