"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, former Xscape members Kandi Burruss and Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. 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.

"No Scrubs"
The TLC members are posing in metallic skin in front of a blue and yellow background.
Single by TLC
from the album FanMail
B-side"Silly Ho"
ReleasedFebruary 2, 1999 (1999-02-02)
StudioD.A.R.P. (Atlanta, Georgia)
Genre
Length
  • 3:39 (album version)
  • 3:59 (Left Eye rap remix)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)She'kspere
TLC singles chronology
"Diggin' on You"
(1995)
"No Scrubs"
(1999)
"Unpretty"
(1999)
Music video
"No Scrubs" on YouTube

"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). "No Scrubs" received divisive attention following its release; several radio stations aired answer songs as a response, while the word "scrub" became prominently used worldwide.

Background and development

edit

"No Scrubs" was initially written by Kandi Burruss on an envelope while sitting in her car.[1][2] The lyrics allude to a previous relationship Tameka Cottle described as a "screw-up".[3] Burruss and Cottle intended to record "No Scrubs" together; 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.[1]

"No Scrubs" was written by Burruss, Cottle and producer Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, with background vocals provided by Thomas, Burruss, Cottle, and Debra Killings.[4] 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.[2]

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

Composition and lyrics

edit

"No Scrubs" is an R&B[2][6] and hip-pop song,[7] containing a prominent Kurzweil Acoustic Guitar beat.[8] 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.[5] Natelegé Whaley of Vibe stated that the song is "a scathing critique on men at the bottom of the dating pool".[9] Musicnotes published this song in 4
4
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.[10]

Critical reception

edit

John Dingwall from Daily Record described "No Scrubs" as a "slinky, acoustic R&B smash".[6] 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".[7] In 1999, it was listed on The Village Voice's annual poll Pazz & Jop at number one.[11] "No Scrubs" placed at number two on NME's Top Tracks of 1999 list,[12] and at number 45 on their list of 100 Best Songs of the 1990s.[13] Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 10 in their list of the 50 Best Songs of the Nineties,[14] and at number 303 on their list of the Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[15] 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.[16] Billboard ranked "No Scrubs" at number 42 on their listicle of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.[17]

Commercial performance

edit

"No Scrubs" was commercially released on March 23, 1999, after it was distributed to radio.[18] It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 upon the single's release on the Billboard issue dated April 3, 1999,[19] where it remained for four weeks from April 10, 1999, to May 1, 1999.[20] The song charted in the top-ten of the Hot 100 for 17 consecutive weeks.[5] 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.[21][22][23] 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".[5]

In Australia, "No Scrubs" spent seven consecutive weeks at the summit of the ARIA Charts from May 2, 1999, to June 20, 1999.[24] In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming TLC's highest-charting single.[25] The song was certified quadruple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in September 2023 for sales and streams exceeding 2,400,000 units.[26]

Music video

edit

Background

edit

The Hype Williams-directed music video was set in a futuristic space station, where the trio wore silver and blue metallic outfits.[9] It contains a rap verse by Left Eye, which was used in the single's release.[8] Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins described how the group went all out during production of the video, with her being specifically excited about "wearing the all-white outfit", while Thomas initially felt apprehensive about going on the swing, constantly practicing before the shoot until she did not want to get off afterwards. The scene at the end of the video showing the three fighting each other and being silly was a result of the tube moving and the group attempting to fight against the moving set, with Thomas and Lopes hitting each other by accident. American drag queen RuPaul also appeared off-camera without drag to see them, as his makeup artist Mathu Andersen was in charge of makeup for the group, placing rhinestones on the lips of each member.[1] The music video is stylistically similar to Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson's music video "Scream" (1995), as well as the Busta Rhymes and Janet Jackson music video "What's It Gonna Be?!" (1999), which was also directed by Williams.[5]

Synopsis

edit

The video features the women in four different colored space-suits: 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 includes a dance sequence where the women dance in front of the "TLC" logo, and also features several scenes of Chilli on a swing. As Left Eye's rap begins, she is positioned in a garage wearing white clothes, and practicing martial arts in a futuristic blue outfit in a separate scene. She is filmed by a drone as she continues rapping; "Can't forget the focus on the picture in front of me/You as clear as DVD on digital TV screens." The final scene shows TLC fighting each other, while also dancing and having fun.

