No Scrubs

"No Scrubs"
"No Scrubs"
Song
B-side	"Silly Ho"

"No Scrubs" is a song recorded by American girl group TLC for their third studio album FanMail (1999). Released on January 23, 1999 as the album's first single, "No Scrubs" became TLC's third number-one single and eighth top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned them their second Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. The radio mix containing Left Eye's rap as heard in the video was not included on the album FanMail, but could be purchased on the international CD single, and later in a slightly shorter edit on Now and Forever: The Hits and 20.

"No Scrubs" is one of TLC's signature songs and was the second biggest Hot 100 single of 1999, according to Billboard's Year-End Charts. The single was certified Platinum in the UK and New Zealand. Lead vocals were performed by TLC member Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, with background vocals credited to Chilli, Debra Killings, Kandi Burruss, and Tameka "Tiny" Cottle.^[2] Burruss and Cottle, former Xscape members, also co-wrote the song.^[3]

Critical reception

In 1999, the song was listed on The Village Voice's annual poll Pazz & Jop at number one.^[4]

Chart performance

"No Scrubs" climbed into the U.S. top ten as an airplay only song and jumped to number one upon the single release. The single stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks from April 10, 1999, to May 7, 1999. The single stayed in the top-10 of the Billboard Hot 100 for 24 consecutive weeks.

"No Scrubs" airplay was at the time astonishing; it was the very first song to peak with over 140 million audience impressions and was crowned the Top Airplay Song of 1999. It holds the record for most weeks at number 1 on the Rhythmic Top 40 with 15 weeks.

In Australia, "No Scrubs" was a huge success, spending seven consecutive weeks at the summit of the Australian Singles Chart from May 2, 1999 - June 20, 1999.

In the United Kingdom, "No Scrubs" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming TLC's highest-charting single in Britain. The song was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.

Music video

The futuristic music video, directed by Hype Williams, was shot on March 18, 1999, and also received massive airplay on MTV, and won the group the 1999 MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video, beating out favorites NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. Each member had a set in the video. The video also has a dance sequence where the women dance in front of the "TLC" logo. The Main Mix is used in the video instead of the album version.

The video features the women in three different outfits: white, black, silver and Left Eye in blue. When there are shots of the women together they have two different outfits: black and silver. T-Boz's hair is fuchsia in the video. It also features a scene of Chilli on a swing singing. It also features T-Boz dancing as well as Left Eye. As Left Eye's rap begins, she is in a garage-like place with white clothes on while rapping. It also shows her practicing fighting moves in a futuristic blue outfit. One of the final scenes shows TLC fighting each other, while also dancing and having fun. The video is stylistically similar to Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson's music video "Scream".

Legacy and pop culture fame

After TLC released "No Scrubs" in 1999, Sporty Thievz made an answer song called "No Pigeons" that same year.^[5]

In 2013, DJ and producer Le Youth sampled the song in his single Dance with Me, reaching number 11 in the UK Singles Chart

No Scrubs was played on The Prom episode of Moesha.

Track listing

US CD single

"No Scrubs" (album version) (dirty) – 3:39
"No Scrubs" (instrumental) – 3:37

EU CD single

"No Scrubs" (album version) (clean) – 3:37
"No Scrubs" (main mix w/ Left Eye) (clean) – 4:00
"No Scrubs" (instrumental) – 3:37
"Silly Ho" (album version) (dirty) – 4:16

UK CD 1

"No Scrubs" (album version) (clean) – 3:37
"No Scrubs" (main mix w/ Left Eye) (clean) – 4:00
"Silly Ho" (album version) (dirty) – 4:16

UK CD 2

"No Scrubs" (album version) (clean) – 3:39
"Waterfalls" (radio version) – 4:19
"Creep" (radio version) – 4:26

French CD single

"No Scrubs" (album version) (clean) – 3:39
"Waterfalls" – 4:36

US vinyl single

"No Scrubs" (main mix w/ Left Eye) (clean) – 4:00
"No Scrubs" (main mix w/ Left Eye) (dirty) – 4:00

