Bad Boys
Stormzy Ghetts J Hus Lyrics


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Stanaman, he's told me a couple stories about you
I'm not gonna lie, I'm getting mad right now
What's he talking about?
Like banging in cells and that, what you talking about?
Come on, man, this is just lyrics, blud
Easy, easy, aight, easy, easy
Talking that talk, I was a fucking bad boy in jail!
A fucking bad boy, you fucking pussy
Is man mad though?
Ask Stanaman, I was a fucking bad boy
Is man mad though?
Ahh, man, do your research
Oi, where's Carlos, where's Carlos?
Ask him how man was in jail about
Fucking truth, stick to the truth
Stick to the fucking truth

Yo, yo, them man are selective bad boys
Some "we just wanna be accepted" bad boys
Some big whips but no electric bad boys
Think they're bad 'cause of Narcos
Na they're some Netflix bad boys
I know real shower man, you know reckless bad boys
You know them protein shake in their breakfast bad boys
Them man are some "Bro, can you get me on the guest list?" bad boys
And then they wanna get up in your club and start flexing bad boys
Give me the crown, man, I want that
Red Bull with the Cognac
I tried to share my throne with them but I can see you ain't on that
I'm on arms, on combat
No trace, no contact
Bro bought a new mash, I don't know where that gun
There's cool but it's long ack
Bad boy who? You are not part of a bad boy crew
Me and Flipz roll up, tell a man hold up
Looking like something out of Bad Boys 2
Bad boy Gs in a bad boy shoot (shoot)
You are not a bad boy, move
Shut down shows and the mandem go nuts
All the bad chicks make mad noise, too
Look, fuckboy, what you gonna say? What you gonna do, run?
Ah yeah right, you ain't gonna do none
Bad boy life ain't all that you hoped for
Should've done book but you went and done guns
Charge three for a Z, that's banter
Black whip, all black swag like a panther
Heard through the vine that Stormz' ain't a bad boy
But I take care of my fam, I'm a gangster
Yeah, that's right, just a young boy in the hood
Fast forward now I'm Big Mike
Still away from the hype
Niggas weren't bad back then, nah it's cons man, I swear on my life
Put faith in my knife
Wrong move had me on edge on the back-road, paid my stripes
So fuck these niggas, all these little gun drillers
Wanna come and try and do me like Trife

You're not bad, I'm bad, ask Carlos
How they gonna harm us?
Came wearing a flat-cap, looking like somebody's father
I brought the bad man here, I brought the bad man here
You're a bad man how? Bad man where?
Apart from you, there's bad man here

You're not bad, I'm bad, ask Carlos
How they gonna harm us?
Came wearing a flat-cap, looking like somebody's father
I brought the bad man here, I brought the bad man here
You're a bad man how? Bad man where?
Apart from you, there's bad man here

I'm fully on with your half on
I've done dirt, no mask on
Eighteen when I told man "Ask Carlos"
Now they ask how much man's car cost
Drive-by ting
Aim for your head and convert 'em with your hard-top
Your leg's sick, your heart stops
That's the end case, nah dawg
Not me, not there, not G
I've got bread on my beef like Soulja
You've got rice, I've got keys, I told you already
My nigga I don't know you from any
Where, big spare that'll go to your belly
There, pay back when you don't owe me a penny
Yeah, fuck that, fist fight, fair and square
Nah fuck that, flick-knife, rare and tear
Nah fuck that, this guy's wearing his share
Might come back, midnight, air an affair
Deal with the matter like Skibba
How's he gonna feel when I'm shattering his liver?
Black boss, you're afraid, I'm gonna pull a River
Fourteen, holding my shank in the mirror
Like I dare anyone
Playground looking like a ? Anthem, where's everyone?
I ain't scared of you but I'm scared of your gun (I am)
Frankly, that's when I got my ting
It was all calm before Stormzy, now it's lightning

You're not bad, I'm bad, ask Carlos
How they gonna harm us?
Came wearing a flat-cap, looking like somebody's father
I brought the bad man here, I brought the bad man here
You're a bad man how? Bad man where?
Apart from you, there's bad man here

You're not bad, I'm bad, ask all us
How they gonna harm us?
Came wearing a flat-cap, looking like somebody's father
I brought the bad man here, I brought the bad man here




You're a bad man how? Bad man where?
Apart from you, there's bad man here

Overall Meaning

The song "Bad Boys" by Stormzy, featuring Ghetts and J Hus, talks about the superficiality of the bad boy image among the youth. The song starts with Stormzy getting angry because of stories Stanaman told him about someone claiming to be a bad boy by banging in cells while in jail. Stormzy states that this is all talk and that the person in question is just a "Netflix bad boy," and that he knows real "shower men" who are reckless bad boys. He goes on to express his desire for the crown as the real bad boy, shutting down shows and attracting bad chicks, while dismissing those who pretend to be bad boys to impress others.