Reception

edit

The futuristic music video allowed TLC to win the MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards over all-male nominees such as the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC.[2] Writing for Stereogum in 2019, Nate Patrin compared the video's CGI space backgrounds to the Y2K problem, and described it as a message sent from an unreachable future because of a "class struggle that [had not] yet invaded the popular imagination".[8]

Legacy

edit

Reactions

edit

Following the immediate release of "No Scrubs" in 1999, the song received a divisive response about labeling a new term for men "with limited money, ambitions and romantic vocabulary, and who mostly still live at home with Mom", with several debates on radio stations, and airplay of answer songs.[27] Such songs included DJ Quik's single "Sexuality" from his 2000 album Balance & Options,[8] "No Hoochies" in San Francisco, and "No Pigeons" by rap group Sporty Thievz in New York throughout April 1999.[28][29] Thomas acknowledged that the latter group were threatened by the song's success, stating that "they can't take the heat!".[1] The use of the word "scrub" rapidly spread worldwide, which was commonly used by women.[5] Writing for The Washington Post, Lonnae O'Neal Parker noted that "No Scrubs" served as social commentary in the vein of previous songs such as Madonna's 1985 song "Material Girl" and Gwen Guthrie's 1986 song "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On but the Rent", stating that it culminated from 20 years of misogyny in rap music.[27]

Covers and samples

edit

American singer-songwriter Avi Wisnia performed a cover version of "No Scrubs", which was included on his 2010 studio album Something New.[30] Pop duo Karmin covered the song in 2011, shortly before releasing "Crash Your Party", which integrated the former song to the retro sample of "The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)" in the latter song.[31] Kelly Clarkson performed "No Scrubs" during her 2012 Summer Tour on August 23, 2012.[32] The cast of American television series Glee covered the song in the "Sadie Hawkins" episode of the show's fourth season, by members Kevin McHale, Chord Overstreet, Blake Jenner, Samuel Larsen and Darren Criss.[33] English singer Scout Niblett included a cover of "No Scrubs" on her sixth studio album It's Up to Emma (2013).[34] Pop rock band Bastille released a mashup of "No Scrubs" and "Angels" by the xx titled "No Angels", which was included on their second mixtape, Other People's Heartache (2012).[35] They performed the former song at the 2014 Governors Ball Music Festival.[36] American country singer Kacey Musgraves performed the song during her 2014 tour "Same Tour, Different Trailer".[37] In January 2019, Weezer included a cover of "No Scrubs" on their twelfth studio album, Teal Album.[5] The song "BasicBitchTearGas" from JPEGMafia's third studio album All My Heroes Are Cornballs (2019), is a cover of "No Scrubs".[38]

American electronic dance music producer XXYYXX sampled "No Scrubs" on "Good Enough", which was included on his album XXYYXX (2012).[39] Producer Le Youth sampled it on the 2013 song "Dance with Me", which peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.[40] The "No Scrubs" writers were credited on Ed Sheeran's 2017 song "Shape of You", as it contained a similar lyrical rhythm.[2][41] Swedish record producer Avicii also credited the writers on his 2019 song "SOS", as American singer Aloe Blacc interpolated the lyrics, "I don't want no scrub" to "I don't need my drugs".[42] The song was sampled on "Bobo" in 2021, which was performed by American singer Mariah Angeliq, Spanish singer Bad Gyal, and Argentine singer María Becerra. According to Billboard writer Jessica Roiz, it gave "No Scrubs" a "reggaeton twist" with perreo, urban-pop sounds and dancehall vibes.[43] The song peaked at number 41 in Spain,[44] and at number 96 in Argentina.[45] American rapper Doechii sampled "No Scrubs" in her 2023 song "What It Is (Block Boy)", which featured rapper Kodak Black on its original version, and peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.[46]

Track listings

edit

Credits and personnel

edit

Credits adapted from the back cover of "No Scrubs".[4]

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Certifications and sales for "No Scrubs"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[108] Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[109] Platinum 50,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[110] Gold 45,000
France (SNEP)[111] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[112] Gold 250,000
Italy (FIMI)[113] Gold 25,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[114] 6× Platinum 180,000
Sweden (GLF)[115] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] 4× Platinum 2,400,000
United States (RIAA)[116] 5× Platinum 5,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

