{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox song | name = What About Your Friends | cover = TLC - What About Your Friends cover.png | alt = | type = single | artist = [[TLC (group)|TLC]] | album = [[Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip]] | released = {{Start date|1992|08|21}} | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = * [[New jack swing]] * [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref>{{cite web|first= Sal |last= Cinquemani |title= TLC – ''20'' |date= October 20, 2013 |website= [[Slant Magazine]] |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/tlc-20 |access-date= August 4, 2016}}</ref> | length = * {{duration|m=4|s=55}} (album version) * {{duration|m=4|s=00}} (radio edit without rap) * {{duration|m=4|s=06}} (radio edit with rap) | label = * [[LaFace Records|LaFace]] * [[Arista Records|Arista]] | writer = * [[Dallas Austin]] * [[Lisa Lopes|Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes]] | producer = Dallas Austin | prev_title = [[Baby-Baby-Baby]] | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = [[Hat 2 da Back]] | next_year = 1992 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|92gHq1s6G-c|"What About Your Friends"}}}} }} "'''What About Your Friends'''" is a song by American group [[TLC (group)|TLC]], released as the third single from their debut album, ''[[Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip]]'' (1992). It was released on August 21, 1992, and reached number seven on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], becoming the group's third consecutive top-10 single. A [[remix]] to the song, titled "What About Your Friends (Extended Mix)", includes the first ever appearance by the [[Atlanta]] hip-hop duo [[Outkast]].
==Composition== "What About Your Friends" was written by [[Dallas Austin]] and [[TLC (group)|TLC]] member [[Lisa Lopes|Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?|title=ASCAP search|publisher=[[ASCAP]]|access-date=January 5, 2012}}</ref> and features lead vocals by T-Boz and Chilli. The song samples "Blues & Pants" by [[James Brown]].
==Critical reception== Daryl McIntosh from Albumism noted that "What About Your Friends" "calls into question the topic of loyalty and true friendship, making you evaluate the character of those within your inner circle."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-30-years-of-tlc-debut-album-ooooooohhh-on-the-tlc-tip|date=February 24, 2022|first=Daryl|last=McIntosh|title=TLC's Debut Album 'Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip' Turns 30 — Anniversary Retrospective|publisher=Albumism|access-date=June 15, 2022}}</ref>
==Music video== The main performance scenes of the [[music video]] for "What About Your Friends" was directed by [[Lionel C. Martin]], and features the girls walking in an alley surrounded by backup dancers, underneath a bridge, on an outside staircase, on an apartment roof, in a slushie bar and wearing graffiti clothes in front of a graffiti-covered wall. Two versions of the video were made: one focuses on more of the performance shots of the girls and scenes of them infiltrating a stylish fashion show, while the other features scenes of a party in a big park where the girls are being very happy, dancing and having fun with their friends and some family members; including a scene of them reprising their roles as hillbillies from the "[[Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg]]" video at the end. [[Jermaine Dupri]] makes a cameo appearance.
==Commercial performance== The song reached number seven on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], becoming the group's third consecutive top ten single,<ref name=charts>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|id=p26086|class=artist|tab=charts-awards/billboard-single|pure_url=yes}}|title=Billboard singles history|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]/[[Rovi Corporation]]|access-date=January 5, 2012}}</ref> and reached No. 2 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B Singles]] chart, behind "[[Games (Chuckii Booker song)|Games]]" by [[Chuckii Booker]]. The single was certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref>{{Cite certification|region=United States|artist=TLC|title=What About Your Friends}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, "What About Your Friends" peaked at No. 59.<ref name=ukchart>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ |title= |website=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 5, 2012}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=February 2026}}{{clarify|reason=Title? accurate url?|date=February 2026}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{Col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope"col"| Chart (1992–1993) ! scope"col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"|Australia ([[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]])<ref name="Ryan">{{cite Ryan|page=282}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"| 79 |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|44|chartid=1883|rowheader=true|access-date=February 8, 2020}} |- {{single chart|Canadadance|4|chartid=1820|rowheader=true|access-date=February 8, 2020}} |- ! scope="row"|Europe ([[European Dance Radio Chart|European Dance Radio]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-12-05.pdf|title=European Dance Radio|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|date=December 5, 1992|page=20|access-date=November 1, 2021}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"| 20 |- !scope="row"|Netherlands ([[Dutch Top 40|Dutch Top 40 Tipparade]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/1992/week-48|title=(28 november 1992)|language=nl|publisher=top40.nl|access-date=November 28, 2019}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"| 8 |- {{single chart|Dutch100|58|artist=TLC|song=WHAT ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS|rowheader=true|access-date=May 23, 2011}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|19|artist=TLC|song=WHAT ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS|rowheader=true|access-date=May 23, 2011}} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|59|artist=TLC|artistid=27759|rowheader=true|access-date=December 5, 2017}} |- !scope="row"|[[UK Dance Singles Chart|UK Dance]] (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-10-24.pdf |title= Top 60 Dance Singles |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= October 24, 1992 |page= 22 |access-date= September 29, 2020}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"| 33 |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|7|artist=TLC|rowheader=true|access-date=December 5, 2017}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|5|artist=TLC|rowheader=true|access-date=April 11, 2022}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|2|artist=TLC|rowheader=true|access-date=February 15, 2017|refname="USR&B"}} |- {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|18|artist=TLC|rowheader=true|access-date=February 15, 2017|refname="USPop"}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|1|artist=TLC|rowheader=true|access-date=February 15, 2017|refname="USRhythmic"}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope"col"| Chart (1992) ! scope"col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1992|title=Billboard Top 100 - 1992|access-date=July 30, 2010|archive-date=July 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708050630/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1992}}</ref> | 88 |- ! scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (''Billboard'')<ref name="BByeRb">{{cite web|url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1992/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|title=1992 Year End Chart: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|access-date=January 27, 2012}}</ref> | 67 |} {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! Chart (1993) ! Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993|title=Billboard Top 100 - 1993|access-date=August 27, 2010|archive-date=November 10, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110095203/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993}}</ref> | 62 |- ! scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (''Billboard'')<ref name="Billboard year end R&B">{{cite web|url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1993/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=1993 Year End Chart: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|access-date=January 27, 2012}}</ref> | 72 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=TLC|title=What About Your Friends|award=Gold|relyear=1992|certyear=1992|access-date=February 26, 2021|refname="riaa"}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United States |August 21, 1992 |{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |[[LaFace Records|LaFace]] |<ref name="riaa"/> |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |October 12, 1992 |{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |{{hlist|LaFace|[[Arista Records|Arista]]}} |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=23|date=October 10, 1992}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Australia |November 16, 1992 |{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |LaFace |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Release Summary – Product Available from: 16/11/92: Singles|magazine=[[The ARIA Report]]|issue=146|page=19|date=November 15, 1992}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Japan |November 21, 1992 |Mini-CD |{{hlist|LaFace|Arista}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/24233/products/58429/1/|title=ホワット・アバウト・ユア・フレンズ {{!}} TLC|trans-title=What About Your Friends {{!}} TLC|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=September 13, 2023}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Australia |December 7, 1992 |12-inch vinyl |LaFace |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Release Summary – Product Available from: 7/12/92: Singles|magazine=The ARIA Report|issue=149|page=20|date=December 6, 1992}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{TLC songs}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:1992 singles]] [[Category:1992 songs]] [[Category:Arista Records singles]] [[Category:LaFace Records singles]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by Dallas Austin]] [[Category:Songs written by Dallas Austin]] [[Category:Songs written by Lisa Lopes]] [[Category:TLC (group) songs]]