Ghetts' verse highlights his experience as a real bad boy who has done dirt with no mask on, referencing a time when he was 18 and told someone to ask Carlos about him. Ghetts emphasizes that he has got "bread on his beef like Soulja," meaning he has money on top of the genuine street credibility to back up his bad boy image. He also mentions his fear of guns while reminding listeners that he is still not scared to fight with his fists or even a flick-knife.


Overall, Stormzy, Ghetts, and J Hus at different points in their verses, express a disdain for people who pretend to be bad boys for the sake of acceptance or to make themselves feel tough. Instead, they celebrate authenticity and genuine experiences as true badges of honor when it comes to the bad boy image.


Line by Line Meaning

Stanaman, he's told me a couple stories about you
Stanaman has shared some stories with me about you


I'm not gonna lie, I'm getting mad right now
I must admit, I'm getting angry at this moment


What's he talking about?
What is he referring to?


Like banging in cells and that, what you talking about?
Such as fighting in prison cells, what are you discussing?


Come on, man, this is just lyrics, blud
Come on, man, these are just song lyrics, my friend


Easy, easy, aight, easy, easy
Take it easy, take it easy, alright, take it easy, take it easy


Talking that talk, I was a fucking bad boy in jail!
Talking about that tough talk, I was truly a tough guy in prison!


A fucking bad boy, you fucking pussy
A true tough guy, you coward


Is man mad though?
Is someone angry though?


Ask Stanaman, I was a fucking bad boy
Ask Stanaman, he knows I was truly tough


Ahh, man, do your research
Oh, come on, do your investigation


Oi, where's Carlos, where's Carlos?
Hey, where is Carlos, where is Carlos?


Ask him how man was in jail about
Ask him about my time in prison


Fucking truth, stick to the truth
Absolute truth, stick to the truth


Stick to the fucking truth
Stick to the absolute truth


Yo, yo, them man are selective bad boys
Those individuals are choosy when it comes to being tough guys


Some "we just wanna be accepted" bad boys
Some who just want to be acknowledged as tough guys


Some big whips but no electric bad boys
Some who have expensive cars but lack real power


Think they're bad 'cause of Narcos
Believe they are tough because of the TV show Narcos


Na they're some Netflix bad boys
No, they are only tough in the realm of Netflix


I know real shower man, you know reckless bad boys
I know genuine individuals, you know careless tough guys


You know them protein shake in their breakfast bad boys
You know those who have protein shakes for breakfast, acting like tough guys


Them man are some "Bro, can you get me on the guest list?" bad boys
Those individuals are the type who say, "Bro, can you put me on the guest list?" trying to act tough


And then they wanna get up in your club and start flexing bad boys
And then they want to come into your club and show off


Give me the crown, man, I want that
Give me the crown, my friend, I desire that


Red Bull with the Cognac
Drinking Red Bull mixed with Cognac


I tried to share my throne with them but I can see you ain't on that
I attempted to share my position of power with them, but I can see you don't want any part of it


I'm on arms, on combat
I'm ready for physical confrontation


No trace, no contact
No evidence, no connection


Bro bought a new mash, I don't know where that gun
My friend acquired a new firearm, I'm not sure where he got it


There's cool but it's long ack
It's alright for now, but it's only a temporary solution


Bad boy who? You are not part of a bad boy crew
Who calls themselves a bad boy? You don't belong to a group of tough guys


Me and Flipz roll up, tell a man hold up
Me and Flipz arrive, causing others to pause and wait


Looking like something out of Bad Boys 2
Appearing similar to characters from the movie Bad Boys 2


Bad boy Gs in a bad boy shoot (shoot)
Tough guys with guns being involved in a dangerous situation


You are not a bad boy, move
You are not a tough guy, leave


Shut down shows and the mandem go nuts
Cancelling events and causing my crew to go crazy


All the bad chicks make mad noise, too
Even the attractive women make a lot of noise


Look, fuckboy, what you gonna say? What you gonna do, run?
Look, pathetic person, what are you going to say? Are you going to run away?