edit
Release dates and formats for "No Scrubs"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States February 2, 1999 Rhythmic contemporary radio [2]
February 8, 1999 Urban contemporary radio [117]
United Kingdom March 22, 1999 [118]
United States March 23, 1999 [18]
Japan March 25, 1999 CD single LaFace [119]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Gracie, Bianca (February 22, 2019). "TLC's 'FanMail' Turns 20: A Track-By-Track Retrospective With the Girl Group and Behind-the-Scenes Collaborators". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 23, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Madden, Sidney (February 4, 2019). "Oh Yes Son, They're Talking To You: 20 Years Of 'No Scrubs'". NPR. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Morning Edition.
  3. ^ Murray, Nick (May 1, 2014). "Tameka 'Tiny' Harris on Michael Jackson's Xscape Connection". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c No Scrubs (back cover). TLC. United States: LaFace Records. 1999. 73008-24385-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Thompson, Wanna (February 2, 2019). "TLC's "No Scrubs" Is Still On Top 20 Years Later". Vibe. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Dingwall, John (April 23, 1999). "Chartslot; Wowpop with John Dingwall". Daily Record.
  7. ^ a b Chick, Steve. "This Week's Singles March 27 1999". NME. Archived from the original on October 4, 2000. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d Patrin, Nate (February 1, 2019). "'No Scrubs' Turns 20". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Whaley, Natelegé (February 23, 2019). "20 Years Of TLC's 'FanMail': A Futurist Prelude To Digital Era Intimacy". Vibe. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  10. ^ "No Scrubs". Musicnotes.com. December 15, 1999. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  11. ^ "1999". The Village Voice. October 18, 2005. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  12. ^ "1999". NME. October 10, 2016. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  13. ^ "100 Best Songs of the 1990s". NME. May 8, 2012. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  14. ^ Sheffield, Rob (August 8, 2016). "50 Best Songs of the Nineties". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  16. ^ "40 Greatest R&B Songs of the '90s (Complete List)". VH1. June 28, 2012. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  17. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (July 10, 2017). "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Mayfield, Geoff; Caulfield, Keith; Graybow, Steve (March 27, 1999). "Hot 100 Spotlight". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ Faison, Datu (April 3, 1999). "Datu Faison's rhythm section". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 14. p. 40. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  20. ^ Bronson, Fred (July 17, 1999). "Distaff Destiny: Leaders of the Pack". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 29. p. 118. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  21. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio; Patel, Minal; Jessen, Wade (January 19, 2002). "Singles Minded". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 3. p. 77. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2018. The record now reverts to Arista, which was the first label to surpass the 140 million audience mark in May 1999 with TLC's 'No Scrubs.'
  22. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio; Patel, Minal; Jessen, Wade (January 12, 2002). "Singles Minded". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 2. p. 83. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2018. In two prior years, only TLC's 'No Scrubs' in 1999 topped the 140-million listener mark, but three had such weeks in 2001's chart year, including 'Independent Women.'
  23. ^ Bronson, Fred (December 25, 1999). "The year in charts". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. p. YE-12. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  24. ^ a b "TLC – No Scrubs". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  25. ^ Myers, Justin (March 28, 2014). "Official Charts Flashback 1999: TLC – No Scrubs". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  26. ^ a b "British single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  27. ^ a b O'Neal Parker, Lonnae (April 15, 1999). "A Hit That Bashes Single Guys' Nerve; TLC's 'No Scrubs' Renews The War of the Sexes". The Washington Post. p. C01.
  28. ^ Century, Douglas (May 9, 1999). "A Hip-Hop Battle of the Sexes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  29. ^ Partridge, Kenneth (April 10, 2014). "TLC's Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas Reflects on the 15th Anniversary of 'No Scrubs'". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  30. ^ Grites, Rebecca (March 25, 2010). "Band of the Week: Avi Wisnia". The Press of Atlantic City. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  31. ^ "Karmin Covers TLC's 'No Scrubs' [Video]". Rap-Up. October 10, 2011. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  32. ^ Rubenstein, Jenna Hally (August 27, 2012). "Kelly Clarkson Covers TLC's 'No Scrubs,'; The Game Is Forever Changed (Video)". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  33. ^ Slezak, Michael (January 25, 2013). "Glee Recap: Hawkins-Like Vision [Updated]". TVLine. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  34. ^ Fennessy, Kathy (May 7, 2013). "Scout Niblett: No Wigs, No Scrubs". The Stranger. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  35. ^ Corner, Lewis (March 12, 2013). "Bastille want new mixtape for Christmas". Digital Spy. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  36. ^ Williams, Nick (June 7, 2014). "Governors Ball 2014: Bastille Covers TLC's 'No Scrubs'". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  37. ^ Keller, Jordan (January 29, 2018). "Kacey Musgraves' 2015 Cover Of "No Scrubs" May Be The Best Cover Of All Time". One Country. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  38. ^ Hobbs, Thomas (September 13, 2019). "JPEGMAFIA – 'All My Heroes Are Cornballs' review". NME. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  39. ^ Stieb, Matt (February 25, 2016). "XXYYXX Isn't Just Good for His Age — He's Just Good". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  40. ^ Corner, Lewis (January 13, 2014). "Le Youth premieres 'Dance With Me' music video - watch". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  41. ^ Smith, Da'Shan (March 21, 2017). "Ed Sheeran Adds TLC's 'No Scrubs' Songwriters to 'Shape of You' Credits". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 1, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  42. ^ Hermes, Will (June 6, 2019). "'Tim' is Avicii's dark farewell: Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  43. ^ Roiz, Jessica (June 24, 2021). "Mariah Angeliq Gives TLC's 'No Scrubs' a Reggaeton Twist With 'Bobo' Collab". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  44. ^ "Mariah Angeliq, Bad Gyal and María Becerra – Bobo". El Portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  45. ^ "Billboard Argentina Hot 100: The Week of 18 July 2021". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  46. ^ A., Aron (March 17, 2023). "Doechii Is On 'No Scrubs' Vibes With 'What It Is (Block Boy)' Ft. Kodak Black". