"What About Your Friends" is a song recorded by American R&B trio TLC. Released as the third single from their debut album, Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip, the track reinforced the group's early identity that mixed contemporary R&B, hip hop sensibility, and bold visual style. It reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group's third straight top-ten single and helping to establish TLC as a major act in the early 1990s.

Theme and lyrics

The song centers on questions of loyalty and changing relationships: the narrator asks whether close friends remain true when circumstances or new partners create distance. Its lyrics combine direct, conversational lines with catchy hooks, a hallmark of TLC's early material aimed at young listeners navigating friendships and romantic relationships.

Composition and production

Musically the track blends melodic R&B vocals with rhythmic, hip-hop-influenced beats and arrangement choices common to early 1990s urban radio. Production emphasizes a tight groove and clear vocal parts so that the vocal interplay and the song's message remain prominent. The arrangement supports both radio play and choreography for live performances.

Release, chart performance and reception

Issued as a single from the group's debut album, the song performed strongly on pop and R&B charts. Its top-ten placement on the Billboard Hot 100 marked another commercial success for TLC following their prior singles. Critics and listeners noted the song's memorable chorus and its relatable subject matter as factors in its popularity.

Music video, image and legacy

The accompanying music video and televised performances reinforced TLC's distinctive fashion and choreography of the era, contributing to their cultural image. Over time the song has been referenced as an example of early 1990s R&B that spoke directly to young people's social concerns, and it remains part of TLC's catalog often included in compilations and set lists.

  • Third single from the debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip.
  • Reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, the group's third consecutive top-ten single (chart source).
  • Single release information and credits can be found via contemporary press and discographies (release details).