ONTD Original: R&B One Album Wonders of the 1990s and 2000s
Many weeks ago I made this post: ONTD Original: R&B One Hit Wonders of the 1990s and 2000s and in the comments ONTD member eastaccidental came up with idea for someone to do a post about artists who were one album wonders and since I did the one hit wonder I decided why not do it.
Now onto the topic, this ONTD/Kobewife1 Original will be about artists that had one great/good first album then could never duplicate or duplicate at least a fraction of the success of their previous album.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) - Lauryn Hill
This hurts me so much to put her on the list but she's definitely a One Album Wonder. Before releasing her debut album, the New Jersey born Lauryn Hill was part of the hip-hop group The Fugees which included members Wyclef Jean and Pras. The group released two albums including the Platinum and Grammy winning album The Score (1996) that had the hit songs as Fu-Gee-La, Ready or Not and the smash Killing Me Softly. The group decided to split in 1997.
Lauryn decided after becoming pregnant and 'other circumstances in her life inspired her to record a solo album', thus we have this iconic album. TMoLH was released in August 1998 where it hit #1 on Billboard 200 with over 420,000 copies sold. It would go onto sell 'one million copies in less than a month and 2.4 million copies by December' and over eight million in the US alone (and globally over 19 million) since 2013 . There were three singles released off of the album the smash lead single 'Doo Wop (That Thing)', followed by Ex-Factor and Everything is Everything. At the 41st Grammy awards, TmoLH was nominated for 10 Grammys, winning five including Best New Artist and Album of the Year (making it the first hip-hop album to win that award).
Click to viewSoon after the success of the acclaim album, Lauryn dropped out of the public eye because of the discontent with the music business and 'the pressure of fame'. Her second and last album, MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 (2002), where it had mixed reviews and sold less than any other The Fugees albums and her last album.
Other non-single tracks to check out from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: To Zion, 'Nothing Even Matters', Final Hour and Lost Ones
...If I Ever Fall In Love (1992) - Shai
ONTD member lefteyepni suggested this group in that same post the suggestion came for this topic
The Washington D.C. group came out with the lead single .'..If I Ever Fall In Love' off of their debut album with the same name where it went #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on R&B Singles charts. Then they followed with Comforter and 'Baby I'm Yours' which both went to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Along with the hit singles, their album went 3x Platinum and peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200.
Their follow up album Blackface (1995) was successful (since it went Platinum) but the album had no hit singles with the modest hit This Place Where you Belong that was also on the Beverly Hills Cop 3 soundtrack (thanks again tolefteyepni for this info), the group would go on to release 3 more albums that basically went nowhere.
Other non-single tracks to check out from ...If I Ever Fall In Love: Together Forever and Yours
The Truth (1993) - Aaron Hall
After being in the New Jack Swing/R&B group Guy, the New York based Aaron Hall came out with the hit 'Don't Be Afraid' (which was also on The Juice (1992) soundtrack) where it hit #1 on R&B Singles charts. He followed with other hit songs such as his biggest hit, 'I Miss You' where it went to #14 on the Hot 100 and #2 on R&B Singles charts.
The follow up album to his debut album Inside You (1998) didn't even chart and only one single (All The Places (I Will Kiss You)) came from it and was a modest hit.
Other non-single tracks to check out from The Truth: When You Need Me, Let's Make Love and Get a Little Freaky With Me
From the Bottom Up (1995) - Brownstone
Releasing their debut album, the L.A. based group came out with the hit single 'If You Love Me' where it peaked at #8 on Hot 100 and U.K charts, also at #8 on R&B Singles charts. It even topped the New Zealand charts for five weeks. Then they followed with 'Grapevyne', where it went #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Airplay and #6 on the R&B Singles chart. The album went certified Platinum and peaked at #4 on the R&B album charts.
They followed up with Still Climbing (1997) which was less successful and a produced the modest hit 5 Miles to Empty
Other non-single tracks to check out from From the Bottom Up: I Can't Tell You Why (The Eagles' classic) & Pass the Lovin
Emotional (2000) - Carl Thomas
Before releasing his debut album you'll probably remember the Chicago-area Carl Thomas was featured artist on the Puff Daddy & Mase single 'Been Around the World (remix). So in 2000 Carl released his debut album on the Bad Boys label with the single 'I Wish' becoming a smash. It went #1 on R&B Singles chart and stayed there six straight weeks. He followed with Summer Rain and 'Emotional' which both hits on the R&B Singles chart and where it helped the album become certified Platinum. He also had the R&B classic 'Can't Believe' together with Faith Evans off of the P. Diddy and the Bad Boy Family album.
Let's Talk About It (2004) was his follow up album but it didn't chart as well as other 2 albums he released.
Other non-single tracks to check out from Emotional: Special Lady & My Valentine
Honorable Mentions: The Duchess (2006) - Fergie, Floetic (2002) - Floetry, Candy Rain (1995) - Soul For Real, Blaque (1999) - Blaque, Lucy Pearl (2000) - Lucy Pearl, City High (2001) - City High, Back of My Lac' (2007) - J. Holiday & Az Yet (1996) - Az Yet
ONTD, what's your favorite one album wonder? (other genres are welcomed)
Source: Youtube 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10
Wikipedia: 11|12|13|14|15|16