No Scrubs

Song Meaning of No Scrubs by TLC

"No Scrubs" is a song recorded by American girl group TLC from their third studio album, FanMail, in 1999.

The song was written by producer Kevin "Shakespeare" 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.

The was originally written by Kandi Burruss on an envelope while sitting in her car.

The lyrics refer to a previous relationship Tameka Cottle described as a "screw-up".

Burruss and Cottle intended to record "No Scrubs" together; however, Dallas Austin gave the song to TLC.

The song is a critical analysis on men at the bottom of the dating pool, and the word "scrub" was used in Atlanta as a slang term for an unsuccessful person of low social status.

"No Scrubs" became TLC's third number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100, It was ranked number two on Billboard's year-end Hot 100 singles chart of 1999. The song won Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal and Best R&B Song at 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.

No Scrubs lyrics by TLC

A scrub is a guy that thinks he's fly

And is also known as a buster

Always talkin' about what he wants

And just sits on his broke ass

So, no

I don't want your number, no.

I don't want to give you mine and, no,

I don't want to meet you nowhere, no.

I don't want none of your time and, no,

[Chorus:]

I don't want no scrub

A scrub is a guy that can't get no love from me

Hanging out the passenger side

Of his best friend's ride

Trying to holler at me

I don't want no scrub

A scrub is a guy that can't get no love from me

Hanging out the passenger side

Of his best friend's ride

Trying to holler at me

But a scrub is checkin' me

But his game is kinda weak

And I know that he cannot approach me

'Cause I'm lookin' like class and he's lookin' like trash

Can't get with a dead-beat ass

So, no

I don't want your number, no.

I don't want to give you mine and, no,

I don't want to meet you nowhere, no.

I don't want none of your time, no.

[Chorus]

If you don't have a car and you're walking

Oh yes, son, I'm talking to you

If you live at home with your mamma

Oh yes, son, I'm talking to you, baby

If you have a shorty but you don't show love

Oh yes, son, I'm talking to you

Wanna get with me with no money

Oh no, I don't want, no, oh

No scrub

No scrub, no, no

No scrub, no, no, no, no, no

No scrub, no, no

No

[Music video's spoken part:]

See, if you can't spatially expand my horizons

Then that leaves you in a class with scrubs, never rising

I don't find it surprising if you don't have the Gs

To please me and bounce from here to the coast of overseas

So, let me give you something to think about

Inundate your mind with intentions to turn you out

Can't forget the focus on the picture in front of me

You as clear as DVD on digital TV screens

Satisfy my appetite with something spectacular

Check your vernacular, and then I get back to ya

With diamond-like precision

Insatiable is what I envision

Can't detect acquisition

From your friend's expedition

Mr. Big Willy, if you really wanna know

Ask Chilli, could I be a silly ho?

Not really

T-Boz and all my señoritas

Are steppin' on your FILAs

But you don't hear me, though

[Chorus 4x]