Destinys Child

Destinys Child - Michelle Williams

Williams became the first member of Destinys Child to have a solo project released. Heart To Yours, a contemporary gospel collection, reached No. 1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart and sold 200,000 copies in the US. Her second gospel album, Do You Know reached the No. 2 slot on the Top Christian Album chart and No. 3 on the Top Gospel Albums chart shortly after its release in January 2004. Williams also received poor reviews after replacing Toni Braxton in the lead role of Aida on Broadway in November 2003. Tickets sales for the show plummeted. To date this album has sold just over 50,000 copies in the US. By wikipedia.

Destinys Child - Survivor

Destinys Child's third album, Survivor Beyoncé had long since emerged as the group's focal point, and on the third Destinys Child album, she assumed more control than ever before, taking a greater hand in co-producing and co-writing the entire album. "We're excited about the album," Knowles told MTV News shortly before the album's release. She adds, "...I got a chance to co-write and produce all of the songs." "And she did an incredible job," the group's Kelly Rowland added. "But everybody is a part of the music," Knowles said. "Everybody is singing lead on every song, and it's so great — because now Destinys Child is at the point vocally and mentally that it should be at. It's just great to be a part of this group." Survivor - whose title was reportedly inspired by a DJ's crack about Destinys Child members voting one another off the island, much like the popular CBS reality series Survivor - hit stores in the spring of 2001, and entered the Billboard 200 at number one, selling over 663,000 copies in its first week sales (the second highest ever for a girl-group.) The first two singles, "Independent Women Part I" and "Bootylicious", were predictably huge hits, with the latter becoming the group's fourth No.1 Hot 100 single. An über-melismatic cover of the Bee Gees' "Emotion" was also successful, becoming a Top 10 pop hit. Survivor sold well - certified 4x platinum domestically and going on to sell a total over 6 million worldwide. In the UK, Destinys Child had two consecutive hit singles at number one which were "Independent Women Part 1" and "Survivor".

Destinys Child - Destinys Child's #1 Single Independent Women

Now a trio of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams, Destinys Child were tapped to record the theme song for the film version of Charlie's Angels; released as a single in October 2000, "Independent Women, Pt. 1" raced up the charts and spent an astounding 11 consecutive weeks at No.1 (the longest running of 2000 and by a female group). They quickly began work on a new album to capitalize on their success. In the meantime, Destinys Child won 2 Grammy awards for "Say My Name", including Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and Best R&B Song. While speaking with MTV.com, Rowland had this to say about the upcoming album: "I know everybody can relate to this album it's very diverse and inspiring. The year 2000 was very challenging, and I know that gave Beyoncé a lot of inspiration to write songs for the album. We cannot wait for everybody to hear it. It's so empowering for a lot of people who have already heard a little bit of it."

Destinys Child - The New Girls

Buoyed by the Destiny's child breakout success, two of its original members, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, attempted to split with manager Matthew Knowles, charging that he kept a disproportionate share of the Destiny's child profits, attempted to exert too much control, and unfairly favored his daughter. While they never intended to leave the group, relations naturally grew strained, and when the video for "Say My Name" premiered in February 2000, many Destiny's child fans (not to mention Roberson and Luckett) were surprised to find two new members -- Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin -- joining Knowles and Rowland. Infuriated, Roberson and Luckett took legal action in March, suing both Knowles and their former bandmates for breach of partnership and fiduciary duties. A war of words followed in the press; meanwhile, Destinys Child became a pop-cultural phenomenon. "Say My Name" became the group's biggest single to date and third No. 1 single. The abrupt membership changes within the group seemed to only heighten the group's visibility, finally separating them from the endless pack of teen pop starlets.

Destinys Child - The Writing's on the Wall
Destinys Child's second album, The Writing's on the WallDestinys Child re-entered the studio quickly, bringing in a new lineup of producers, including Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, Rodney Jerkins, Dwayne Wiggins, Chad Elliot, Daryl Simmons, and Missy Elliott. Critics were generally positive about the album; Music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote "The Writing's on the Wall... an assured step forward for the girl group. Not only are they maturing as vocalists, they are fortunate to work with such skilled, talented producers... who all give the quartet rich, varied music upon which to work their charm." Lead single "Bills, Bills, Bills" became the group's first No. 1 Hot 100 hit (and second R&B No. 1) in the summer of 1999, and paced by its success, the accompanying album, The Writing's on the Wall, entered the Billboard 200 at No.6 upon its release on July 27, 1999. The second single, "Bug-a-Boo" hit the Top 40 pop charts, while its music video received heavy rotation on MTV and BET.