人渣退散 (1999)

"No Scrubs" is a song recorded by American girl group TLC as the lead single from their third studio album, FanMail, released on February 2, 1999, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The song was written by producer Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs and former Xscape members Kandi Burruss and Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, with TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes contributing lyrics to the rap version. The song lyrics describe the role of a man in a relationship. Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas sings the lead vocals for the first time on a TLC single. The song popularized the slang term "scrub" worldwide.

"No Scrubs" became TLC's third number-one single and eighth top 10 single on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked for four consecutive weeks. It was ranked number two on Billboard's year-end Hot 100 singles chart of 1999, behind Cher's "Believe" (1998). The song won Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal and Best R&B Song at 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. The Hype Williams-directed music video was released in 1999, which depicted the three members dancing inside a space station. It was compared to other music videos such as "Scream" (1995) and "What's It Gonna Be?!" (1999).

The poverty-shaming of "No Scrubs" generated divisive attention following its release, prompting several answer songs, such as "No Pigeons" by hip hop group Sporty Thievz.

Background and development

"No Scrubs" was initially written by Kandi Burruss on an envelope while sitting in her car. The lyrics allude to a previous relationship Tameka Cottle described as a "screw-up". Burruss took her idea to Cottle, who loved the freestyle. Together, they fleshed out the entire song and recorded a demo, thinking they'd keep it for their own upcoming joint project. However, Dallas Austin gave the song to TLC as their first single for FanMail, with Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas singing the lead vocals. He regarded the song as a breakthrough for Thomas.

"No Scrubs" was written by Burruss, Cottle and producer Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, with background vocals provided by Thomas, Burruss, Cottle, and Debra Killings. The lyrics were modified slightly to match TLC's image. Two versions of the song were released to boost airplay across formats, one described as straight R&B, the other containing a rap verse from TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes.

"No Scrubs" was released on February 2, 1999, as the lead single of FanMail.

Composition and lyrics

"No Scrubs" is an R&B and hip-pop song, containing a prominent Kurzweil Acoustic Guitar beat. It has "airy remnants of an electronic guitar", followed by Chilli's vocals. The word "scrub" was used in Atlanta as a slang term for an unsuccessful person of low social status. Natelegé Whaley of Vibe stated that the song is "a scathing critique on men at the bottom of the dating pool". Musicnotes published this song in 44 common time with a moderate tempo indicating 100 beats per minute in the key of G♯ minor, with a vocal range spanning from F♯3 to C♯5.

Critical reception

John Dingwall from Daily Record described "No Scrubs" as a "slinky, acoustic R&B smash". Stevie Chick from NME stated that the song is "the best song ever about not wanting to sleep with someone you're not attracted to in the first place", acknowledging that it is "soulful, simple and quietly witty". In 1999, it was listed on The Village Voice's annual poll Pazz & Jop at number one. "No Scrubs" placed at number two on NME's Top Tracks of 1999 list, and at number 45 on their list of 100 Best Songs of the 1990s. Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 10 in their list of the 50 Best Songs of the Nineties, and at number 303 on their list of the Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Additionally, VH1 listed "No Scrubs" at number 22 in their list of the 40 Greatest R&B Songs of the 90s, ranking behind the band's 1995 international single "Waterfalls", which placed at number 6. Billboard ranked "No Scrubs" at number 42 on their listicle of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.

Commercial performance

"No Scrubs" was commercially released on March 23, 1999, after it was distributed to radio. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 upon the single's release on the Billboard issue dated April 3, 1999, where it remained for four weeks from April 10, 1999, to May 1, 1999. The song charted in the top-ten of the Hot 100 for 17 consecutive weeks. The song's airplay was at the time, the first 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 one on the Rhythmic Top 40 with 15 weeks, as well as being ranked at number two on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1999, only behind Cher's 1998 song "Believe".