Going Bad
"Going Bad" is a hip hop song by American rapper Meek Mill, featuring Canadian rapper Drake, released on November 30, 2018, as the lead single from Mill's fifth studio album, Championships.[1] Produced by Wheezy, the track marks the first collaboration between Mill and Drake since their bitter feud erupted in 2015 over accusations of ghostwriting and inauthentic fan engagement.[2] The lyrics celebrate triumph over personal and professional obstacles, with Mill reflecting on his release from prison and Drake affirming their renewed alliance.[3] Commercially, "Going Bad" debuted at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Meek Mill's first top-ten entry and Drake's 33rd top-ten single on the ranking.[4] It later topped the Billboard Rhythmic chart, securing Mill's first number-one hit there and Drake's record-extending 24th.[5] By May 2020, the song had been certified five-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales and streaming equivalents exceeding five million units in the United States.[6] As of 2025, it has surpassed 10 million units, qualifying for diamond certification eligibility. The official music video, directed by Kid Art, premiered on February 7, 2019, and depicts the artists in luxurious settings amid Philadelphia's landmarks, symbolizing their reconciliation and success.[7] Critically, the song received praise for its anthemic production and the duo's chemistry, with publications like Pitchfork highlighting its role in Mill's post-incarceration comeback narrative. Its cultural impact endures through remixes, live performances, and references in hip hop discourse on redemption and collaboration.[8]Background and recording
Development
The reconciliation between Meek Mill and Drake, following their high-profile feud that began in 2015 over accusations of ghostwriting, served as a primary motivator for their collaboration on "Going Bad."[9] The pair publicly mended their relationship on September 8, 2018, when Drake invited Meek onstage during a concert in Boston, signaling an end to years of tension and opening the door for creative partnership. "Going Bad" emerged during the recording sessions for Meek Mill's album Championships, which took place throughout 2018 in the wake of his release from prison.[10] Early conceptual ideas for the track drew from recurring themes of success amid street life struggles, reflecting Meek's experiences navigating fame, loyalty, and survival in Philadelphia's hip-hop scene.[11] Meek Mill's release from prison on April 24, 2018, after serving time for a probation violation, profoundly shaped the song's triumphant tone, infusing it with a sense of victory and resilience born from adversity.[11] This event marked a pivotal moment, allowing Meek to channel his post-incarceration perspective into the album's narrative of overcoming systemic challenges.[10] The initial songwriting for "Going Bad" involved contributions from both Meek Mill and Drake, with verses centered on narratives of personal growth, boasting about financial independence and moving past conflicts to celebrate their achievements.[12] Meek's lyrics emphasize rising above street origins to claim success, while Drake's reflect on loyalty and progression in the industry, underscoring their shared evolution since the feud.[11]Recording process
The recording sessions for "Going Bad" took place primarily during the production of Meek Mill's album Championships in 2018, beginning in the summer following his release from prison on April 24, 2018.[13] Initial tracking occurred at various studios, including locations in Atlanta and Los Angeles, with Meek Mill laying down his verses amid a rigorous schedule that spanned from mid-May through the fall.[13] The beat was created by producer Wheezy, who constructed the track's core using a detuned piano melody layered over booming 808 bass and crisp trap hi-hats.[3] Wheezy delivered the instrumental to Meek's team earlier in the process, allowing for the rapper's initial recordings to establish the song's structure before additional contributions.[13] Drake's involvement came later, with his verse recorded remotely after Meek had completed the bulk of his parts, reflecting their reconciled relationship post-feud.[12] This collaboration was finalized swiftly, as Drake submitted his vocals just two days prior to the album's November 30 release, integrating seamlessly with Meek's established tracks during remote file exchanges typical of modern hip-hop production.[13] Mixing sessions were led by engineer Jaycen Joshua at Larrabee Sound Studios in Los Angeles, where he balanced the vocal layers, emphasized the piano's eerie tone, and refined the low-end frequencies for clarity across playback systems. The overall timeline progressed from Meek's post-prison summer sessions to core finalization by October 2018, with last-minute adjustments ensuring the track's readiness for release.[13]Composition and lyrics
Musical composition
