A Girl Can Mack

A Girl Can Mack is the second studio album by American girl group 3LW. It is their follow-up to the groups self-titled debut album, (2000). With the follow-up to their platinum self-titled debut, the group attempted to shed their youthful image and craft a mature look. The album combines both ballads and upbeat songs, with several serving as a declaration of equality in romantic relationships. The album was considered at lot "racier" and sexier than their debut.

A Girl Can Mack
Studio album by 3LW
Released	October 22, 2002
Genre	R&B
Length	55:59
Label	Epic
Producer	Sean "Puffy" Combs John "Jayd" Daniels Beau Dozier Brainz Dimilo Beau Dozier Joey Elias Steve Estiverne Full Force Rob Fusari Falonte Moore Travon Potts Anthony President Jonathan Robinson Steve Russell Smash Central Mario Winans
3LW chronology
3LW (2000) A Girl Can Mack (2002) Naughty or Nice (2002)
Singles from A Girl Can Mack
"I Do (Wanna Get Close to You)" Released: June 18, 2002 "Neva Get Enuf" Released: November 12, 2002

Background

3LW spent the first half of 2002 in the studio, recording a follow-up to their eponymous debut album. Their second album, tentatively titled Same Game, Different Rules, was set to be released mid-2002, and its lead single "Uh Oh" was presented to the label, who felt it did not have enough urban radio appeal.[1] 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") gained traction, and the act was retained, although Same Game, Different Rules remained shelved.

Recording a new set of tracks, the group returned in the summer of 2002 with the P. Diddy-produced single "I Do (Wanna Get Close To You)", featuring Loon in June. That same summer, the group performed a concert special on Nickelodeon titled Live on Sunset.

Naughton's departure and album release

By the summer of 2002, when the group was set to release A Girl Can Mack, member Naturi Naughton had left the group,[2] alleging that she had a number of conflicts and arguments with Bailon, Williams, and their management, which led to a heated argument in August 2002 involving an altercation with KFC food.[3][4] Not long after, Naughton claimed that she was forced out of the group.[5]

Williams and Bailon continued as a duo while using the "3LW" name, causing the press to jokingly refer to them as "2LW".[2] According to a cover story for the October 2002 issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine, Williams and Bailon said they received death threats and that they had to beef up security. The departure of Naughton greatly affected the group's popularity and album sales. A Girl Can Mack's release date was pushed back a month, but sales were still disappointing debuting at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 with a disappointing 53,000 copies sold in the first week.[6] After the second single released from the album, "Neva Get Enuf", underperformed, auditions were held across the country for a new third member. Jessica Benson made the cut and joined 3LW in early 2003. Without Benson, the group might have had to split due to "bankruptcy".[7] Jessica's first performance was on Live with Regis & Kelly, followed by a performance on Soul Train.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"I Do (Wanna Get Close to You)" (featuring Loon)	Adeeka Stupart Chauncey Hawkins Mario Winans Michael "Carlos" Jones Sean Combs Winsom "D'Mello" Singh	Winans P. Diddy	4:14
2.	"Neva Get Enuf" (featuring Lil Wayne)	Anthony President Brainz Dimilo Ericka Yancey Dwayne Carter Kenneth Gamble Leon Huff	President Dimilo	3:44
3.	"I Need That (I Want That)" (featuring Lil Kim)	Full Force Kimberly Jones Rina David Shelene Thomas	Full Force	4:43
4.	"Ain't No Maybe"	Steve Russell Stacia Gardner	Russell	4:22
5.	"Ghetto Love & Heartbreak"	Jack Knight Makeba Riddick Steve Estiverne	Estiverne	4:07
6.	"Good Good Girl"	Montell Jordan Tandria Potts Travon Potts	Smash Central Travon Potts	3:42
7.	"Put Em Up" (featuring Treach of Naughty by Nature)	Curtis Richardson John "Jayd" Daniels Riddick Anthony Criss	Daniels	3:35
8.	"This Goes Out"	Balewa Muhammad Falonte Moore Rob Fusari	Moore Fusari	4:01
9.	"Leave wit You (I Think I Wanna)"	Beau Dozier Nate Butler	Dozier	3:48
10.	"Crazy"	Dozier Butler	Dozier	3:21
11.	"Funny"	Alex Cantrell Eric Jackson Joey Elias Jonathan Robinson Shaunna Bolton	Elias Robinson	3:34
12.	"One More Time"	Alfred Jackson Robinson Bolton	Elias Robinson	3:37
13.	"Be Like That" (Hidden track)	Connie McKendricks Anthony T Prendatt	Dozier	4:15
14.	"More Than Friends" (Hidden track)	Dozier Jason Edmonds	Dozier	3:34

Japan bonus track

No.	Title	Length
15.	"High Fashion"	3:58

Sample credits

• "Neva Get Enuf" contains a sample of "Close the Door" as performed by Teddy Pendergrass.

Charts

Chart (2002)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[8]	15
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9]	12

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, formats, and label

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label
Japan	August 2002	CD digital download	Epic Records
United States	October 22, 2002
Germany	November 4, 2002

References

2. Oh, Minya (October 21, 2002). "3LW Become 2LW – News Story". MTV News. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
3. "3LW: One Story, Two Sides". MTV. March 9, 2006. Archived from the original on September 28, 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
4. "3LW: One Story, Two Sides". MTV. March 9, 2006. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
5. "3LW : Naturi Describes Alleged 3LW Fist Fight That Led To Split". VH1. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
6. D'angelo, Joe (2002-10-30). "Santana's Shaman Blessed; Foos At #3 On Albums Chart". Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2008.
7. "3LW News". Yahoo! Music. March 5, 2003. Archived from the original on 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
8. "3LW Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
9. "3LW Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2020.