TLC’s “No Scrubs” becomes a hit again as it debuts on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. (L-R) American singers, Rozonda Chilli Thomas, Lisa Left Eye Lopes (1971-2002) and Tionne T-Boz Watkins, of the American girl group TLC, pose for a studio portrait in 1999 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Davis/Getty Images)
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TikTok has become hugely important to the music industry in the past several years, both for discovering new talent and rediscovering tunes from years past. It seems like every couple of weeks there’s another single – potentially from just a year or two back or decades ago – that younger audiences use to soundtrack a dance craze or some kind of fun challenge, and that composition can quickly become a viral hit.
These songs occasionally generate enough sales or streams, or potentially both, to either debut on Billboard charts or return to ones that they performed well on some time ago. Katy Perry experienced that joy earlier this year when “The One That Got Away,” a more than decade-old cut from Teenage Dream, became her biggest hit on Billboard’s global rankings. Now TLC, the celebrated R&B girl group, is experiencing the same boom with one of the most successful songs of the ’90s.
TLC’s “No Scrubs” Becomes a Hit Again
“No Scrubs” helped cement TLC as one of the most successful all-female vocal acts of all time more than a quarter-century ago. It was released as the lead single from the act’s third full-length, FanMail, and it quickly shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Grammy winners had already reached that position by that point, and the success of “No Scrubs” prepared follow-up cut “Unpretty” to dominate as well. “No Scrubs” was an incredibly popular smash during its run, and it turned FanMail into a multi-platinum bestseller. Now the track brings TLC to a handful of tallies the group has never seen before.
TLC Debuts on Both of Billboard’s Global Charts
“No Scrubs” debuts on three Billboard rosters this frame. TLC scores its first hit on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. as the track launches at Nos. 113 and 149, respectively.
The Billboard Global 200 ranks the most popular songs around the world based on streaming and sales activity, including consumption from the United States. The Billboard Global Excl. U.S. operates in much the same way, except any form of American activity is purposefully ignored.
“No Scrubs” Gives TLC Its First R&B Streaming Songs Top 10
It was only last week that “No Scrubs” arrived on the R&B Streaming Songs chart, landing at No. 15 on Billboard’s list of the most-played R&B cuts in the United States on streaming platforms. Now it jumps from that spot to No. 7, earning the musical act its first top 10 on the tally.
TLC landed its first two wins simultaneously on the R&B Streaming Songs roster more than a decade ago. “Creep” and “Waterfalls” both appeared on the rundown during the same chart week, peaking at Nos. 13 and 21, respectively.
TLC Doubles Its R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs Hits
Thanks to the sudden popularity of “No Scrubs,” TLC doubles its hits on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart. The ranking is very similar to the R&B Streaming Songs roster, except both hip-hop and rap music are included as well, which makes it slightly more competitive.
“No Scrubs” opens at No. 15, trailing the group’s No. 10 high point, which was reached in October 2013. TLC joined rapper J. Cole on the song “Crooked Smile,” which arrived on the tally in July and by that fall became a top 10 streaming hit.
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