(AllHipHop News) Fifteen years ago top-selling female group TLC released their smash single “No Scrubs.”
The track was praised by many women for its takedown of “do-nothing” men, and many guys hated the song for what they saw as its “male-bashing” agenda.
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Billboard spoke with TLC’s Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas about “No Scrubs.” Chilli shared her thoughts about the making of the Hot 100 #1 single including why she was selected to sing lead over Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins on the Kandi Burruss and Tameka “Tiny” Collette penned song.
“[T-Boz] kind of has her raspy sound,” said Chilli. “I come and put the pretty on the song, so to speak. Her voice is edgy. Mine is very angelic. We can tell whose voice will be better for what. This particular one, it wasn’t even about who’s gonna do it. We knew automatically: Yeah, I got this one. I kind of bring that pop feel. Everyone has their role.”
The success on “No Scrubs” sparked the Sporty Thievz response track “No Pigeons.” Chilli found the song funny, but she also took a few shots at the Yonkers, New York rap group’s version.
“I thought it was hilarious,” said Chilli. “It just sounded like some little boys crying. I was like, ‘Oh, they’re such little babies. They can’t take it.'”
According to Chilli, while “No Scrubs” had its male critics, there were a good number of men who enjoyed the tune as well.
“To me, it’s one of those songs that guys—especially if you’re a guy’s guy—you like it, but you don’t want anybody to know you like it,” added Chilli.
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Watch TLC’s “No Scrubs” video and Sporty Thievz’s “No Pigeon” video below.