No Scrubs
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| "No Scrubs" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by TLC | ||
| from the album Fanmail | ||
| Released | March, 1999 | |
| Format | CD Single | |
| Recorded | 1998 | |
| Genre | R&B/Pop | |
| Length | 3:34 | |
| Label | LaFace | |
| Writer(s) | Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs Kandi Burruss Tameka Cottle |
|
| Producer(s) | Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs | |
| Chart positions | ||
|
||
| TLC singles chronology | ||
| "Silly Ho" (1999) |
"No Scrubs" (1999) |
"Unpretty" (1999) |
"No Scrubs" is a song recorded by R&B girl group TLC for their album Fanmail. Released as the album's first single, "No Scrubs" became TLC's third number-one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in April 1999. TLC got their second Grammy nomination for Song of the Year but lost again, this time to Santana's "Smooth".
Written by producer Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs along with Tameka Cottle and Kandi Burruss (both from the group Xscape), the track lyrically explains "scrubs", a slang term for a womanizer who is jobless, lacks a car, and has virtually no social class. "No Scrubs" was the first TLC single to feature lead vocals by group member Rozonda "Chili" Thomas rather than Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins. There were two versions of the song: the album version (which was released to radio), and a "Main Mix" with a rap by Left-Eye. The latter mix was featured in the music video for the song.
Prior to the release of Fanmail, the track "Silly Ho" received some radio airplay, prompting a peak of number 59 in the U.S., although it was never released by LaFace as a single. "No Scrubs" climbed into the U.S. top ten as an airplay-only song and jumped to number one upon the single release.
The futuristic music video directed by Hype Williams also received massive airplay on MTV, and won the group an MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video, beating out favorites 'NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.
"No Scrubs" was parodied in a song by Sporty Thievz titled "No Pigeons".
"No Scrubs" also draws parallels with Destiny's Child's single "Bills, Bills, Bills", which was written and produced by the same people. Both songs drew minor controversy as the members were accused of being gold diggers, women who only like men for their wealth, in their songs.
- CD1
- Album Version - 3:34
- Main Mix (features Left Eyes' Rap) - 3:38
- Instrumental - 3:34
- Silly Ho (Album Version) - 4:15
- CD2
- Album Version - 3:34
- Creep - 4:28
- Waterfalls - 4:39
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1(4) |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks | 1(5) |
| ARC Weekly Top 40 | 1(3) |
| UK Singles Chart | 3 |
| Australia ARIA Singles Chart | 1(7) |
| Irish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Japan Singles Chart | 1(12) |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 1 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 Singles | 2 |
| Netherland Singles Chart | 3 |
| German Singles Chart | 4 |
| French Singles Chart | 5 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 5 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 16 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 26 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 32 |
| Preceded by "Believe" by Cher |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single April 10, 1999- May 1, 1999 |
Succeeded by "Livin' La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin |
| Preceded by "What's It Gonna Be?!" by Busta Rhymes featuring Janet |
Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number one single April 10, 1999- May 1, 1999 |
Succeeded by "Fortunate" by Maxwell |
| Preceded by "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears |
RIANZ (New Zealand) number one single 25 April 1999 |
Succeeded by "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain |
| Preceded by "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain |
RIANZ (New Zealand) number one single 9 May 1999 |
Succeeded by "Tonight" by TrueBliss |
| Preceded by "..Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears |
United World Chart number one single May 8, 1999 for 5 weeks |
Succeeded by "I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys |
Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins • Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes • Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas
Studio albums: Ooooooohhh.... On the TLC Tip (1992) • CrazySexyCool (1994) • FanMail (1999) •
3D (2002)
Other albums: Now and Forever: The Hits (2003)
Singles: "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" • "Baby-Baby-Baby" • "What About Your Friends" • "Hat 2 Da Back" •
"Get It Up" • "Creep" • "Red Light Special" • "Waterfalls" • "Diggin' On You" • "Silly Ho" • "No Scrubs" • "Unpretty" • "Dear Lie" • "Girl Talk" • "Hands Up" • "Damaged" • "Turntable" • "Come Get Some" • "I Bet"