| "Bad to Me" | ||||
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| Single by Wizkid | ||||
| from the album More Love, Less Ego | ||||
| Released | 14 September 2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:56 | |||
| Label | ||||
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| Wizkid singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Bad to Me" on YouTube | ||||
"Bad to Me" is a song by Nigerian singer Wizkid. It was released on 14 September 2022 as the lead single from his fifth studio album More Love, Less Ego (2022). The song was written by Wizkid, P2J, and Sammy Soso; the latter two also produce the song. [1]
In June 2022, Wizkid teased an upcoming single on Instagram, sharing a snippet of himself in the studio and writing "New sound days away", which generated anticipation among fans. [2] On 9 September 2022, he officially announced that his next single, "Bad to Me", would be released on 14 September 2022, sharing the cover art and a presave link. The single was his first release following the deluxe edition of Made in Lagos (2021), which added four new tracks to the album. [3]
"Bad to Me" is a fusion of Afrobeats and amapiano produced by P2J and Sammy Soso. [4] The song, which runs for a length of two minutes and fifty-seven seconds, [5] uses log drums, shakers, deep percussion, and bright keys associated with Amapiano, while maintaining Wizkid's melodic Afrobeats vocal style. [4] It opens with a sparse four-count before expanding into layered percussion and keys, creating a club-focused rhythm that supports a romantic tone. [6] The song slightly reverses common amapiano structure by beginning at a faster pace and slowing down in the chorus, instead of building toward a more upbeat hook. [6] Lyrically, the song centers on love, desire, and attraction, with Wizkid using mid-tempo melodies and repeated phrases over a groove-driven instrumental.
The official music video for "Bad to Me" premiered on 19 October 2022. The video was directed by Child and produced by MrMr Films. [7] Shot in the United Kingdom, the video depictes Wizkid performing on a television variety show, where he appeared both as the musical guest and as part of the show's narrative. [8] [9] It followed a playful storyline in which the show's producer was portrayed as Wizkid's secret lover. [10] According to NotJustOk , the music video recorded over 665,000 views and more than 60,000 likes on YouTube within its first 24 hours. [11] The video also ranked among the top five trending music videos in Nigeria at the time of its release. A preview of Wizkid's then-upcoming promotional single "Money & Love" occurred at the end of the video. [11]
In a review for Afrocritik , Emmanuel Daraloye wrote that the retro-styled video presented Wizkid as "charmed and fascinated by a woman's body," using a television show setting to explore desire, fame, and control through staged performances and behind-the-scenes moments. He concluded that the visual told "a simple story encoded in sublime messages" and served as "a concise tribute to the past with a fantastic presentation of the present," rating it 7/10. [12]
Upon release, "Bad to Me" prompted discussion about the use of amapiano in Nigerian music and its South African origins. Fans debated the song's originality, with some noting that other earlier collaborations, such as Wizkid and Burna Boy in Kabza de Small's "Sponono", introduced them to the genre. Reactions included claims that "Davido brought amapiano from South Africa two years ago and made it a successful genre in Africa and Beyond, Wizkid is now hopping on the same genre after Davido made it a successful genre." Others highlighted that artists like KDDO, May D, and Cassper Nyovest were part of earlier West African adoption of amapiano. [13]
Jordan Darville of The Fader described the song as "a sultry jam where Wizkid is both under a spell and the one doing the casting." [14] Adegboyega Adeleye of Vanguard wrote that "P2J, Sammy Soso, and Wizkid restyled Amapiano to Afropiano in a love-themed manner for groove rather than the usual upbeat tune," criticized the chorus as slow since "an Amapiano chorus is expected to be upbeat and more groovy than the 'E ye ge ge' style used here," but concluded that the song "will surely grow on you as its groovy vibe suits a party mode and a club anthem," noting that Wizkid had "reformed Amapiano to suit his regular Afrobeats style." [4] Sughnen Yongo, a writer for OkayAfrica , saw the single as "a combustible culmination of elevated seductive energy with heavy underscores of Amapiano." [15]
Rolling Stone writer Will Dukes, in a review for More Love, Less Ego, noted that "Bad to Me" is "driven by a pulsing thump and lucid keys...built for a late-night slow grind." He noted that Wizkid delivered the song with a sensual tone and quoted the line "This kind love, yeah / Wey dey make me want more" to illustrate its focus on desire. Dukes added that the track’s groove and melodic structure made it feel immersive and club-oriented, even when heard in everyday settings. [16] Kyann-Sian Williams of NME , also reviewing More Love, Less Ego, said the song "utilises Amapiano-style soft-rolling 808 beats and chant-like vocals." [17] A writer for Ratings Game Music, Quincy, commended Wizkid's lyrics for being "effortlessly romantic". He concluded the review by declaring it "another hit in Wizkid's catalog." [18]
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award description(s) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | NAACP Image Awards [19] | Outstanding International Song | Nominated |
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100) [20] | 3 |
| UK Afrobeats (OCC) [21] | 3 |
| UK Singles (OCC) [22] | 98 |
| US Afrobeats Songs ( Billboard ) [23] | 8 |
| US World Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [24] | 2 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria (TCSN) [25] | Platinum | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Credits adapted from Apple Music.
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 14 September 2022 |