Triple Up: Artists Who Have Released Trilogy Albums

2 Chainz may make B.O.A.T.S. III, is the 3rd time a charm?

Triple Up: Artists Who Have Released Trilogy Albums - The story is about to continue for 2 Chainz. Early Tuesday morning, the rapper tweeted, "Workin on B.O.A.T.S 3." Though details remain scarce, the announcement suggests that the Atlanta rapper is readying a follow up to his first two albums, Based on a T.R.U. Story and B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time. There's a precedent for some big-name artists delivering not just sequels, but trilogies to previous albums — with typically strong, though ocassionally mixed results. 2 Chainz, take notice. (Photo: Scott Cunningham/Getty Images for Giuseppe Zanotti)

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Triple Up: Artists Who Have Released Trilogy Albums - The story is about to continue for 2 Chainz. Early Tuesday morning, the rapper tweeted, "Workin on B.O.A.T.S 3." Though details remain scarce, the announcement suggests that the Atlanta rapper is readying a follow up to his first two albums, Based on a T.R.U. Story and B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time. There's a precedent for some big-name artists delivering not just sequels, but trilogies to previous albums — with typically strong, though ocassionally mixed results. 2 Chainz, take notice. (Photo: Scott Cunningham/Getty Images for Giuseppe Zanotti)

Jay Z, Blueprint 3 - The Blueprint is a classic. Blueprint 2, Jay Z’s double-disc follow up, is widely viewed with mixed feelings. Blueprint 3 falls somewhere in between. The 2009 release included smashes like “Empire State of Mind” and “Run This Town,” as well as features from Drake, J. Cole, Kid Cudi and more.  (Photo: Def Jam)

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Jay Z, Blueprint 3 - The Blueprint is a classic. Blueprint 2, Jay Z’s double-disc follow up, is widely viewed with mixed feelings. Blueprint 3 falls somewhere in between. The 2009 release included smashes like “Empire State of Mind” and “Run This Town,” as well as features from Drake, J. Cole, Kid Cudi and more.  (Photo: Def Jam)

Young Jeezy, TM103: Hustlerz Ambition  - Jeezy had a nation inspired with his debut, Thug Motivation 101: Let’s Get It. Yet, that precedent wasn’t enough to allow TM103: Hustlerz Ambition (which was his fourth album) to avoid label-related delays. When it finally did hit stores, Jizzle had clearly returned to form, with joints ranging from “I Do” and “Leave You Alone” to “SupaFreak” and “This One’s for You.”(Photo: Def Jam)

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Young Jeezy, TM103: Hustlerz Ambition  - Jeezy had a nation inspired with his debut, Thug Motivation 101: Let’s Get It. Yet, that precedent wasn’t enough to allow TM103: Hustlerz Ambition (which was his fourth album) to avoid label-related delays. When it finally did hit stores, Jizzle had clearly returned to form, with joints ranging from “I Do” and “Leave You Alone” to “SupaFreak” and “This One’s for You.”(Photo: Def Jam)

Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III - In addition to his run of out of this world mixtapes and rewind-worthy features, Lil Wayne launched himself into the conversation of "best out" with Tha Carter II. Some three years later, next up was Tha Carter III, which didn’t enjoy the same overall acclaim as its predecessor, but did include plenty of hits (“A Milli,” “Lollipop,” “Mrs. Officer”) and moved a milli in its first week. (Photo: Cash Money, Universal Motown)

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Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III - In addition to his run of out of this world mixtapes and rewind-worthy features, Lil Wayne launched himself into the conversation of "best out" with Tha Carter II. Some three years later, next up was Tha Carter III, which didn’t enjoy the same overall acclaim as its predecessor, but did include plenty of hits (“A Milli,” “Lollipop,” “Mrs. Officer”) and moved a milli in its first week. (Photo: Cash Money, Universal Motown)

Bun B, Trill OG - When he stepped out for his solo albums after an illustrious career as half of UGK, Bun B proved a still-potent force. The feature-heavy and creatively-titled Trill OG, his third effort, included appearances from everyone from Drake to Twista to 2Pac, and earned a Five Mic rating in The Source. (Photo: Rap-A-Lot)

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Bun B, Trill OG - When he stepped out for his solo albums after an illustrious career as half of UGK, Bun B proved a still-potent force. The feature-heavy and creatively-titled Trill OG, his third effort, included appearances from everyone from Drake to Twista to 2Pac, and earned a Five Mic rating in The Source. (Photo: Rap-A-Lot)

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E-40, The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 3 - E-40 has always been a hard-working, prolific artist, but he took things to a new level in 2012. 40 Water dropped The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 1, 2 and 3 on the same day. He followed that up in 2013 with volumes 4, 5 and 6.(Photo: Heavy on the Grind Entertainment)