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  47. ^ No Scrubs (back cover). TLC. United States: LaFace Records. 1999. 73008-24385-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  48. ^ No Scrubs (back cover). TLC. United States: LaFace Records. 1999. 73008-24386-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  49. ^ No Scrubs (back cover). TLC. Europe: LaFace Records. 1999. 74321 646002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  50. ^ No Scrubs (back cover). TLC. Australia: LaFace Records. 1999. 74321 646002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  51. ^ No Scrubs (back cover). TLC. Europe: LaFace Records. 1999. 74321 66095 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  52. ^ No Scrubs (back cover). TLC. United Kingdom: LaFace Records. 1999. 74321 66095 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  53. ^ No Scrubs (back cover). TLC. United Kingdom: LaFace Records. 1999. 74321 66096 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  54. ^ No Scrubs (back cover). TLC. France: LaFace Records. 1999. 74321 66865 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  55. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  56. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  57. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  58. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8125." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  59. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8166." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  60. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7455." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  61. ^ "Hits Of The World". Billboard. July 3, 1999. p. 61. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2018 – via Google Books.
  62. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. June 19, 1999. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  63. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in French). Les classement single.
  64. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  65. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 27. July 3, 1999. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020. See LW column.
  66. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 319 Vikuna 16.4. – 23.4. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 16, 1999. p. 10. Archived from the original on March 15, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  67. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – No Scrubs". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  68. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 29. July 17, 1999. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  69. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  70. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  71. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs". Top 40 Singles.
  72. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs". VG-lista.
  73. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 12/1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 12. March 20, 1999. p. 21. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  74. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  75. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  76. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs". Singles Top 100.
  77. ^ "TLC – No Scrubs". Swiss Singles Chart.
  78. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  79. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  80. ^ "TLC Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  81. ^ "TLC Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  82. ^ "TLC Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  83. ^ "TLC Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  84. ^ "TLC Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  85. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1999". ARIA. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  86. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  87. ^ "Rapports annuels 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  88. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  89. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 50 Dance Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  90. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 1. January 1, 2000. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  91. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1999" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  92. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1999" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  93. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  94. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  95. ^ "End of Year Charts 1999". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  96. ^ "Topp 20 Single Skoleslutt 1999" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  97. ^ "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005.
  98. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  99. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1999" (in German). Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  100. ^ "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. London, England. January 22, 2000. p. 27.
  101. ^ "Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 31. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  102. ^ "Urban Top 20 Tracks of 1999" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 32. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  103. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1999". Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  104. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  105. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 54. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  106. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1999" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 53. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  107. ^ "Hot 100 Singles of the '90s" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-20. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  108. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  109. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  110. ^ "Danish single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 28, 2019. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2019 to obtain certification.
  111. ^ "French single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  112. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (TLC; 'No Scrubs')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  113. ^ "Italian single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  114. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  115. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  116. ^ "American single certifications – TLC – No Scrubs". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  117. ^ "AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. February 5, 1999. p. 60.
  118. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 22 March, 1999" (PDF). Music Week. March 20, 1999. p. 27. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  119. ^ "ノー・スクラブズ | TLC" [No Scrubs | TLC] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 13, 2023.