10 More Albums That Bombed So Hard They Killed a Musician's Career

Welcome to WatchMojo, where were looking at more of the worst-performing albums in music history.

Neither Fish Nor Flesh (1989)

Terence Trent DArby

In 1987, DArby achieved strong success with his debut album. It took the UKs top spot, then went on to sell millions of copies globally. All this went straight to his head, with him saying it was the most important album since Sgt. Peppers. You could hear how much it had inflated his ego on his second album, Neither Fish Nor Flesh. Released in 1989, it was a commercial disaster. It wasnt an awful album, but its experimental style alienated his mainstream fans. It has since gained a cult following, but DArby never entered the mainstream again.

Mind Blowin (1994)

Vanilla Ice

The younger generations might know Vanilla Ice as a home-flipper for the DIY Network. Well, long before he was a reality TV star, he was one of the biggest rappers of the 90s. His 1990 hit Ice Ice Baby is still widely known today. Ice maintained mainstream fame until it all came crumbling down in 1994. His second album, Mind Blowin, was a monumental disaster. It seriously undersold, with reviewers universally disliking it. The issue was that Ice tried to rebrand as a hardcore gangster rapper, which came across as phony. He was already facing scrutiny for cultural appropriation and unauthorized sampling. This, as well as some scandals, sent his status into a death spiral.

The Big Day (2019)

Chance the Rapper

During the 2010s, Chance was one of hip-hops most promising stars. His first three mixtapes received huge acclaim, making millions excited for a studio album. It dropped in 2019, then sold 108,000 units in one week, with roughly 80,000 coming from streams. Things only went downhill for Chance from there. Rolling Stone magazine considers it one of the most disappointing releases ever, and when you listen to it, its easy to see why. Many fans didnt enjoy a single track, massively hampering his reputation. Since then, hes released a handful of singles and has plans for a mixtape, but hes hesitant to release another full-length album.

Playing With Fire (2006)

Kevin Federline

Do you remember Kevin Federline? Few do now, but in the 2000s, he was frequently in the spotlight. It was mainly because of his marriage to singer Britney Spears, alongside their subsequent divorce. He wasnt an artist, though; he was a backup dancer. In 2006, he made the huge blunder of pivoting into rap. This resulted in Playing With Fire, one of the worst debut albums in history. It was critically annihilated, earning a 15 on Metacritic, making it the websites worst-reviewed album. Federline never released another album, then left the mainstream entirely after leaving Spears.

From Luxury to Heartache (1986)

Culture Club

Two of the biggest hits of the 80s were Karma Chameleon and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me. They were courtesy of Boy Georges new wave band Culture Club. They had immense status until their fourth album, From Luxury to Heartache. Behind the scenes, however, the group was falling apart, leaving the recording process in shambles. Its lead single was a modest hit, but scandals surrounding Boy George became increasingly prominent. This caused the album to flop commercially, with Culture Club breaking up soon after. They wouldnt reform until 1998, but none of them ever regained their mainstream status.

12 Bar Blues (1998)

Scott Weiland

Between 1989 and 2003, Weiland was the frontman of Stone Temple Pilots. They were huge in the 90s grunge scene, but pivoted into different styles later on. In 1998, Weiland dropped his first solo album, 12 Bar Blues. While it certainly killed Weilands chances at having a solo career, at least it didnt kill his entire musical career. In 1999, Stone Temple Pilots released their fourth album, which included their biggest hit, Sour Girl. Weiland also formed Velvet Revolver in 2002, which was highly successful.

Based on a True Story (2025)

Will Smith

Unbeknownst to younger generations, Smith was a huge feel-good rapper in the 90s. The disappointing reception for 2005s Lost and Found pushed him to focus on his acting career. Twenty years later, Based on a True Story failed to signal a return to form in music. Critics werent impressed, and neither was the public. Smith was already considered a bit of a pariah for infamously slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022. Based on a True Story became his first album to not really chart anywhere, except on the UK Album Downloads Chart. Apparently, 36 downloads in the release week are enough to do that. If the slap didnt quite kill Smiths career, this album sure failed to rejuvenate it.

Generation Swine (1997)

Mötley Crüe

These guys were one of the biggest bands in metal during the 1980s. Nine of their albums have made it onto the Top 10. But in 1992, Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil left. He wouldnt return until Generation Swine in 1997. It was meant to be their big comeback album, but it was instead a disaster. People expected glam metal, but it was instead full of poorly done 90s trends. According to Neil, it failed due to too much experimenting. It sold semi-decently at release, but that was entirely due to their reputation. The band never quite returned to their former glory.

The Funky Headhunter (1994)

MC Hammer

One of the biggest singles of 1990 was U Cant Touch This, from MC Hammers third album. For a few years, he was at the top of the rap industry. By the mid-90s, he had almost entirely fallen from grace. His fourth album wasnt great, but his fifth, The Funky Headhunter, was the nail in the coffin. His main error was leaning into G-funk trends. Hammer dropped both the MC from his name and the pop-friendly vibes from his music. His credibility took a huge hit; then he filed for bankruptcy in 1996. By the end of the 90s, he was nowhere near the mainstream.

Before we take a look at our last pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Return of Dragon (2001), Sisqó

Sisqó Couldnt Reach the Heights of Thong Song

Derrumbe (1995), Gerardo

His Follow-Ups Ensured He Was Only Known For Rico Suave

This Is Me Then (2002), Jennifer Lopez

This Was an Unfortunate Turning Point for Lopezs Career

St. Anger (2003)

Metallica

Next, we have the only album on our list whose failure was captured in real-time with a documentary. Metallica was arguably the most famous of thrash metals big four bands. They peaked during the late 80s and early 90s, releasing some of metals greatest albums ever. By the 2000s, they were shadows of their former selves. This culminated in St. Anger, a historically terrible album. Recording was hell, with the members constantly squabbling. Perhaps the most glaring creative flaw was Lars Ulrichs snare drum tone, which made it sound like he was hitting a trash can with a stick.

Which album do you think was the biggest misstep in history? Let us know in the comments section!