# What About Your Friends

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1992 single by TLC

"What About Your Friends" Single by TLC from the album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip Released August 21, 1992 (1992-08-21) Genre New jack swing R&B[1] Length 4:55 (album version) 4:00 (radio edit without rap) 4:06 (radio edit with rap) Label LaFace Arista Songwriters Dallas Austin Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes Producer Dallas Austin TLC singles chronology "Baby-Baby-Baby" (1992) "What About Your Friends" (1992) "Hat 2 da Back" (1992) Music video "What About Your Friends" on YouTube

"**What About Your Friends**" is a song by American group [TLC](/source/TLC_(group)), released as the third single from their debut album, *[Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip](/source/Ooooooohhh..._On_the_TLC_Tip)* (1992). It was released on August 21, 1992, and reached number seven on the [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100), becoming the group's third consecutive top-10 single. A [remix](/source/Remix) to the song, titled "What About Your Friends (Extended Mix)", includes the first ever appearance by the [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta) hip-hop duo [Outkast](/source/Outkast).

## Composition

"What About Your Friends" was written by [Dallas Austin](/source/Dallas_Austin) and [TLC](/source/TLC_(group)) member [Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes](/source/Lisa_Lopes),[2] and features lead vocals by T-Boz and Chilli. The song samples "Blues & Pants" by [James Brown](/source/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."[3]

## Music video

The main performance scenes of the [music video](/source/Music_video) for "What About Your Friends" was directed by [Lionel C. Martin](/source/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](/source/Ain't_2_Proud_2_Beg)" video at the end. [Jermaine Dupri](/source/Jermaine_Dupri) makes a cameo appearance.

## Commercial performance

The song reached number seven on the [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100), becoming the group's third consecutive top ten single,[4] and reached No. 2 on the [Hot R&B Singles](/source/Hot_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Songs) chart, behind "[Games](/source/Games_(Chuckii_Booker_song))" by [Chuckii Booker](/source/Chuckii_Booker). The single was certified gold by the [RIAA](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America).[5] In the United Kingdom, "What About Your Friends" peaked at No. 59.[6][*[failed verification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability)*][*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*]

## Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992–1993) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[7] 79 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 44 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[9] 4 Europe (European Dance Radio)[10] 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[11] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 58 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 19 UK Singles (OCC)[14] 59 UK Dance (Music Week)[15] 33 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 7 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[17] 5 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 2 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[19] 18 US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)[20] 1 Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position US Billboard Hot 100[21] 88 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 67 Chart (1993) Position US Billboard Hot 100[23] 62 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] 72

## Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA)[25] Gold 500,000^ ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref. United States August 21, 1992 12-inch vinyl CD cassette LaFace [25] United Kingdom October 12, 1992 7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette LaFace Arista [26] Australia November 16, 1992 CD cassette LaFace [27] Japan November 21, 1992 Mini-CD LaFace Arista [28] Australia December 7, 1992 12-inch vinyl LaFace [29]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Cinquemani, Sal (October 20, 2013). ["TLC – *20*"](http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/tlc-20). *[Slant Magazine](/source/Slant_Magazine)*. Retrieved August 4, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["ASCAP search"](http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?). [ASCAP](/source/ASCAP). Retrieved January 5, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** McIntosh, Daryl (February 24, 2022). ["TLC's Debut Album 'Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip' Turns 30 — Anniversary Retrospective"](https://albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-30-years-of-tlc-debut-album-ooooooohhh-on-the-tlc-tip). Albumism. Retrieved June 15, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-charts_4-0)** ["Billboard singles history"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p26086/charts-awards/billboard-single). [Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))/[Rovi Corporation](/source/Rovi_Corporation). Retrieved January 5, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["American certifications – TLC – What About Your Friends"](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=TLC&ti=What+About+Your+Friends&format=&type=#search_section). [Recording Industry Association of America](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ukchart_6-0)** *Official Charts Company* [https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/](https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/). Retrieved January 5, 2012. {{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: Missing or empty |title= ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#citation_missing_title))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ryan_7-0)** Ryan, Gavin (2011). *Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010* (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 282.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Canadatopsingles_8-0)** "[Top RPM Singles: Image 1883](https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.1883&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.1883.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.1883)". *[RPM](/source/RPM_(magazine))*. [Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada). Retrieved February 8, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Canadadance_9-0)** "[Top RPM Dance/Urban: Image 1820](https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.1820&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.1820.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.1820)". *[RPM](/source/RPM_(magazine))*. [Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada). Retrieved February 8, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["European Dance Radio"](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-12-05.pdf) (PDF). *[Music & Media](/source/Music_%26_Media)*. December 5, 1992. p. 20. Retrieved November 1, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["(28 november 1992)"](https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/1992/week-48) (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved November 28, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Dutch100_TLC_12-0)** "[TLC – WHAT ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS](https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=TLC&titel=WHAT+ABOUT+YOUR+FRIENDS&cat=s)" (in Dutch). [Single Top 100](/source/Dutch_Single_Top_100). Retrieved May 23, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_New_Zealand_TLC_13-0)** "[TLC – WHAT ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS](https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=TLC&titel=WHAT+ABOUT+YOUR+FRIENDS&cat=s)". [Top 40 Singles](/source/Official_Aotearoa_Music_Charts). Retrieved May 23, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_UKsinglesbyname_TLC_14-0)** "[TLC Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/27759/TLC)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved December 5, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Top 60 Dance Singles"](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-10-24.pdf) (PDF). *[Music Week](/source/Music_Week)*. October 24, 1992. p. 22. Retrieved September 29, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Billboardhot100_TLC_16-0)** "[TLC Chart History (Hot 100)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/TLC/chart-history/HSI)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved December 5, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Billboarddancesales_TLC_17-0)** "[TLC Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/TLC/chart-history/DSA)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved April 11, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-USR&B_18-0)** "[TLC Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/TLC/chart-history/BSI)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved February 15, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-USPop_19-0)** "[TLC Chart History (Pop Songs)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/TLC/chart-history/TFM)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved February 15, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-USRhythmic_20-0)** "[TLC Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/TLC/chart-history/TFC)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved February 15, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Billboard Top 100 - 1992"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090708050630/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1992). Archived from [the original](http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1992) on July 8, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BByeRb_22-0)** ["1992 Year End Chart: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1992/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs). [Prometheus Global Media](/source/Prometheus_Global_Media). Retrieved January 27, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Billboard Top 100 - 1993"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061110095203/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993). Archived from [the original](http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993) on November 10, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Billboard_year_end_R&B_24-0)** ["1993 Year End Chart: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1993/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs). Retrieved January 27, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-riaa_25-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-riaa_25-1) ["American single certifications – TLC – What About Your Friends"](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=TLC&ti=What+About+Your+Friends&format=Single&type=#search_section). [Recording Industry Association of America](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America). Retrieved February 26, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** "New Releases: Singles". *[Music Week](/source/Music_Week)*. October 10, 1992. p. 23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** "New Release Summary – Product Available from: 16/11/92: Singles". *[The ARIA Report](/source/The_ARIA_Report)*. No. 146. November 15, 1992. p. 19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["ホワット・アバウト・ユア・フレンズ | TLC"](https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/24233/products/58429/1/) [What About Your Friends | TLC] (in Japanese). [Oricon](/source/Oricon). Retrieved September 13, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** "New Release Summary – Product Available from: 7/12/92: Singles". *The ARIA Report*. No. 149. December 6, 1992. p. 20.

v t e TLC Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas Crystal Jones Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes Studio albums Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip CrazySexyCool FanMail 3D TLC Compilations Now & Forever: The Hits The Very Best of TLC: Crazy Sexy Hits 20 TLC 20: 20th Anniversary Hits Video releases CrazyVideoCool Singles "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" "Baby-Baby-Baby" "What About Your Friends" "Hat 2 da Back" "Creep" "Red Light Special" "Waterfalls" "Diggin' on You" "No Scrubs" "Unpretty" "Dear Lie" "Girl Talk" "Hands Up" "Damaged" "Come Get Some" "I Bet" "Haters" "Way Back" As featured artist "Crooked Smile" "Freedom (Theme from Panther)" "Let's Just Do It" "Voice of Love" "What's Going On (Dupri's R&B Mix)" "What It Ain't (Ghetto Enuff)" Other songs "Get It Up" "Kick Your Game" "I'm Good at Being Bad" "Silly Ho" Concert tours FanMail Tour The Main Event 2016–17 Tour I Love the 90s: The Party Continues Tour Celebration of CrazySexyCool Television R U the Girl CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story The Last Days of Left Eye Totally T-Boz What Chilli Wants Related articles Discography Awards and nominations "No Pigeons" Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [What About Your Friends](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_About_Your_Friends) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_About_Your_Friends?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.