No Scrubs

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"No Scrubs"
"No Scrubs" cover
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
  • #1 (U.S.)
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
  1. Album Version - 3:34
  2. Main Mix (features Left Eyes' Rap) - 3:38
  3. Instrumental - 3:34
  4. Silly Ho (Album Version) - 4:15
  • CD2
  1. Album Version - 3:34
  2. Creep - 4:28
  3. 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
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