New York in the mid-90s was a weird, beautiful mess of genres. You had the tail end of grunge, the explosion of Biggie and Puffy, and then you had three guys in suits who looked like they stepped off a Scorsese set but sounded like a hip-hop garage band. That was the Fun Lovin’ Criminals. When they dropped "Scooby Snacks" in 1996, it didn’t just climb the charts; it became a permanent fixture of pop culture DNA. It’s a song about robbing banks, getting high on Valium, and being obsessed with Quentin Tarantino movies. Honestly, it shouldn't have worked as a radio hit. But it did.
The track is built on a foundation of cool. It’s that laid-back, "I don't care if I'm caught" vibe that Huey Morgan, Brian "Fast" Leiser, and Steve Borovini mastered on their debut album, Come Find Yourself. If you grew up in that era, you remember the first time those Tarantino samples hit. It felt dangerous. It felt like you were in on a joke that the censors hadn't quite figured out yet.
The Tarantino Connection That Made the Track
You can't talk about Fun Lovin Criminals Scooby Snacks without talking about Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. The song is practically a love letter to the dialogue of Quentin Tarantino. It opens with that iconic exchange from Pulp Fiction where Pumpkin (Tim Roth) tells Honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer) to stay cool. "I'm not gonna hurt 'em," he says. "Nobody's gonna get hurt."
Then you get the Reservoir Dogs samples. It’s a masterclass in using found audio to set a cinematic mood. Most bands at the time were trying to sound like Nirvana or Pearl Jam. FLC decided to sound like a movie soundtrack.
Huey Morgan once mentioned in interviews that they actually had to get permission from Tarantino to use those clips. Legend has it that Quentin was a fan. He liked the grit. He liked the New York swagger. Because of those samples, the song became the unofficial anthem for a generation of film nerds who spent their weekends at Blockbuster looking for indie crime thrillers.
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The lyrics themselves are a trip. "Running 'round taking samples / Buddy, don't you know that you're a dead man?" It’s a narrative about a botched heist, or maybe just the idea of a heist. The "Scooby Snacks" in question aren't dog treats, obviously. In the slang of the time, they were 10mg Valium pills (the blue ones). It adds a layer of hazy, drugged-out irony to the upbeat, funky bassline. It’s a sunny song about a very dark habit.
Why the Sound Was So Different
The 90s were full of "alternative" music, but Fun Lovin’ Criminals were truly alternative because they didn’t fit anywhere. They were white guys from New York playing bluesy guitars over hip-hop beats with a jazz sensibility. "Scooby Snacks" has this incredible walking bassline that feels like it belongs in a smoky lounge, but the drums are crisp and heavy, perfect for a boombox.
Huey’s vocals are barely singing. It’s more of a rhythmic narration. He’s got that gravelly, Lower East Side rasp that makes you believe he’s actually seen some things. It’s authentic. Or at least, it feels authentic enough to work.
- The drums were sampled from "Running Away" by Sly & The Family Stone.
- The guitar riff is a greasy, distorted blues lick.
- The overall tempo is slow enough to nod your head to but fast enough to keep a club moving.
People often forget how big this song was globally. In the UK, it was massive. It reached the Top 30 twice—once on its initial release and again as a remix. The British press fell in love with the band’s "wise guy" persona. They were the Americans that the Britpop crowd actually liked because they weren't moody or self-serious.
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The Real Story Behind the Scooby Snacks
The term "Scooby Snacks" has lived a long life outside the song. For many, it’s just a cartoon reference. For the band, it was a very specific reference to the benzodiazepines they were supposedly using to keep their cool while navigating the chaos of the music industry.
There's a certain irony in the fact that a song referencing prescription drug use and armed robbery became a staple of daytime radio. It shows how much the 90s let slide if the "vibe" was right. The song sounds like a summer barbecue even though the subject matter is essentially a crime report.
Legacy and the Modern Context
Does Fun Lovin Criminals Scooby Snacks hold up in 2026? Surprisingly, yes. It doesn’t sound dated in the way that some 90s Eurodance or nu-metal does. This is because it’s built on classic foundations: funk, soul, and sharp dialogue. It’s timeless in its coolness.
The band has gone through several lineup changes over the years. Huey Morgan famously left the group a few years back, leading to some public friction between him and the remaining members, Fast and Frank Benbini. It’s the classic story of band politics getting messy, but the music remains untouchable. When you hear that opening sample today, it still triggers that immediate sense of "something cool is about to happen."
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How to Get the Most Out of the FLC Discography
If you’ve only ever heard "Scooby Snacks," you’re missing out on a lot of nuance. The album Come Find Yourself is a journey through a New York that doesn't really exist anymore. It’s a pre-gentrification, grimy, soulful city.
- Listen to "The Fun Lovin' Criminal" – This is their self-titled manifesto. It’s faster, punkier, and gives you a better idea of their energy.
- Check out "King of New York" – A tribute to John Gotti, it showcases their ability to turn criminal mythology into pop music.
- Find the "Schmoove Mix" – There are several remixes of "Scooby Snacks" that lean even harder into the jazz and lounge elements. They’re perfect for late-night listening.
The influence of this track can be seen in how modern "lo-fi" artists approach music. That blend of movie dialogue and chilled-out beats? Fun Lovin’ Criminals were doing that on major labels decades ago. They proved that you could be "tough" and "smooth" at the same time.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of FLC or want to own a piece of this history, here is what you need to do:
- Track down the original vinyl: The 1996 pressing of Come Find Yourself is a collector's item. The artwork alone, featuring the band in their signature suits, is worth the price.
- Watch the music video: It’s a perfect time capsule. It features the band in a car wash, wearing suits, looking generally unbothered. It captures the aesthetic of the era perfectly.
- Explore the "Tarantino-core" genre: If you love the samples in this song, check out other 90s tracks that used cinema audio, like Cypress Hill or even the Wu-Tang Clan. It was a golden age for audio collage.
- Keep an eye on Huey Morgan’s DJ sets: While he might not be with the band anymore, Huey is a prolific DJ and radio host (especially on BBC Radio 6 Music). He still carries that torch for good music, soul, and funk.
The song is more than a one-hit wonder. It’s a cultural landmark. It represents a time when the boundaries between movies, street culture, and pop music were beautifully blurred. Whether you're listening for the nostalgia or discovering it for the first time, the groove is undeniable. Stick it on a playlist, turn it up, and just try not to feel a little bit cooler. It's impossible.