Scenario (song)

1992 single by A Tribe Called Quest

"Scenario"

Single by A Tribe Called Quest featuring Leaders of the New School
from the album  The Low End Theory
B-side| "Butter"
Released| March 13, 1992
Recorded| 1991
Genre|

* Boom bap
* alternative hip hop
* golden age hip hop

Length| 4:10
Label| Jive
Songwriter(s)|

* Kamaal Fareed
* Bryan Higgins
* James Jackson
* Ali Shaheed Muhammad
* Trevor Smith
* Malik Taylor

Producer(s)| A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest singles chronology
| "Jazz (We've Got)"
(1991)  | "Scenario"
(1992)  | "Hot Sex"
(1992)

|
|

Leaders of the New School singles chronology
| "The International Zone Coaster"
(1992)  | "Scenario"
(1992)  | "What's Next"
(1993)

|
|

Audio sample

Scenario

* file
* help

Music video
"Scenario" on YouTube

For other uses, see Scenario (disambiguation).

"Scenario" is the third single from A Tribe Called Quest's second album The Low End Theory. The song features the rap group Leaders of the New School. Matt Cibula of PopMatters called the track hip-hop's greatest posse cut.[1] The song is commonly considered a breakout moment for Leaders of the New School member Busta Rhymes, who was 19 when this song was released.[2] Time included the song on its list of its All-TIME 100 Songs in 2017.[3]

The song opens with the chorus, followed by verses from Phife Dawg, Charlie Brown, Dinco D, and Q-Tip, who hands the mic off to Busta Rhymes.[4][5]

The music video, directed by Jim Swaffield, plays on an interactive desktop, and features cameo appearances by Spike Lee, De La Soul, Kid Capri, Brand Nubian, Fab Five Freddy, and Redman.

A remixed version of "Scenario" appeared on the B-side of the 12" single, the cassette single, and the limited edition release of the group's fifth album, The Love Movement (1998). The remix also features Leaders of the New School and newcomer Kid Hood, who was murdered two days after recording his verse.[6] Blender magazine ranked the "Scenario" remix at number 216 in its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".[7]

## Samples

[edit]

* "Oblighetto" by Brother Jack McDuff
* "Little Miss Lover" by Jimi Hendrix
* "Soul Vibrations" and "Funky Granny" by Kool & the Gang [sample appears on remix only]
* "Ecstasy" by Ohio Players [sample appears on the remix only]
* "Blind Alley" by The Emotions [sample appears on the remix only]

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

Chart (1992)  | Peak
position

|

US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 57
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[9] | 34
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] | 42
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[11] | 6

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United States (RIAA)[12] | Gold  | 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Cibula, Matt. The Importance of Being Busta. PopMatters. Accessed December 29, 2008.
2. ^ Young, Kevin. Unwrapping the Message. Bookforum. Accessed November 16, 2010.
3. ^ "All-Time 100 Songs". Time. Time Inc. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
4. ^ Connor, Martin. Tribe Called Quest – Scenario. Rap Analysis. Accessed August 13, 2018.
5. ^ HipHopGoldenAge. 25 Best Guest Verses In Hip Hop History | #3 Busta Rhymes – Scenario. 25 Best Guest Verses In Hip Hop History. Accessed May 15th, 2019.
6. ^ Cowie, Del (January 23, 2008). "A Tribe Called Quest Verses From the Abstract". Exclaim!.
7. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born: 201-250". Blender. October 2005. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2008.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
8. ^ "A Tribe Called Quest Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 264, 2022.
9. ^ "A Tribe Called Quest Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
10. ^ "A Tribe Called Quest Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
11. ^ "A Tribe Called Quest Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
12. ^ "American single certifications – A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 10, 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Video at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
* Lyrics and musical notation at www.rapanalysis.com

* v
* t
* e

A Tribe Called Quest

* Q-Tip
* Phife Dawg
* Ali Shaheed Muhammad
* Jarobi White

Studio albums|

* People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
* The Low End Theory
* Midnight Marauders
* Beats, Rhymes and Life
* The Love Movement
* We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service

Compilations|

* Revised Quest for the Seasoned Traveller
* The Anthology
* Hits, Rarities & Remixes
* The Lost Tribes
* The Best of A Tribe Called Quest

Solo albums|

* Amplified
* Ventilation: Da LP
* Shaheedullah and Stereotypes
* The Renaissance
* Kamaal the Abstract
* Forever

Singles|

* "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo"
* "Bonita Applebum"
* "Can I Kick It?"
* "Check the Rhime"
* "Jazz (We've Got)"
* "Scenario"
* "Hot Sex"
* "Award Tour"
* "Electric Relaxation"
* "Oh My God"
* "1nce Again"
* "Stressed Out"
* "Rumble in the Jungle"
* "Find a Way"
* "Like It Like That"
* "We the People...."

Other songs|

* "The Space Program"

See also|

* Discography
* Native Tongues
* The Ummah
* Soulquarians
* Lucy Pearl
* J Dilla
* Chris Lighty
* Bob Power
* Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

Category

* v
* t
* e

Busta Rhymes

* Discography
* Production discography

Albums|

* The Coming
* When Disaster Strikes...
* Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front
* Anarchy
* Genesis
* It Ain't Safe No More...
* The Big Bang
* Back on My B.S.
* Year of the Dragon
* Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
* Blockbusta

Compilations|

* Total Devastation: The Best of Busta Rhymes
* Turn It Up! The Very Best of Busta Rhymes
* The Artist Collection: Busta Rhymes
* Rich Gang (with YMCMB)

Singles|

* "The Points"
* "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check"
* "It's a Party"
* "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)"
* "Do My Thing"
* "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
* "Dangerous"
* "One"
* "Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up"
* "Tear da Roof Off"
* "Gimme Some More"
* "Party Is Goin' on Over Here"
* "What's It Gonna Be?!"
* "Get Out!!"
* "Fire"
* "What It Is
* "Break Ya Neck"
* "As I Come Back"
* "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II"
* "Make It Clap"
* "I Know What You Want"
* "Light Your Ass on Fire"
* "Where's Your Money?"
* "Touch It"
* "I Love My Bitch"
* "New York Shit"
* "In the Ghetto"
* "Don't Touch Me (Throw da Water on 'Em)"
* "We Made It"
* "Arab Money"
* "Hustler's Anthem '09"
* "Respect My Conglomerate"
* "World Go Round"
* "Why Stop Now"
* "Twerk It"
* "Thank You"
* "Calm Down"

Featured singles|

* "Oh My God"
* "Flava in Ya Ear" (Remix)
* "Rumble in the Jungle"
* "Victory"
* "Fire"
* "What's Happenin'"
* "Don't Cha"
* "Hurt"
* "Run the Show"
* "C'mon (Catch 'Em by Surprise)"
* "Look at Me Now"
* "Welcome to My Hood" (Remix)
* "Worldwide Choppers"
* "The Woman You Love"
* "Pride N Joy"
* "Take You There"
* "Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate"
* "Billie Eilish Legends Mix."

Other songs|

* "We Are the World 25 for Haiti"
* "My Shot" (Rise Up Remix)

Related articles|

* Leaders of the New School
* Native Tongues
* Flipmode Squad
* The Conglomerate Entertainment
* The Imperial

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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