"Going Bad" is classified in the hip hop and trap genres, incorporating R&B influences through Drake's melodic delivery and vocal styling.[14][15][16] The song operates at a tempo of 86 beats per minute in the key of E minor, creating a laid-back yet energetic trap beat suitable for its half-time feel.[17][18] Its runtime totals 3 minutes and 1 second, structured with an intro featuring Drake's opening lines, followed by two verses—one led by Drake and the other by Meek Mill—a repeating chorus delivered by Meek Mill, a bridge transitioning into the final chorus, and a brief outro.[3] The instrumentation centers on heavy 808 bass lines that provide a booming low-end foundation, rapid hi-hat patterns driving the trap rhythm, and looping piano melodies derived from a tack piano preset for a distinctive, slightly detuned texture.[19][20][21] These elements, produced primarily by Wheezy and Westen Weiss, contribute to the track's atmospheric and club-ready sound.[19][22] Vocally, the song employs auto-tune processing on both Meek Mill's and Drake's performances to achieve a polished, modern hip hop sheen, while layered ad-libs—particularly Drake's whispered echoes—enhance depth and call-and-response dynamics throughout the verses and chorus.[23][24] This combination of production choices underscores the track's blend of gritty trap energy and smoother R&B sensibilities.[25]Lyrical content
The lyrics of "Going Bad" explore themes of resilience and success following adversity, with Meek Mill and Drake employing braggadocio to assert dominance over personal and professional challenges.[26] The track's narrative centers on transforming negative experiences—such as legal battles and past rivalries—into symbols of triumph, using the phrase "going bad" as a metaphor for aggressively pursuing wins despite opposition or heartbreak.[3] This reflects Meek Mill's real-life comeback after his 2018 prison release, where he positions himself as unbreakable amid ongoing scrutiny.[26] Meek Mill's verse delves into street life, legal troubles, and personal resurgence, blending vivid imagery of Philadelphia's grit with boasts of newfound wealth and territorial control. Lines like "Ain't a neighborhood in Philly that I can't go" underscore his territorial pride and unyielding presence in his hometown, symbolizing a return to power after incarceration.[3] He references his probation violations and industry pressures through phrases such as "I've been had my way out here, yeah, know that's facts," emphasizing authenticity against detractors, while "Me and Drizzy back-to-back, it's gettin' scary" nods to their reconciled alliance as a formidable front.[26] Subtle jabs at past rivals appear in confrontational queries like "Who want smoke with me?," evoking ongoing feuds without naming specifics.[3] Drake's contributions reinforce themes of dominance and loyalty, with his chorus and verse focusing on financial prowess and unwavering commitment to allies. He raps about lavish spending—"put a Richard on the card"—to illustrate elite status, while "Still goin' bad on 'em anyway" highlights persistence against betrayal or envy, tying into the song's core motif of turning setbacks into leverage.[3] This loyalty extends to his partnership with Meek, as seen in the post-chorus's playful dismissal of past tensions: "Girl, I left your love at Magic, now it's all shade."[26] Overall, the braggadocio style employs metaphors of weaponry and excess, such as Meek's "Every time I'm in my trap, I move like Rambo," to convey survival and supremacy in a hostile environment.[3]Release and promotion
Single release
"Going Bad" was released to urban contemporary radio stations as the lead single from Meek Mill's fourth studio album Championships on January 22, 2019, through Atlantic Records.[27] The track, featuring a guest verse from Drake, marked their first collaboration following the resolution of a long-standing feud that had dominated headlines in 2015.[28] The song was initially unveiled as part of Championships, which dropped on November 30, 2018, via the same label. Meek Mill revealed the album's tracklist—including "Going Bad" as track nine—via social media on November 29, 2018, building anticipation around the surprise pairing with Drake amid broader promotion for the project. This announcement amplified hype for the album, positioning the collaboration as a symbol of reconciliation and triumph after Meek Mill's legal battles and prison release earlier that year.[29] Available in digital download and streaming formats on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music since the album's launch, "Going Bad" also appeared on vinyl editions of Championships, which were pressed in limited colored variants for promotional purposes. No confirmed pre-release teasers or leaks of the track surfaced during the lead-up to the album's rollout, preserving the element of surprise for fans.[30][31]Promotional activities
