Scenario (song)

"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

"Scenario" is the third single from A Tribe Called Quest's second album The Low End Theory. The song features members of the rap group Leaders of the New School. Matt Cibula of PopMatters called the track hip-hop's greatest posse cut. 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. Time included the song on its list of its All-TIME 100 Songs.

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.

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 later 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. Blender magazine ranked the "Scenario" remix at number 216 in its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".

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

Weekly charts

Certifications