No Broke Boys
2024 song by Tinashe
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"No Broke Boys" is a song by American singer-songwriter Tinashe. It was released on August 16, 2024, in tandem with the music video from her seventh studio album, Quantum Baby (2024). Produced by Ricky Reed, Zack Sekoff, and Phoelix, the song is a "confident R&B" track that draws thematic comparisons to Gwen Guthrie's "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On but the Rent" and TLC's "No Scrubs", and it features a concluding chorus inspired by Janet Jackson's song "Go Deep".
| "No Broke Boys" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Tinashe | ||||
| from the album Quantum Baby | ||||
| Released | August 16, 2024 | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 2:12 | |||
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| Tinashe singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "No Broke Boys" on YouTube | ||||
"No Broke Boys" received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its sharp call-outs and catchy hook, though some outlets noted its reliance on pop tropes. It was supported by a Bring It On–inspired music video, multiple live performances, and chart success in the United States and New Zealand. A 2025 remix by Disco Lines later became a global hit, reaching the top ten in several countries and topping Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
Background and composition
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"No Broke Boys" was confirmed for release when Tinashe revealed it on the track listing of Quantum Baby, on August 1, 2024.[1] On August 12, Tinashe went live on Instagram and revealed that the concluding chorus of the song was inspired by Janet Jackson's 1998 single "Go Deep".[2] Produced by Ricky Reed, Zack Sekoff, and Phoelix, the song has been described as a thematic descendant of Gwen Guthrie's "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On but the Rent" and TLC's "No Scrubs".[3] "No Broke Boys" is a "confident R&B" song[4] that echos its aporophobiac theme.[5] It also touches on "intimate disappointments",[6] featuring the lines such as "The ex is on the line / Just as I expected / No one ever gets over me".[7] According to Variety, "No Broke Boys" carries "a similar knowing smirk",[8] being "laced with generic pop tropes".[9]
Critical reception
Upon his review of the song's parent album, Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop claimed the song is "actually memorable", noting that it is "actually snappy while still being very smooth and low-key".[10] Pitchfork's Tarisai Ngangura claimed the song was "not deep enough to jolt any festering memories".[6] Nick Seip of Slant Magazine described the song as "infectious" and called it "an empowering earworm", comparing it to the 1999 TLC hit song, "No Scrubs".[11] The Line of Best Fit's Sam Franzini also offered a positive assessment, noting that "No Broke Boys" functions as a sharp call-out to uneven relationships and describing it as "wickedly fun", with its chant-like refrains positioned as a potential "mantra du jour" for the summer.[12]
Music video
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Tinashe initially released a lyric video for "No Broke Boys", on August 29, 2024.[13] On October 4, She teased the song's music video via her TikTok, with the caption saying "Are we getting a no broke boys music vid??".[14] In Los Angeles, she previewed the video for her audience at the Greek Theatre on October 17, while on her Match My Freak: World Tour.[15] The video, directed by Aerin Moreno and choreographed by Monica Douglas, premiered on her Vevo channel the following day.[16] It references the 2000 film Bring It On, a cheerleader team comedy.[17] Tinashe portrays the captain of the white-uniformed cheer team.[16]
Live performances
On October 14, 2024, Tinashe performed the song on her Match My Freak: World Tour.[18] She later performed at the 2024 KIIS-FM Jingle Ball on December 19, in Atlanta and Miami.[19] The song was also performed at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve celebration.[20]
Credits and personnel
- Tinashe – lead vocals, songwriting
- Ricky Reed – production, songwriting, programming
- Phoelix – production, songwriting, keyboards
- Zack Sekoff – production, programming
- Alicia Abboud – background vocals
- Nakisa Kachingwe – background vocals
- Ike Schultz – vocal production, mixing engineering
- Ethan Shumaker – mixing engineering
- Chris Gehringer – master engineering
Charts
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[21] | 25 |
| US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[22] | 25 |
| US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)[23] | 13 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[24] | 2× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | August 16, 2024 | Original |
|
[a] | |
| June 6, 2025 | Disco Lines remix | [26] | |||
| United States | August 5, 2025 | Contemporary hit radio | [27] | ||
| Italy | August 28, 2025 | Radio airplay | Warner Italy | [28] | |
| Various | September 26, 2025 |
|
Avello remix |
|
[29] |
| October 3, 2025 | Lee Foss remix | [30] |
Disco Lines remix
| "No Broke Boys" (remix) | ||||
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| Single by Disco Lines and Tinashe | ||||
| Released | June 6, 2025 | |||
| Genre | Dance | |||
| Length | 2:44 | |||
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| Disco Lines singles chronology | ||||
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| Tinashe singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio video | ||||
| "No Broke Boys" on YouTube | ||||
In May 2025, American DJ Disco Lines previewed a snippet of his remix to the song, which immediately gained virality on TikTok.[17] It gathered over 40 million views on the platform before its official release.[4] The remix was officially released on June 6, 2025, via Disco Lines' independent label, Good Good Records and Nice Life Recording Company.
Composition
According to Melodic Magazine writer Vivian Richey, the Disco Lines remix of "No Broke Boys" reworks the original R&B track into a "high-energy dance record".[4] As noted by Aaron Williams of Uproxx, the remix presents a "propulsive, EDM-tinged" sound and centers on the pursuit of a desirable partner, "preferably one with full pockets".[17] Billboard writer Katie Bain described the track as the dance world's "unofficial song of the summer", noting that it originated as an edit premiered during Disco Lines' EDC Las Vegas set before receiving an official release featuring "fresh vocals" that merged Tinashe's 2024 original with his "bouncy" production.[31]
Commercial performance
The remix has been a global success and has entered various charts worldwide. The song has reached the top ten in Ireland,[32] the United Kingdom,[33] Australia,[34] Austria,[35] Latvia,[36] Luxembourg,[37] Switzerland,[38] New Zealand,[39] Germany,[40] Lithuania,[41] and Canada,[42] and the top twenty in Sweden,[43] Netherlands,[44] and the Billboard Global 200,[45] while also reaching number 36 on Billboard Hot 100.[46] It has become Disco Lines' first and Tinashe's second top 40 and sixth entry on Hot 100,[25] as well as Disco Lines' first and Tinashe's second top ten on the UK Singles chart.[47]
For the chart week of July 18–24, the remix rose to number one on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, becoming the first new leader on the ranking since August 2024. It marks both Disco Lines and Tinashe's first career number ones on the chart.[48]
Personnel
- Tinashe – lead vocals, songwriting
- Disco Lines – production, songwriting
- Ricky Reed – production, songwriting
- Phoelix – production, songwriting
- Zack Sekoff – production
- Alicia Abboud – background vocals
- Nakisa Kachingwe – background vocals
- Ike Schultz – vocal production, mixing engineering
- Ethan Shumaker – mixing engineering
- Chris Gehringer – master engineering
- Shane Maloney – assistant engineering
Charts
Weekly charts
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Monthly charts
Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[122] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[123] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| France (SNEP)[124] | Platinum | 200,000‡ |
| Portugal (AFP)[125] | Gold | 12,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[126] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| Streaming | ||
| Greece (IFPI Greece)[127] | Gold | 1,000,000† |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Notes
- According to Billboard Canada and Melodic Magazine, the original version of "No Broke Boys" is considered as a single.[25][4]