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1999-2000)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[6]	1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[7]	26
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[8]	5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[9]	3
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[10]	1
Canada Dance (RPM)	1
Denmark (IFPI)^[11]	4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	2
France (SNEP)^[12]	5
Germany (Media Control Charts)^[13]	4
Ireland (IRMA)^[14]	1
Italy (FIMI)^[15]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[16]	3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[17]	1
Norway (VG-lista)^[18]	7
Scotland (OCC)^[19]	11
Spain (AFYVE)^[20]	7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[21]	5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[22]	16
UK Singles (OCC)^[23]	3
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[24]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[25]	1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[26]	1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[27]	1
US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[28]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[29]	12
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	7
US Billboard Hot 100^[30]	2

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[31]	Platinum	70,000^{^}
Belgium (BEA)^[32]	Platinum	50,000^*
France (SNEP)^[34]	Gold	275,000^[33]
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[35]	Platinum	15,000^*
Sweden (GLF)^[36]	Gold	15,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[38]	Platinum	618,000^[37]
United States (RIAA)^[40]	Gold	800,000^[39]
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Chart successions

Preceded by "All Night Long" by Faith Evans	Canadian RPM Dance Chart number one single March 22, 1999	Succeeded by "All Night Long" by Faith Evans
Preceded by "All Night Long" by Faith Evans	Canadian RPM Dance Chart number one single April 5, 1999 - May 10, 1999	Succeeded by "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" by Blackstreet
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	Australian ARIA Singles Chart number one single 2 May 1999 – 20 June 1999	Succeeded by "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer
Preceded by "Love Song" by Sky	Canada Singles Chart number one single April 26, 1999- May 3, 1999	Succeeded by "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer
Preceded by "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain	RIANZ (New Zealand) number one single 9 May 1999 – 15 May 1999	Succeeded by "Tonight" by TrueBliss
Preceded by "Skin" by Charlotte	Canadian RPM Dance Chart number one single June 7, 1999	Succeeded by "U Don't Know Me" by Armand Van Helden

Covers

During live performances, Blink-182 commonly used the "No Scrubs" chorus during the bridge of the 1998 hit "Dammit".
UK band Kids in Glass Houses covered this song at an acoustic night of the Full Ponty festival.
Swing Out Sister also covered the "No Scrubs" chorus in their version of "Now You're Not Here" registered live on Live in Tokyo (2005).
Marjorie Dawes sang part of the song on the UK comedy show Shooting Stars.
Incubus covered part of "No Scrubs" during their MTV Acoustic performance
Lisa Loeb performed an acoustic cover of part of the song when she appeared on a late-night talk show in 2000.
Lizette Carter recorded a cover for the animated film Happy Feet (2006).
UK band The Saturdays covered the track in 2010, but their version remains unreleased, Only a live version exists.
Philadelphia singer/songwriter Avi Wisnia covered the song on his 2010 album "Something New"^[41]
Karmin covered "No Scrubs" in 2011 shortly before releasing "Crash Your Party", connecting the "throwback cover" of the song to the "old school sample" in "Crash Your Party"
The group Sporty Thievz released a response song from the male perspective called "No Pigeons" off their 1999 album Street Cinema.
Kelly Clarkson covered the song during her 2012 Summer Tour on August 23, 2012.
Glee cast covered the song in the 'Sadie Hawkins' episode of season 4. It was performed by Kevin Mchale, Chord Overstreet, Blake Jenner, Samuel Larson and Darren Criss.
Bastille covered the song alongside The xx's "Angels" in a mash-up entitled "No Angels", which features on their 2012 mixtape Other People's Heartache, Pt. 2.^[42]
Xxyyxx sampled the song in his "Good Enough" track on the album XXYYXX.
Scout Niblett covered the song on the album 'It's up to Emma'.
Le Youth sampled the song in the track "Dance With Me"
Kacey Musgraves covered the song during her tour "Same Tour, Different Trailer" on 2014.
Set It Off sampled the song in their cover of "Problem" originally by Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea which is featured in the 6th album in the long running Punk Goes... series.