Following the release of Meek Mill's album Championships on November 30, 2018, "Going Bad" featuring Drake was promoted through targeted radio campaigns, beginning with its debut on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in early December. The track was officially serviced as a single to rhythmic and urban radio stations on January 22, 2019, leading to rapid additions to key playlists and a climb into the top 10 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart by mid-February, where it eventually reached No. 1 in March. This airplay push contributed to the song's sustained presence on urban and rhythmic formats, with it topping the Rap Airplay chart as well. The track also gained traction through streaming playlists on platforms like Spotify, aiding its chart ascent.[32][33][5] A key live promotional event was Meek Mill's debut performance of "Going Bad" on Saturday Night Live on January 26, 2019, where he delivered a medley alongside "Uptown Vibes" in his first appearance on the show. This high-profile television spot helped amplify the song's visibility. Later, on February 28, 2019, Meek Mill brought out Drake for their first joint performance of "Going Bad" during Meek's concert in Los Angeles, emphasizing their reconciliation and generating widespread media coverage.[34][35] Social media played a central role in the song's promotion, particularly with the release of its official music video on February 7, 2019, via YouTube, which amassed millions of views quickly due to cameos from artists like T.I., Nipsey Hussle, and Swizz Beatz. Drake reinforced this through his own social media activity, including posts celebrating the collaboration and their onstage reunion, which fueled fan engagement and discussions around their ended feud. Additionally, fan-driven challenges and shares on platforms like Instagram and Twitter amplified the track's viral spread in the months following its release.[36][35] The promotion also intersected with Meek Mill's broader initiatives, including his Dream Chasers imprint under Roc Nation, launched in July 2019, which leveraged the song's success to highlight emerging talent and reform advocacy efforts for greater visibility.[37]Critical reception
Initial reviews
Upon its release as the lead single from Meek Mill's album Championships on November 30, 2018, "Going Bad" featuring Drake received widespread praise from critics for symbolizing the end of the artists' long-standing feud and for its infectious energy. Pitchfork's album review highlighted the track as a moment where "Drake returns to bury the hatchet over a tipsy Wheezy beat," noting its contribution to the project's jovial spirit and successful collaborations.[38] Rolling Stone commended the song's "undeniable" chemistry between Meek Mill and Drake, describing the Drake-assisted "Going Bad" as boasting "one of the album’s best choruses" amid its blend of personal reflection and celebratory bangers.[39] The Guardian offered a mixed perspective in its album critique, acclaiming the trap-heavy production of "Going Bad" where Meek quashes his feud with Drake as a highlight, though it critiqued some of the album's lyrical filler elsewhere without directly targeting the single's content.[40] XXL celebrated "Going Bad" as a "break-up-to-make-up event record with Drake," positioning it as one of the album's high points that underscores Meek's triumphant return.[41] Critic aggregators reflected this positivity, with Championships earning a Metacritic score of 77/100 based on 10 reviews, where "Going Bad" was frequently cited as a standout track establishing the album's scale and impact.[42]Retrospective analysis
In the 2020s, retrospective analyses have positioned "Going Bad" as a cornerstone of Meek Mill's career resurgence after his 2018 prison release, emphasizing its role in fostering reconciliation amid hip-hop's evolving beef dynamics. A 2024 overview of resolved rap feuds highlighted the track as emblematic of positive outcomes, contrasting earlier rivalries like those between Bad Boy and Death Row Records by showcasing how Meek Mill and Drake transitioned from public antagonism to collaboration, influencing a trend toward de-escalation in artist conflicts.[43] Meek Mill reflected in early 2025 that the underlying beef was amplified by record labels for publicity, yet the song solidified their ongoing partnership, as evidenced by his continued praise for Drake in interviews.[44] This reevaluation underscores the track's contribution to Meek's narrative of personal and professional redemption post-incarceration. The song's lasting popularity has been affirmed in mid-2020s coverage, with streaming milestones illustrating its sustained cultural resonance. By March 2023, "Going Bad" exceeded 1 billion streams on Spotify, a feat celebrated in music industry reports as Meek Mill's first such achievement, and it has since amassed over 1.3 billion streams as of July 2025, reaching approximately 1.32 billion by November 2025.[45][46] Articles from 2023, including analyses of Championships as Meek's top-selling album, credited the single's five-times-platinum status and robust digital performance for driving long-term revenue, reportedly generating over $20 million collectively by 2022 despite unclear artist splits. These metrics highlight the track's appeal beyond its release era, maintaining relevance through playlist rotations and viral resurgence. Comparisons to contemporaneous collaboration hits like Travis Scott's "Sicko Mode," also featuring Drake, often praise "Going Bad" for comparable chart endurance, with the former logging 32 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100's top 10 after its 2018 peak at No. 1. In contrast, "Going Bad" charted for 37 total weeks, reaching No. 6 and demonstrating similar longevity through radio airplay and sales, as noted in Billboard's 2024 ranking of Drake's Hot 100 entries. Both exemplify high-impact hip-hop features that blend boastful lyricism with production prowess, but "Going Bad" stands out for its personal reconciliation subtext, enhancing its retrospective value in discussions of collaborative success.Music video
