Anvilicious: "No Scrubs" basically just says that one should grow up and not flake around.
Germans Love David Hasselhoff: While not as famous as they used to be, TLC still retain a huge fan base in Japan, possibly greater than the one in their native United States. 3D was a smash hit there (being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for 200,000 copies sold) and TLC's first recording as a duo (following Left Eye's death) was in a Japan-only Charity Motivation Song entitled "VOICE OF LOVE POSSE". Japan also received an exclusive version of the 20th anniversary album.
Periphery Demographic: While most of their music was aimed at black audiences and was about the urban drama going on in many black communities, they had a substantial white following.
Signature Song: Depending on who you ask, "Waterfalls" and "No Scrubs". "Waterfalls" is widely considered to be their quintessential 90s R&B song, although "No Scrubs" can also be argued as this too.
Values Dissonance: "No Scrubs" makes fun of men who still live with their parents and don't have their own cars. In the 1990s living with your parents into your 20s was unusual for many Americans, but in the 2000s and 2010s it became increasingly common for adults to live with their parents well into their 20s and 30s due to economic difficulties.
What Do You Mean, It's Not for Kids?: "Waterfalls" seems like a female empowerment song from first glance, but is actually about subjects such as the toll of urban gang violence and HIV/AIDS (the "three letters" that took one of the characters to his resting place? HIV). "No Scrubs" uses the term "broke-ass" multiple times to refer to the loser men the trio bash in the song. Then of course if you saw the trio in Stripperiffic outfits in the video for "No Scrubs", you may be surprised that little girls looked up to them as idols.
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