The Writing's on the Wall (1999)

The Writing's on the Wall is the second studio album by American girl group Destiny's Child. It was released on July 14, 1999, by Columbia Records. Dissatisfied with their 1998 eponymous debut studio album, Destiny's Child sought transition from the record's neo soul-influenced sound. Hence, the group took more creative control and enlisted an almost entirely different array of collaborators, including Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, Kandi Burruss, Missy Elliott, Rodney Jerkins, and LaShawn Daniels, among others.

A result of the substantial artistic change, The Writing's on the Wall is an R&B, pop, hip hop, and soul record. Furthermore, it incorporates unconventional sonic elements, complex arrangements and staccato rap-singing vocals. Lyrically, the album is constructed as a concept album, with each track representing a Ten Commandments-inspired "Commandment of Relationships". Its themes include infatuation, dependency, infidelity, and separation, while a loose religious theme is maintained throughout. The production and innovative approach earned critical acclaim, while lyrical content initially elicited criticism. However, retrospective critical commentaries saw praise directed towards the album's feminist undertones.

The Writing's on the Wall is widely considered Destiny's Child's breakthrough album. It debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 133,000 units, and later peaked at number five. The album went on to be certified octuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of eight million units in the US. Four singles were produced—"Bills, Bills, Bills", "Bug a Boo", "Say My Name" and "Jumpin', Jumpin'". "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name" became Destiny's Child's first two US Billboard Hot 100 number-ones, with the latter winning the group their first two Grammy Awards. With worldwide sales of 13 million copies, The Writing's on the Wall is one of the best selling albums by a girl group and best-selling R&B albums of all time.

The Writing's on the Wall was largely overshadowed by the controversy surrounding its promotional cycle as a result of the group's internal conflicts. The music video for "Say My Name" saw original members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson–who had attempted to split with their manager Mathew Knowles–unexpectedly replaced with Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams. Luckett and Roberson filed a lawsuit against Knowles and former bandmates, and Franklin departed from Destiny's Child a mere five months after joining, leaving it as a trio. Regardless of the turmoil, many publications have listed the album among the best of its time and genre, noting the immense influence on numerous artists.

Background and development

In 1995, Destiny was signed to Elektra Records by Sylvia Rhone. However, they were dismissed from the label eight months into their contract, without having even released an album, for being "too young and undeveloped". Changing their name to Destiny's Child, the group was signed to Columbia Records by Teresa LaBarbera Whites in 1996, after negotiations from Beyoncé's father Mathew Knowles, who became their manager. Destiny's Child made their recording debut with the inclusion of the track "Killing Time" on the Men in Black soundtrack in July 1997. Three months later, their debut single "No, No, No" was released, eventually going on to peak at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The neo soul and R&B-infused eponymous debut studio album followed in February 1998, to a mixed critical reception.

Commercially, Destiny's Child was a slow seller, peaking only at number 67 on the US Billboard 200, but managed to earn a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) two years after its release. It produced one more single, "With Me", which failed to replicate the success of its predecessor. Beyoncé would retrospectively label the album "successful but not hugely successful", as it was "a neo-soul record and we were 15 years old. It was way too mature for us." In September, the group's contribution to the Why Do Fools Fall in Love soundtrack, "Get on the Bus"–a collaboration with Timbaland–was released to moderate commercial success. Around this time, Destiny's Child–partly dissatisfied with their debut–began conceiving ideas for its follow-up. As they were preparing to write and record new material, they sat together and listed what they liked and disliked about Destiny's Child in order to improve.