Scenario (song)

"Scenario"
"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	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
Leaders of the New School singles chronology
Audio sample
	Menu 0:00 Scenario file; help;
Music video
	"Scenario" on YouTube

"Scenario" is the third single from A Tribe Called Quest's second album The Low End Theory. The song features members of 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]

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.^[3]^[4]

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

Time included the song on its list of the All-TIME 100 Songs.^[5]

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

Samples[]

"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[]

Charts (1992)^[7]	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	57
U.S. Dance/Electronic Singles Sales	34
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	42
U.S. Hot Rap Songs	6

References[]

^ Cibula, Matt. The Importance of Being Busta. PopMatters. Accessed December 29, 2008.
^ Young, Kevin. Unwrapping the Message. Bookforum. Accessed November 16, 2010.
^ Connor, Martin. Tribe Called Quest – Scenario. Rap Analysis. Accessed August 13, 2018.
^ 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.
^ "All-Time 100 Songs". Entertainment.Time.com. Time Inc. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
^ "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.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ allmusic ((( The Low End Theory > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles ))). Allmusic. Accessed December 29, 2008.

External links[]

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

[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] Connor, Martin. Tribe Called Quest – Scenario. Rap Analysis. Accessed August 13, 2018.

[4] 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.

[5] "All-Time 100 Songs". Entertainment.Time.com. Time Inc. Retrieved 2017-10-06.

[6] "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.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[7] usic ((( The Low End Theory > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles ))). Allmusic. Accessed December 29, 2008.

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show v t 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
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

show v t 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
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	"Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" "It's a Party" "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" "Dangerous" "Turn It Up (Remix)/Fire It Up" "Gimme Some More" "What's It Gonna Be?!" "Break Ya Neck" "Make It Clap" "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II" "I Know What You Want" "Where's Your Money?" "Touch It" "I Love My Bitch" "New York Shit" "In the Ghetto" "Don't Get Carried Away" "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" "Where I Belong"
Featured singles	"The Points" "Rumble in the Jungle" "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)" "Victory" "Fire" "What's Happenin'" "Don't Cha" "Hurt" "Run the Show" "Peace Sign/Index Down" "Rotate" "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"
Other songs	"We Are the World 25 for Haiti" "My Shot" (Rise Up Remix)
Related articles	Leaders of the New School Native Tongues Conglomerate Records The Imperial