[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.

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.

[9] Musicnotes published this song in 44 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.

[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] The Hype Williams-directed music video was set in a futuristic space station, where the trio wore silver and blue metallic outfits.

[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.

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."

[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".

[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.

[27] American singer-songwriter Avi Wisnia performed a cover version of "No Scrubs", which was included on his 2010 studio album Something New.

[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).

[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.

According to Billboard writer Jessica Roiz, it gave "No Scrubs" a "reggaeton twist" with perreo, urban-pop sounds and dancehall vibes.