Uninvited Guests: Group Albums Missing Original Members

These groups all played musical chairs.

Univited Guests: Group Albums Missing Original Members - Still shook form the awkward announcement of a Big Tymers without Mannie Fresh, another tremor hit the industry when Gangsta Boo told AllHipHop.com that Three-6 Mafia is reuniting ... without Juicy J. DJ Paul quickly smoothed that over a bit saying that the group — now consisting of himself, Boo, Crunchy Blak, Koopsta Knicca and Lord Infamous — will be known as Da Mafia 6. It will be up to the fans whether or not that makes dollars and sense. Meanwhile, check out what happened with other groups that went on without all the original members in place. — Sia Barnes(Photo: Columbia Records)

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Univited Guests: Group Albums Missing Original Members - Still shook form the awkward announcement of a Big Tymers without Mannie Fresh, another tremor hit the industry when Gangsta Boo told AllHipHop.com that Three-6 Mafia is reuniting ... without Juicy J. DJ Paul quickly smoothed that over a bit saying that the group — now consisting of himself, Boo, Crunchy Blak, Koopsta Knicca and Lord Infamous — will be known as Da Mafia 6. It will be up to the fans whether or not that makes dollars and sense. Meanwhile, check out what happened with other groups that went on without all the original members in place. — Sia Barnes(Photo: Columbia Records)

Survivor - On the Destiny's Child hit "Survivor," Michelle Williams sang, "If I surround my self with positive things / I'll gain prosperity." She was right! She surrounded herself with Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland and skyrocketed the supergroup straight to the top of the charts and into fans' hearts worldwide. (Photo: Columbia Records)

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Destiny's Child, Survivor - Destiny's Child attempted to be as discreet as possible with their member switching. Instead of a press conference, the ladies simply swapped out LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson for Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin in the video for "Say My Name," the third single off the group's sophomore album, The Writing's on the Wall. Just months after that, Franklin was gone as well and the three remaining members released the oh so apropos Survivor. Not a step was missed, however. That album debuted at No. 1, five spots higher than the previous.(Photo: Columbia Records)

New Edition, Under the Blue Moon - After the original bad boy of R&B Bobby Brown was booted from New Edition for "behavioral issues," Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie Devoe and Ralph Tresvant went on to record a transitional album of sorts, Under the Blue Moon, a collection of doo-wop covers that managed to go gold (their previous album went platinum). Their follow up, 1988's Heart Break, included new member Johnny Gill, who was well received — to the tune of certified double platinum.(Photo: MCA Records)

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New Edition, Under the Blue Moon - After the original bad boy of R&B Bobby Brown was booted from New Edition for "behavioral issues," Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie Devoe and Ralph Tresvant went on to record a transitional album of sorts, Under the Blue Moon, a collection of doo-wop covers that managed to go gold (their previous album went platinum). Their follow up, 1988's Heart Break, included new member Johnny Gill, who was well received — to the tune of certified double platinum.(Photo: MCA Records)

Goodie Mob, One Monkey Don't Stop No Show - After two solid, culture-shifting albums, Goodie Mob's fan base recoiled from what felt like a misguided attempt at pop, World Party. Cee-Lo Green then departed to pursue a solo career and Khujo, T-Mo and Big Gipp continued to rep, delivering One Monkey Don't Stop No Show. Fans pulled back again, missing Green's crooning and thinking they were jabbing him in the title (they say, instead, "the monkey" is the music industry). The Mob hasn't recovered since, but word is, they'll be reuninting this year with Age Against the Machine, due Aug. 27.(Photo: Koch Records)

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Goodie Mob, One Monkey Don't Stop No Show - After two solid, culture-shifting albums, Goodie Mob's fan base recoiled from what felt like a misguided attempt at pop, World Party. Cee-Lo Green then departed to pursue a solo career and Khujo, T-Mo and Big Gipp continued to rep, delivering One Monkey Don't Stop No Show. Fans pulled back again, missing Green's crooning and thinking they were jabbing him in the title (they say, instead, "the monkey" is the music industry). The Mob hasn't recovered since, but word is, they'll be reuninting this year with Age Against the Machine, due Aug. 27.(Photo: Koch Records)

Blackstreet, Another Level - Blackstreet started as a game of musical chairs, forming with Teddy Riley after his first group, Guy, disbanded; and it continued to work that way afterwards. Before the first album even came out, Joseph Stonestreet left and Dave Hollister joined Riley, Chauncey Hannibal and Levon Little. By their sophomore release, 1996's Another Level, Mark Middleton and Eric Williams had replaced Hollister and Little. The album went quadruple platinum and spawned "No Diggity" featuring Dr. Dre. No doubt.(Photo: Interscope Records)

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Blackstreet, Another Level - Blackstreet started as a game of musical chairs, forming with Teddy Riley after his first group, Guy, disbanded; and it continued to work that way afterwards. Before the first album even came out, Joseph Stonestreet left and Dave Hollister joined Riley, Chauncey Hannibal and Levon Little. By their sophomore release, 1996's Another Level, Mark Middleton and Eric Williams had replaced Hollister and Little. The album went quadruple platinum and spawned "No Diggity" featuring Dr. Dre. No doubt.(Photo: Interscope Records)

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The Temptations, Cloud Nine - It was regular practice to change the line-up of The Temptations. The group was more about the dynamic than the individual. So, when David Ruffin famously tried to make himself, alone, the star, the group fired him and the next day hired Dennis Edwards as a replacement. Their first album with Edwards, Cloud Nine, was also their first foray into "psychedelic soul," and it earned them their first Grammy.(Photo: Gordy Records)

