Meaning of Bad (Remix) [feat. Rihanna]

by Wale · 2024

The song “Bad (Remix) [feat. Rihanna]” by Wale is about two people who are open about their inability to commit or be emotionally “good” in relationships, but are honest about being skilled lovers and unapologetically “bad” partners due to their personal issues and past experiences.

This song has been Shazamed over 1,978,226 times. As of this writing, Bad (Remix) [feat. Rihanna] is ranked 97

‘Bad (Remix) [feat. Rihanna]’ by Wale is a song about complicated love, trust issues, and the way people sometimes protect themselves from heartbreak. We’re going to break down what makes this track so interesting and why listeners still connect with it. ⬇️

The song floats in a space between late-night confession and club afterglow, mixing vulnerability with bravado. There’s an unmistakable tension—an electric push and pull—between wanting closeness and fearing commitment.

The chorus, sung by Rihanna, is raw, almost confessional: “Is it bad that I never made love, no, I never did / But I sure know how to fuck.” This isn’t just about physical chemistry; it’s an admission of emotional inexperience and guardedness. We feel that ache—the desire to be good for someone, but the honest warning that love might not come easy, and maybe, just maybe, that’s okay.

In the verses, Wale tosses out metaphors and playful boasts, yet there’s a heavy undercurrent of self-awareness—he knows the “bad girls” he craves are as unavailable as he is. Lines like “Seems like the ones who roam never got a ring” and “You got the coldest corazon, but warmer skin” hint at cycles of chasing what can’t be held, loving what won’t stay. The lyrics trip over themselves, blending clever wordplay with sudden, almost accidental honesty, like someone laughing to hide a bruise.

Throughout, both artists refuse to apologize for their flaws; instead, they lay them bare, almost daring the other to flinch. There’s swagger, yes, but also a shared admission: “I won’t commit, no, not having it / But at least I can admit that I’ll be bad to you”—as if telling the truth about one’s brokenness is a kind of gift.

Ultimately, ‘Bad (Remix)’ is a smoky mirrorball of a song—catching light and shadow in equal measure—where being “bad” is less about rebellion and more about honesty, self-protection, and the wild hope that someone else might understand.

Writer(s) of Bad (Remix) [feat. Rihanna]: Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, Tiara Thomas, Emmanuel Zaragoza