Production
The music video for "Going Bad" was directed by Kid Art, with production handled by Zachary Wright as video producer and executive production led by Cartier Brown, Andrew Goor, Gary Bryman, and Sarah Park.[47] Filming occurred in Los Angeles during January 2019, aligning closely with the song's November 2018 release to capitalize on its momentum.[48] The shoot emphasized a cinematic style, incorporating dynamic sequences with luxury cars, including choreographed crashes that underscored the track's themes of opulence and conflict.[49] Behind-the-scenes clips captured the on-set energy, showing Meek Mill and Drake interacting amid a bustling crew and supporting cast.[50] Cameo appearances enriched the production, featuring artists such as T.I., Swizz Beatz, Nipsey Hussle, Mustard, and PnB Rock, who integrated seamlessly into the high-profile ensemble scenes.[51][7] These elements contributed to the video's polished, collaborative vibe, completed in time for its February 7, 2019 premiere.[47]Synopsis and themes
The music video for "Going Bad," directed by Kid Art, opens with Meek Mill and Drake portrayed as mob bosses in a opulent hotel lobby, surrounded by a cadre of hip-hop luminaries including T.I., Nipsey Hussle, Swizz Beatz, Mustard, J. Prince, PnB Rock, and Shy Glizzy. The narrative unfolds through high-stakes scenarios, such as the duo gambling on horse races with stacks of cash and cigars in hand, before escalating to intense street action where they race Rolls-Royce Phantoms through Los Angeles at night and culminate in a head-on car crash that symbolizes the destructive potential of their past rivalry. These sequences underscore a storyline of reconciliation and dominance, with the artists leading their posse like a unified syndicate, flaunting power and loyalty after years of tension.[7][52] Visual motifs blend gritty urban intensity with symbols of affluence, contrasting the chaotic car crashes and street pursuits with sleek, tailored suits, lavish interiors, and high-end vehicles that represent hard-earned success and mobility. The fast cars, in particular, evoke speed and escape from adversity, while the mob-like gatherings highlight camaraderie amid wealth, avoiding overt jewelry displays in favor of subtle opulence to emphasize strategic triumph over flashiness. These elements draw from mafia film aesthetics, reinforcing the video's cinematic tone without delving into procedural details.[49][52] Thematically, the video ties directly to the song's lyrics by visualizing "going bad" as a metaphorical shift from conflict to victory, where the explosive crash represents the near-fatal fallout of Meek and Drake's 2015 feud, resolved publicly in 2018, transforming into collaborative strength and business alliances. This narrative arc mirrors the track's boasts of resilience and opulent comebacks, portraying the rappers' journey from adversaries to allies as a triumphant evolution in hip-hop's competitive landscape. The video premiered on February 7, 2019, via Meek Mill's official YouTube channel, rapidly accumulating millions of views in its initial days and exceeding 193 million to date.[7][52][47]Commercial performance
Chart performance
"Going Bad" debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated December 15, 2018, marking Meek Mill's first top 10 entry on the all-genre ranking. The track peaked at the same position and spent a total of 37 weeks on the chart.[53] On the Hot Rap Songs chart, it reached number one.[54] Internationally, the song achieved strong placements across multiple territories. It peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and remained on the ranking for 21 weeks.[55] In Canada, "Going Bad" debuted and peaked at number three on the Canadian Hot 100, logging at least 26 weeks on the chart.[56] The track entered the Australian ARIA Singles Chart at number 42 before climbing to a peak of number 32.[57] Similarly, it debuted in New Zealand's top 40, reaching a high of number 30 on the Recorded Music NZ chart and charting for 14 weeks.[58] The song's chart success was bolstered by robust streaming figures, including 36.1 million U.S. streams during its debut tracking week, which contributed substantially to its multi-metric points on the Billboard Hot 100.[32] Following its initial surge, "Going Bad" experienced a gradual decline but demonstrated notable longevity, maintaining presence on major charts well into 2019 amid sustained radio play and digital consumption.| Chart | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 | 37 |
| US Hot Rap Songs | 1 | N/A |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 13 | 21 |
| Canada Hot 100 (Billboard) | 3 | ≥26 |
| Australia (ARIA) | 32 | N/A |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 30 | 14 |