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The Temptations, Cloud Nine - It was regular practice to change the line-up of The Temptations. The group was more about the dynamic than the individual. So, when David Ruffin famously tried to make himself, alone, the star, the group fired him and the next day hired Dennis Edwards as a replacement. Their first album with Edwards, Cloud Nine, was also their first foray into "psychedelic soul," and it earned them their first Grammy.(Photo: Gordy Records)

En Vogue, Soul Flower - En Vogue experienced enviable success from their first single, "Hold On," and went on to become one of the most recognized girl groups of all time. By their fourth album, however, original member Dawn Robinson left, and by their fifth, Soul Flower, Maxine Jones was gone as well. The last two original members, Cindy Herron and Tracy Ellis, recruited Rhona Bennett, but the independently released album failed to produce any singles that charted. Nine years later, the original members are now embroled in a legal battle over who can use the name.(Photo: 33rd Street Records)

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En Vogue, Soul Flower - En Vogue experienced enviable success from their first single, "Hold On," and went on to become one of the most recognized girl groups of all time. By their fourth album, however, original member Dawn Robinson left, and by their fifth, Soul Flower, Maxine Jones was gone as well. The last two original members, Cindy Herron and Tracy Ellis, recruited Rhona Bennett, but the independently released album failed to produce any singles that charted. Nine years later, the original members are now embroled in a legal battle over who can use the name.(Photo: 33rd Street Records)

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Thug Stories - The Grammy-winning, multi-platinum Bone Thugs-n-Harmony unraveled for a bit around the time Flesh was locked up and Bizzy started beefing, publicly, over money. The next year, 2001, Bizzy, Layzie and Krayzie released solo albums. In 2002, they re-grouped to deliver BTNHResurrection, but Flesh was still locked up (his vocals turned up on one track — a skit). Bizzy was eventually kicked out of the group and Bone lived on as a trio for Thug Stories, topping the Independent Albums Chart. The group eventually fully reunited (Wish is the fifth member) for 2010's Uni5: The World's Enemy, which reached No. 14 on Billboard's 200.(Photo: Koch Records)

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Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Thug Stories - The Grammy-winning, multi-platinum Bone Thugs-n-Harmony unraveled for a bit around the time Flesh was locked up and Bizzy started beefing, publicly, over money. The next year, 2001, Bizzy, Layzie and Krayzie released solo albums. In 2002, they re-grouped to deliver BTNHResurrection, but Flesh was still locked up (his vocals turned up on one track — a skit). Bizzy was eventually kicked out of the group and Bone lived on as a trio for Thug Stories, topping the Independent Albums Chart. The group eventually fully reunited (Wish is the fifth member) for 2010's Uni5: The World's Enemy, which reached No. 14 on Billboard's 200.(Photo: Koch Records)

The Evolution of Dr. Dre - N.W.A. lost two members — Arabian Prince and standout MC Ice Cube, who then engaged with a heated on-wax war with the crew — but that didn't slow their roll. Their sophomore LP, Elif4zaggin, was a watershed moment. Dre's beats were bigger, crisper, more dramatic, more Compton, more gangsta, and really more "Dre" than ever. His signature sound had truly emerged (you can even hear the first traces of G-Funk on this album), and hip hop would never sound the same.(Photo: Ruthless Records)

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N.W.A., N----z4Life - Ice Cube left the gangsta rap pioneering group N.W.A. after their 1988 Straight Outta Compton debut. He had co-written much of the album and felt he was owed more in royalties. Cube went solo afterwards, and N.W.A. recorded one final album, N----z4Life. But, not before releasing an EP that dissed Cube, 100 Miles and Runnin'.(Photo: Ruthless Records)

The Supremes; Mary, Scherrie & Susaye - The Temptations sister group, The Supremes were also known for frequent lineup changes. The 1967 name change to Diana Ross & The Supremes, however, fueled rumors of a solo career for Ross. By 1969, the rumors became reality; and by 1977, the only remaining original member was Mary Wilson, who had been a part of the group with Ross when they were still named The Primettes. The group's last album was Mary, Scherrie & Susaye, a shout out to remaining members Wilson, Sherrie Payne and Susaye Greene.(Photo: Motown)

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The Supremes; Mary, Scherrie & Susaye - The Temptations sister group, The Supremes were also known for frequent lineup changes. The 1967 name change to Diana Ross & The Supremes, however, fueled rumors of a solo career for Ross. By 1969, the rumors became reality; and by 1977, the only remaining original member was Mary Wilson, who had been a part of the group with Ross when they were still named The Primettes. The group's last album was Mary, Scherrie & Susaye, a shout out to remaining members Wilson, Sherrie Payne and Susaye Greene.(Photo: Motown)

Junior M.A.F.I.A., Die Anyway - Junior M.A.F.I.A. was a group of childhood friends that formed around the "godfather" of the clique, Notorious B.I.G. Their first album, Conspiracy, featured four tracks with B.I.G. and helped spawn the career of the only female in the crew, Lil Kim. After Big's death, the crew disbanded for a while. A trio emerged from them — including Lil Cease — and released 2005's Riot Muzik. The same year, Cease testified against Kim, helping to send her to jail. The trio tried once more with 2007's Die Anyway, but by then, all the pop had fizzled.(Photo: Atlantic Records)

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Junior M.A.F.I.A., Die Anyway - Junior M.A.F.I.A. was a group of childhood friends that formed around the "godfather" of the clique, Notorious B.I.G. Their first album, Conspiracy, featured four tracks with B.I.G. and helped spawn the career of the only female in the crew, Lil Kim. After Big's death, the crew disbanded for a while. A trio emerged from them — including Lil Cease — and released 2005's Riot Muzik. The same year, Cease testified against Kim, helping to send her to jail. The trio tried once more with 2007's Die Anyway, but by then, all the pop had fizzled.(Photo: Atlantic Records)