Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for AG
Ariana Grande teams with Nicki Minaj and Normani on “Bad to You,” one of the pop star’s five new songs on the Charlie’s Angels soundtrack. Late last month, Ariana confirmed in a tweet that the track is a reworked version of a 2018 snippet featuring Dua Lipa:
The superstar team-up is co-produced by Danny Schofield with Ariana’s frequent collaborators Max Martin and ILYA. On the track, all three women question why they need to treat their lovers badly in order to receive proper attention.
On her verse, Normani compares her relationship to an addiction:
Baby, I’ve been feedin' the addiction
Flyin' from there and back, felt like an acrobat
Brown eyed, so I fell into submission
Eager to catch myself, like what the hell?
Ariana continues by calling out a guy for his inconsistent behavior:
Stopped thinking like a victim
This time, I’ll throw it back
Boy, can you handle that?
Got you trippin', gave you no attention
That’s when I figured out what you’re about
Meanwhile, Nicki raps about not having time for games:
Why you only nice when I get bad, boy? Psha
Get back on your job like you employed, boy, psha
You know that I’m saucy, got that sauce, soy, psha
I ain’t ‘bout to stay up on this merry-go-round and round
'Cause we go 'round and 'round
But I don’t want no clowns around me (Brrr)
Nicki and Ariana have collaborated several times in the past on songs like “Bed,” “Side to Side,” and “Get On Your Knees.”
“Bad to You” marks Normani’s first time working with Nicki. However, Ariana co-wrote on the former Fifth Harmony member’s recent single, “Motivation.”
Ariana serves as an executive producer for the Charlie’s Angels reboot soundtrack. It also features her collaborating with Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Rey on the previously released single, “Don’t Call Me Angel.”
Listen to the song above, and read all the lyrics to Ariana Grande, Normani, & Nicki Minaj’s “Bad to You” on Genius now.
