Ranking the Best Destiny’s Child Albums

Let’s start this one off spicy since I’m bound to piss everyone off anyway:

Destiny’s Child’s discography > any of the member’s solo discography.

And yes, that includes the queen.

Now, excuse me while I relocate to the nearest bomb shelter.

Obviously, Destiny Child’s albums aren’t nearly as high-profile Beyonce’s current run, but in terms of consistent quality, they boast some of the better R&B songs of the past 25 years.

Their talent was undeniable. Those children were destined to blow.

Last week, Destiny Child’s debut LP marked its 25th anniversary. At the time, we acknowledged it as a very good album – but real talk, it was 1998, a year FILLED with classics and 5-star efforts. In some ways, it didn’t quite get its due. But it didn’t take long for the group formerly known as (The Hip-Hop Rappin) Girl’s Tyme to establish themselves as THE biggest girl group of the new millennium.

Even when constant roster changes (poor Farrah), rumors and internal strife rocked the boat, they forged on, delivering hit after hit and (for the most part) albums that got better with every new outing.

Today, let’s look back Destiny’s Child’s group run – minus the Christmas album – ranking every album from weakest to greatest.

Before y’all were talking about Beyhives, we were talking about Bug-A-Boos. I kinda miss those days.

4. Survivor (2001)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Let me tell y’all, I was NOT a fan of this album in 2001. My friends still retell the story of me calling them after purchasing this album, ranting about Beyonce n’ friends screaming at girls to “put some clothes onnnnn” and comparing dudes to ice cream. Though it’s hard to tell sometimes, I’ve mellowed out in my old age so I can appreciate the high points of Survivor a bit more these days. It’s a very single-driven project, and thankfully those singles are pretty good. And after a year or so of turbulent group drama, we finally settled on the final trio of members to carry out the group’s name, adding much-needed stability. Yes, this project WAY too poppy and WAY too goofy but it’s not THAT bad, 2001 Edd, chill homie.

Forgotten favorites: “Independent Women Part II,” “Dangerously In Love,” “Brown Eyes”

3. Destiny’s Child (1998)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: The first Destiny’s Child song I ever heard was “No No No, Part 2” and … I wasn’t a big fan of it. That certainly hasn’t changed today, especially after hearing it 4897954 times an hour back in 1998. But since my little brother copped the album at the time, I decided to check out the full project and I was blown away. If Survivor was a project that was kept afloat by its singles and not much else, OG DC’s debut is the reverse; it’s the album cuts that do the heavy lifting. Strong songwriting, beautiful harmonies, solid production – it’s the template for the quintessential 90s R&B debut. The latter-day DC albums get all the love for hits n’ hype, but this album deserves flowers for being the perfect launching pad for their stardom.

Forgotten favorites: “Killing Time,” “Tell Me,” “Second Nature”

2. The Writing’s On The Wall (1999)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Since Destiny’s Child’s sophomore effort landed at the tail end of the 90s, its legacy would be its influence over 2000s R&B. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, because The Writings on the Wall was a force right out of the gate and we felt those aftershocks before we switched millenniums. An all-star array of producers and writers crafted some of the most memorable songs of the era, and the ladies truly began to come into their own as performers. There isn’t a weak song in the bunch. R&B groups would quickly go the way of the dinosaurs and Ecto-Cooler as the 2000s rolled on but DC kept the group thing strong as we closed the decade.

Forgotten favorites: “Temptation,” “If You Leave,” “Now That She’s Gone”

1. Destiny Fulfilled (2004)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: The Writing’s on the Wall rightfully gets props for being the group’s breakout record, but I’m making the case that Destiny Fulfilled, the group’s final album, is their best work. These aren’t little girls begging for guys to pay their bills, they are women who use their experiences to craft strong ballads and midtempo cuts that accurately reflect the experiences of their maturing fanbase. It wasn’t the album many critics wanted to hear, but the well-crafted storytelling made it extremely poignant. Also, it boasts the best production of their career. Current producers, take note – THIS is how you flip a sample. If DC can give us another album this good I’m more than OK with a reunion. R&B is long overdue for a project this good.

Forgotten favorites: “If,” “Is She The Reason,” “Through With Love”

Which DC album is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.