References

^ "Images for TLC - No Scrubs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
^ [1] TLC - Fanmail (CD, Album) on Discogs
^ UK Charts Search 'No Scrubs'
^ [2]
^ Answer Records / Sequels.
^ "TLC – No Scrubs". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in French). Ultratop 50.
^ "TLC Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ Danish peak
^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in French). Les classement single.
^ German Charts - TLC
^ Irish Charts Search 'No Scrubs'
^ Italian Top Singles of 1999
^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "TLC – No Scrubs". Top 40 Singles.
^ "TLC – No Scrubs". VG-lista.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
^ Billboard: Hits of the World, June 5, 1999
^ "TLC – No Scrubs". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "TLC – No Scrubs". Singles Top 100.
^ "TLC: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
^ "TLC Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "TLC Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
^ "TLC Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
^ "TLC Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1999". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1999". Retrieved 2010-08-28.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
^ "Ultratop 50 Albums Wallonie 1999". Ultratop. Retrieved 2014-01-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ "InfoDisc : Les Certifications (Singles) du SNEP (les Disques d'Or)". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
^ "French single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
^ "New Zealand Top 50 Singles > 29 August 1999". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2012-01-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Sweden (1999). "Swedish Certification". Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-15. Retrieved July 14, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ Myers, Justin (28 March 2014). "Official Charts Flashback 1999: TLC – No Scrubs". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
^ "British single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type No Scrubs in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
^ "Best-Selling Records of 1999". Billboard. 112 (4). BPI Communications Inc.: 63 January 22, 2000. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
^ "American single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs". Recording Industry Association of America.
^ "Music « Avi Wisnia". Aviwisnia.com. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
^ "Download: Bastille - Other People's Heartbreak, Pt. 2". Faded Glamour. 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2013-01-06.

External links

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[1] "Images for TLC - No Scrubs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-04-10.

[2] [1] TLC - Fanmail (CD, Album) on Discogs

[3] UK Charts Search 'No Scrubs'

[4] [2]

[5] Answer Records / Sequels.

[sc_Australia_TLC-6] "TLC – No Scrubs". ARIA Top 50 Singles.

[sc_Austria_TLC-7] "TLC – No Scrubs" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.

[sc_Flanders_TLC-8] "TLC – No Scrubs" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[sc_Wallonia_TLC-9] "TLC – No Scrubs" (in French). Ultratop 50.

[sc_Canada_TLC-10] "TLC Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.

[11] Danish peak

[sc_France_TLC-12] "TLC – No Scrubs" (in French). Les classement single.

[13] German Charts - TLC

[14] Irish Charts Search 'No Scrubs'

[15] Italian Top Singles of 1999

[sc_Dutch100_TLC-16] "TLC – No Scrubs" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_New_Zealand_TLC-17] "TLC – No Scrubs". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Norway_TLC-18] "TLC – No Scrubs". VG-lista.

[sc_Scotland_-19] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.

[20] Billboard: Hits of the World, June 5, 1999

[sc_Switzerland_TLC-21] "TLC – No Scrubs". Swiss Singles Chart.

[sc_Sweden_TLC-22] "TLC – No Scrubs". Singles Top 100.

[sc_UKchartstats_TLC-23] "TLC: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.

[sc_UKrandb_-24] "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.

[sc_Billboardhot100_TLC-25] "TLC Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_TLC-26] "TLC Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_TLC-27] "TLC Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardrhythmic_TLC-28] "TLC Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.

[29] "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1999". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 2012-04-10.

[30] "Billboard Top 100 - 1999". Retrieved 2010-08-28.

[AustraliaTLCNo_ScrubssingleCertRef-31] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.

[ultratop-32] "Ultratop 50 Albums Wallonie 1999". Ultratop. Retrieved 2014-01-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[33] "InfoDisc : Les Certifications (Singles) du SNEP (les Disques d'Or)". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 2014-03-31.

[FranceTLCNo_ScrubssingleCertRef-34] "French single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 2011-09-28.

[nzcer-35] "New Zealand Top 50 Singles > 29 August 1999". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2012-01-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[36] International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Sweden (1999). "Swedish Certification". Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-15. Retrieved July 14, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[salesuk-37] Myers, Justin (28 March 2014). "Official Charts Flashback 1999: TLC – No Scrubs". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2014.

[United_KingdomTLCNo_ScrubssingleCertRef-38] "British single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type No Scrubs in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

[39] "Best-Selling Records of 1999". Billboard. 112 (4). BPI Communications Inc.: 63 January 22, 2000. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

[United_StatesTLCNo_ScrubssingleCertRef-40] "American single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs". Recording Industry Association of America.

[41] "Music « Avi Wisnia". Aviwisnia.com. Retrieved 2012-04-10.

[42] "Download: Bastille - Other People's Heartbreak, Pt. 2". Faded Glamour. 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2013-01-06.

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