Xscape’s Kandi and Tiny perform TLC’s “No Scrubs” at the #HipHopHonors [VIDEO]

Kandi Burruss and Tiny Perform “No Scrubs” at VH1 Hip Hop Honors, Channeling TLC and 1990s R&B Power

The VH1 Hip Hop Honors: The 90’s Game Changers is airing tonight at 9 PM ET, hosted by Regina Hall. The annual event returns from hiatus with a new focus — honoring the game changers who defined hip-hop and R&B in the 1990s.

Taped last night, September 17, at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, the show is a nostalgic celebration of an era that blended style, soul, and innovation. This year’s honorees include Martin Lawrence, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, and Hype Williams, each recognized for shaping culture through comedy, music, and visual storytelling.

But one of the night’s most talked-about moments belongs to Kandi Burruss and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, who step to the stage for a powerful, crowd-shaking performance of “No Scrubs.”

Xscape’s Return to the Spotlight

Earlier this year, Xscape reunited after nearly two decades apart, surprising fans at the 2017 BET Awards with a medley of classics — “Just Kickin’ It,” “Understanding,” and “Who Can I Run To.” The group’s chemistry, long-missed by R&B lovers, is back in full force.

Now, at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors, Xscape — Burruss, Tiny, LaTocha Scott, and Tamika Scott — kicks off their segment with “Just Kickin’ It,” dressed in coordinated denim-on-denim outfits and crisp white tops that scream 1993 nostalgia. The crowd is on its feet before the first hook even drops.

Then comes the twist — instead of sticking to their own catalog, Burruss and Tiny step forward to honor another legendary 1990s girl group: TLC.

Kandi and Tiny Channel TLC for “No Scrubs”

As the beat flips and the stage lights dim, the unmistakable rhythm of “No Scrubs” fills the air. Burruss and Tiny — the very women who co-wrote TLC’s 1999 anthem alongside producer Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs — reclaim their creation in front of a roaring audience.

Kandi embodies T-Boz, rocking her own trademark black hair, with a black bodysuit, and attitude to match, while Tiny channels Chilli with flowing hair and sleek black bodysuits straight out of TLC’s futuristic 1999 music video. The duo struts across the set’s stoop, syncing in smooth, body-rolling choreography that mirrors TLC’s iconic style.

Their performance isn’t just a cover — it’s a full-circle moment. Back in the late 1990s, Burruss and Cottle penned “No Scrubs” during Xscape’s hiatus, initially planning to release it under their short-lived duo K.A.T. But when producer L.A. Reid heard the track, he pitched it to TLC — and the rest is history.

From Writing Room to Global Hit

Released in 1999, “No Scrubs” became a cultural phenomenon. Its message — a confident rejection of unmotivated men who “hang out the passenger side of their best friend’s ride” — resonated with women worldwide and reshaped R&B’s approach to empowerment.

The single topped the Billboard Hot 100, won two Grammy nominations, and cemented TLC’s place in pop history. Yet behind the hook and harmonies were Burruss and Tiny. They are two Atlanta songwriters who helped craft the sound of late-’90s R&B.

Burruss later revealed in interviews that she and Tiny almost kept the song for themselves. “We thought about making it a K.A.T. single,” Burruss said in a past VH1 special. “But once TLC recorded it, we knew it was theirs.”

Tonight, standing on the VH1 stage, they finally perform it together. Not behind the scenes, but front and center.

The Night’s Nostalgic Energy

The “No Scrubs” tribute fits within a larger ‘90s party medley, a coast-to-coast throwback that captures the decade’s joy and swagger.

The segment opens with Ty Dolla $ign channeling Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It,” followed by Burruss and Tiny’s “No Scrubs” spotlight. Warren G then steps out to deliver “Regulate” in tribute to Nate Dogg, and the set closes with Remy Ma and Fat Joe performing Big Pun’s “Still Not a Player,” joined by Trina and Trick Daddy for a Miami moment.

The result? A seamless blend of hip-hop and R&B that feels more like a block party than an award show.

Kandi and Tiny’s Continued Relevance

The moment also reinforces how much both women have evolved since their Xscape days.

Kandi Burruss is now a household name on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta, balancing reality TV fame with a thriving business and songwriting career. Beyond “No Scrubs,” her pen has been behind hits like “Bills, Bills, Bills” for Destiny’s Child and other crossover successes.

Tiny Cottle, now married to rapper T.I., has made waves through her reality series T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle and continued success as a songwriter. In fact, her name reappeared on the charts earlier this year after Ed Sheeran credited her and Burruss on “Shape of You” for interpolating elements of “No Scrubs.”

Their dual performance tonight feels like a celebration of not only nostalgia but endurance — proof that their impact didn’t fade when the ’90s ended.

A Night for Icons, and a Cause That Matters

Beyond the music, Hip Hop Honors also dedicates time to real-world impact. A segment during the show focuses on Hurricane Harvey relief, encouraging donations for those affected by the devastating storms that hit Texas earlier this month.

It’s a reminder that while the night celebrates history, it’s also rooted in community — something both Burruss and Cottle have long championed in their careers.

A Full-Circle Moment for Two ’90s Queens

When Kandi Burruss and Tiny Cottle step off stage tonight, they’re leaving behind one of the evening’s most talked-about performances — not just because of nostalgia, but because of ownership.

They wrote “No Scrubs.” They lived its message. And now, at the 2017 VH1 Hip Hop Honors, they’re performing it as stars who have survived, thrived, and evolved.

While these two ladies have their origins in a girl group, reality TV is their claim to fame. Most of the world knows them for their shows. However, tonight they reminded the world of who they are.

For a generation raised on TLC, Xscape, and the golden age of R&B, this is what full-circle looks like — women reclaiming their art, their influence, and their shine.