Otis Jackson Jr. (born October 24, 1973), known professionally as Madlib, i… Read Full Bio ↴Otis Jackson Jr. (born October 24, 1973), known professionally as Madlib, is an American DJ, music producer, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper. One of the most prolific and critically acclaimed hip-hop producers of the 2000s, he is widely known for his collaborations with MF DOOM (as Madvillain), J Dilla (as Jaylib), and Freddie Gibbs (as MadGibbs). Madlib has described himself as a "DJ first, producer second, and MC last."

Madlib was born in Oxnard, California to musician parents Otis Jackson, Sr. and Dora Sinesca Jackson. He sampled his first song at 11 years old, sourced from his father's collection. His younger brother is the producer and rapper Michael "Oh No" Jackson. His uncle is the jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis. He was raised in Oxnard, where he began his music career.

During an interview on Chrome Children, Madlib stated that his most significant musical influences include Miles Davis, Sun Ra, and David Axelrod. Some of his hip-hop influences are Large Professor, Marley Marl, Paul C, DJ Pooh, and Dr. Dre.

Bad Da
Madlib Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, oh, bad da, oh, oh bad da, oh bad da
Oh no, I just can't understand
How come you want a change of plans?
What did I do to break your heart?

Tell me the story from the start
Play it cool, oh yeah, come on baby

Oh, oh, bad da, oh, oh bad da, oh bad da
Come on and tell me why you wanna say bye, bye
Oh no, I just can't understand
How come you want a change of plans?

Oh, oh, bad ya, oh, oh bad ya, oh bad ya
What did I do to break your heart?
Tell me the story from the start
Oh yeah, tell me baby, I wanna know

Oh no, I just can't understand
How come you want a change of plans?

Oh bad ya, oh, oh, bad ya
Oh bad ja, oh, oh bad ya

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Madlib's song "Bad Da" describe the confusion and desperation of a lover trying to understand why their partner wants to end the relationship. The repeated phrase "bad da" serves as a sort of lamentation, highlighting the singer's pain and confusion. The singer pleads with their partner to explain what went wrong, asking them to "tell me the story from the start."

Throughout the song, the singer is trying to make sense of the situation, but is met with frustration and heartache. They desperately want to save the relationship, asking their partner to "play it cool" and begging them to "tell me baby, I wanna know." However, despite their efforts, the singer ultimately seems resigned to their fate, as evidenced by the final lines of the song, where they simply repeat "oh bad ya" over and over again.

Overall, "Bad Da" is a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the raw emotions of heartbreak and confusion. It speaks to the universal experience of trying to make sense of a relationship that has gone awry and the pain of not being able to save it.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, oh, bad da, oh, oh bad da, oh bad da
Repeating the phrase Bad Da three times for emphasis

Oh no, I just can't understand
Expressing confusion and frustration about the situation

How come you want a change of plans?
Asking why the other person wants to end things or make changes

Tell me the story from the start
Asking for a complete explanation of what led to the current situation

Play it cool, oh yeah, come on baby
Trying to keep calm and maintain a casual tone while asking for an explanation

Come on and tell me why you wanna say bye, bye
Urging the other person to be honest and open about their reasons for leaving

Oh yeah, tell me baby, I wanna know
Reiterating the desire for a complete explanation and understanding of the situation

Oh bad ya, oh, oh, bad ya
Repeating the phrase Bad Ya three times for emphasis

What did I do to break your heart?
Expressing regret and confusion about the other person's feelings and actions

Oh bad ja, oh, oh bad ya
Repeating the phrase Bad Ja and Bad Ya for emphasis

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WINSTON HOLNESS, GREGORY ISAACS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind