2 Bad
THE STORY BEHIND ' 2 Bad '
This is the swagger track of the album. If "Scream" was about anger and "Tabloid Junkie" was about paranoia, "2 Bad" is about pure arrogance. It is Michael Jackson looking his critics in the eye and telling them that despite everything they tried to do to destroy him, he is still standing.
The Making of "2 Bad"
The most famous aspect of "2 Bad" is its guest star. In the mid-90s, Shaquille O'Neal was not just an NBA superstar; he was a pop culture phenomenon who released rap albums. Shaq was a massive Michael Jackson fan (he famously bought a home near Neverland just to be close to his idol).
Shaq publicly campaigned to work with Michael. When the call finally came, Shaq was in the middle of an NBA season. He recorded his rap verse at a studio in Orlando. Unlike the nervousness of Biggie Smalls on "This Time Around," Shaq approached the track with the confidence of an athlete. His verse is surprisingly competent, filled with basketball metaphors and braggadocio: "I'm not the one for the games, see / 'Cause I play 'em, I lay 'em down." Michael loved the contrast between his own high, sharp tenor and Shaq’s deep, booming voice. It remains one of the most unique crossovers in pop culture history, the King of Pop meeting the King of the Court.
"2 Bad" sees the return of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The track is a masterclass in syncopation. The beat is jerky, angular, and stops-and-starts unexpectedly. It doesn't flow smoothly; it punches.
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The Samples: The song features a prominent sample of Run-D.M.C.'s "King of Rock." You can hear the shouted vocal snippet "I'm the king of rock!" scratched into the mix. This was a subtle message from Michael, asserting his dominance in the music industry.
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The Horns: The song features sharp, synthesized horn blasts that stab through the mix, giving it a frantic, high-energy feel similar to Janet Jackson’s "Rhythm Nation" era (also produced by Jam & Lewis).
While "2 Bad" never had a traditional music video released to MTV, it serves as the centerpiece of Michael’s 39-minute short film, "Michael Jackson's Ghosts" (1996). In the film, the song is used for the climatic confrontation between the two main characters (both played by Michael):
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The Maestro: A misunderstood magical recluse (representing Michael).
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The Mayor: An angry, conservative politician who wants to run the Maestro out of town (representing the critics/Tom Sneddon).
In the "2 Bad" sequence, the Maestro possesses the Mayor’s body. The Mayor creates a grotesque spectacle, forcing his own body to dance against his will. It is widely considered one of the greatest dance sequences Michael ever filmed. He performs angular, robotic moves while dressed in a heavy fat suit (as the Mayor). The scene ends with the Maestro forcing the Mayor to look in a mirror and ask, "Who's the freak now?" This visual context transforms the song from a simple funk track into a theatrical battle about identity and projection.
The lyrics are a direct taunt to Michael’s enemies. The chorus "Too bad, too bad about it / Why don't you scream and shout it" is essentially a playground taunt elevated to high art. Michael is mocking the people who wanted him to fail. He sings: "Look who's standing if you please / Though you tried to bring me to my knees." This line is the thesis statement of the song. After the 1993 allegations, many in the media predicted Michael’s career was over. "2 Bad" is his victory lap, pointing out that he survived the scandal and is still releasing #1 albums.
The track features extensive synthesizer work by John Barnes, one of Michael’s longtime collaborators. Barnes used a Synclavier to create the "stuttering" effect on Michael’s voice. In the bridge, you can hear Michael’s voice being chopped up and re-arranged digitally. This was cutting-edge technology in 1995, contributing to the "industrial" sound of the HIStory album.
"2 Bad" has become a cult favorite among dancers and choreographers. Because of its complex, syncopated rhythm, it is considered a "difficulty test" for dancers. The choreography from the Ghosts film, specifically the moment where the dancers slide across the floor on their knees and then snap back up, is frequently recreated in tribute shows. Despite never being a single, Michael performed the song live during the HIStory World Tour. However, he only performed a shortened version (usually the first verse and chorus) as part of a medley, leaving fans wishing for the full Ghosts routine.
"2 Bad" is the sound of Michael Jackson having fun with his own notoriety. It isn't as heavy as "D.S." or as sad as "Stranger in Moscow." It is energetic and dismissive. It captures the specific cultural moment of the mid-90s where sports, hip-hop, and pop music were colliding, anchored by the two biggest giants of the era: MJ and Shaq.
LYRICS of 2 BAD
I wake up my girl, get me mad right
King of rock come on and there is none higher
Sucker MC's should call me sire
Standin' out here
Talking, broking, never joking, smoking
Up on the corner
Due to they wanna
They outta here
Hasta la vista
Told me that you're doing wrong
Word out shockin' all alone
Cryin' wolf ain't like a man
Throwin' rocks to hide your hands
You ain't done enough for me
You ain't done nuthin' for me
You are disgustin' me
Yeah yeah
You're aiming just for me
You are disgustin' me
Just want your cut from me
But too bad, too bad
Look who just walked in the place
Dead and stuffy in the face
Look who's standing, if you please
Try to bring me to my knees
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it?
Hell all up in Hollywood
Sayin' that you got it good
Creepin' from a dusty hole
Tell her what somebody told
What do you want from me
What do you want from me
Tired of you hunting me
Yeah yeah
You aiming just for me
You are disgusting me
You got blood lust for me
But too bad, too bad
Look who got slapped in the face
It's dead and stuffy in the place
I'm right back where I wanna be
I'm standing though you're kicking me
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it?
Life's about dream
I'm really undefeated when MJ's on my team
Theme
Reality brings forth realism
It's the man of steel
Organism, T.W.I.S.M
I'm full of trisim
Take charge like Miller
Nine five Shaq represent with the thriller
Grab my crotch, twist mt knees, and I'm through
Mike's bad, I'm bad, who are you?
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad, too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad, too bad about it