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E-40, The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 3 - E-40 has always been a hard-working, prolific artist, but he took things to a new level in 2012. 40 Water dropped The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 1, 2 and 3 on the same day. He followed that up in 2013 with volumes 4, 5 and 6.(Photo: Heavy on the Grind Entertainment)

R. Kelly, TP.3 Reloaded - For the third entry of his 12 Play series, R. Kelly dropped TP.3 Reloaded in 2005. It didn't quite have the impact of his debut or TP-2.com ("Fiesta," "I Wish" and more), but it did include the inaugural five parts of his soon-to-be-classic "Trapped in the Closet" series. (Photo: Jive)

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R. Kelly, TP.3 Reloaded - For the third entry of his 12 Play series, R. Kelly dropped TP.3 Reloaded in 2005. It didn't quite have the impact of his debut or TP-2.com ("Fiesta," "I Wish" and more), but it did include the inaugural five parts of his soon-to-be-classic "Trapped in the Closet" series. (Photo: Jive)

Prodigy, H.N.I.C. 3 - After a string of beloved albums with Mobb Deep, Prodigy stepped out on his own to prove that he was the H.N.I.C. Though the third installment, H.N.I.C. 3, had some big names like Wiz Khalifa and T.I., the release was generally viewed as the weakest of the trilogy by critics. (Photo: Infamous Records)

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Prodigy, H.N.I.C. 3 - After a string of beloved albums with Mobb Deep, Prodigy stepped out on his own to prove that he was the H.N.I.C. Though the third installment, H.N.I.C. 3, had some big names like Wiz Khalifa and T.I., the release was generally viewed as the weakest of the trilogy by critics. (Photo: Infamous Records)

Ruff Ryders, Ryde or Die Vol. 3: In the "R" We Trust - To try to both solidify and maximize their status as one of hip hop's leading crews, Ruff Ryders released a number of compilations. The best of the bunch was the first, 1999's Ryde or Die Vol. 1, which included joints like "Jigga My N---a," "Pina Colada" and "Down Bottom," but Ryde or Die Vol. 3: In the "R" We Trust, was a solid display of the roster.(Photo: Ruff Ryders, Interscope)

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Ruff Ryders, Ryde or Die Vol. 3: In the "R" We Trust - To try to both solidify and maximize their status as one of hip hop's leading crews, Ruff Ryders released a number of compilations. The best of the bunch was the first, 1999's Ryde or Die Vol. 1, which included joints like "Jigga My N---a," "Pina Colada" and "Down Bottom," but Ryde or Die Vol. 3: In the "R" We Trust, was a solid display of the roster.(Photo: Ruff Ryders, Interscope)

DJ Clue, The Professional 3 - Dropping three years after its predecessor, The Professional 3, from DJ Clue, didn't move the units of his previous albums, nor did it contain any singles that were able to catch on. It did feature a typically heavy-hitting roster, though, from Kanye West to Jadakiss to Game. (Photo: Desert Storm, Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam)

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DJ Clue, The Professional 3 - Dropping three years after its predecessor, The Professional 3, from DJ Clue, didn't move the units of his previous albums, nor did it contain any singles that were able to catch on. It did feature a typically heavy-hitting roster, though, from Kanye West to Jadakiss to Game. (Photo: Desert Storm, Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam)

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Webbie, Savage Life 3 - Released in 2011, Savage Life 3 was the third album from the Louisiana-bred Webbie. However, the album wasn't able to spawn a hit like his first two efforts ("Give Me That" and "Independent," respectively). In 2013, he dropped Savage Life 4. (Photo: Trill, RBC)

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Webbie, Savage Life 3 - Released in 2011, Savage Life 3 was the third album from the Louisiana-bred Webbie. However, the album wasn't able to spawn a hit like his first two efforts ("Give Me That" and "Independent," respectively). In 2013, he dropped Savage Life 4. (Photo: Trill, RBC)

Maybach Music Group, Self Made Vol. 3 - As they were continuing to establish themselves as a crew to be respected, Self Made Vol. 1 really set the tone for Maybach Music Group with songs like "I'ma Boss," "That Way" and "Tupac Back." They continued the trend on the next two installments, with Vol. 3 offering Meek Mill's smash "Levels" as well as posse cuts like "Black Grammys" and "Poor Decisions."(Photo: Courtesy of Maybach Music Group)

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Maybach Music Group, Self Made Vol. 3 - As they were continuing to establish themselves as a crew to be respected, Self Made Vol. 1 really set the tone for Maybach Music Group with songs like "I'ma Boss," "That Way" and "Tupac Back." They continued the trend on the next two installments, with Vol. 3 offering Meek Mill's smash "Levels" as well as posse cuts like "Black Grammys" and "Poor Decisions."(Photo: Courtesy of Maybach Music Group)