Ah yeah right, you ain't gonna do none
Oh yeah right, you won't do anything


Bad boy life ain't all that you hoped for
Being a tough guy is not everything you wished for


Should've done book but you went and done guns
You should have followed the right path, but you chose violence


Charge three for a Z, that's banter
Selling three ounces of drugs at a high price, that's a joke


Black whip, all black swag like a panther
Black car, all black style resembling a panther


Heard through the vine that Stormz' ain't a bad boy
Heard rumors that Stormz is not a tough guy


But I take care of my fam, I'm a gangster
But I protect and support my family, I'm a true criminal


Yeah, that's right, just a young boy in the hood
Yes, that's correct, just a young individual in the neighborhood


Fast forward now I'm Big Mike
Fast forward to now, I'm known as Big Mike


Still away from the hype
Still not caught up in the hype


Niggas weren't bad back then, nah it's cons man, I swear on my life
People weren't tough back then, now it's all just lies, I promise


Put faith in my knife
Believed in the power of my weapon


Wrong move had me on edge on the back-road, paid my stripes
Making a mistake put me in a risky situation, but I proved myself


So fuck these niggas, all these little gun drillers
So screw these individuals, all these insignificant gun-wielding criminals


Wanna come and try and do me like Trife
Want to come and attempt to harm me like Trife


You're not bad, I'm bad, ask Carlos
You are not tough, I'm tough, ask Carlos


How they gonna harm us?
How are they going to cause us harm?


Came wearing a flat-cap, looking like somebody's father
Arrived wearing a flat cap, resembling someone's father


I brought the bad man here, I brought the bad man here
I brought the tough guy to this place, I brought the tough guy to this place


You're a bad man how? Bad man where?
How are you a tough guy? Where is your toughness?


Apart from you, there's bad man here
Except for you, there are tough guys here


I'm fully on with your half on
I'm completely involved with your partial participation


I've done dirt, no mask on
I've engaged in illegal activities without wearing a mask


Eighteen when I told man "Ask Carlos"
I was eighteen when I instructed someone to ask Carlos


Now they ask how much man's car cost
Now they inquire about the price of my car


Drive-by ting
Drive-by incident


Aim for your head and convert 'em with your hard-top
Aim for your head and defeat them with your powerful car


Your leg's sick, your heart stops
Your leg becomes disabled, your heart ceases beating


That's the end case, nah dawg
That's the final act, no, my friend


Not me, not there, not G
Not me, not there, not involved


I've got bread on my beef like Soulja
I have money in my conflict like Soulja


You've got rice, I've got keys, I told you already
You have something insignificant, I have something valuable, I already told you


My nigga I don't know you from any
My friend, I don't know you at all


Where, big spare that'll go to your belly
Where? Big bullet that will enter your belly


There, pay back when you don't owe me a penny
There, I will take revenge even when you don't owe me anything


Yeah, fuck that, fist fight, fair and square
Yes, forget that, let's fight with our fists, in a fair manner


Nah fuck that, flick-knife, rare and tear
No, forget that, let's use a flick-knife, causing damage


Nah fuck that, this guy's wearing his share
No, forget that, this guy is showing off his possessions


Might come back, midnight, air an affair
Might return discreetly, at midnight, to address a situation


Deal with the matter like Skibba
Handle the situation like Skibba


How's he gonna feel when I'm shattering his liver?
How will he react when I injure his liver?


Black boss, you're afraid, I'm gonna pull a River
Black boss, you're scared, I'm going to use a knife


Fourteen, holding my shank in the mirror
At fourteen, holding my weapon in front of the mirror


Like I dare anyone
As if I challenge anyone


Playground looking like a ? Anthem, where's everyone?
Playground appearing chaotic, where is everyone?


I ain't scared of you but I'm scared of your gun (I am)
I'm not afraid of you, but I'm afraid of your gun (I truly am)


Frankly, that's when I got my ting
Honestly, that's when I obtained my weapon


It was all calm before Stormzy, now it's lightning
Everything was peaceful before Stormzy arrived, now it's intense and dangerous


You're not bad, I'm bad, ask Carlos
You are not tough, I'm tough, ask Carlos


How they gonna harm us?
How are they going to cause us harm?


Came wearing a flat-cap, looking like somebody's father
Arrived wearing a flat cap, resembling someone's father


I brought the bad man here, I brought the bad man here
I brought the tough guy to this place, I brought the tough guy to this place


You're a bad man how? Bad man where?
How are you a tough guy? Where is your toughness?


Apart from you, there's bad man here
Except for you, there are tough guys here




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EYOBED GETACHEW, JONATHAN ANTHONY BOAKYE MENSAH, JUSTIN CLARKE, MICHAEL EBENAZER KWADJO OMARI OWUO JUNIOR, RICHARD ISONG OLOWARANTI MBUK ISONG, Michael Omari, Momodou Jallow, RICHARD ISONG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@itsebolisebony9533

This has got to be my favourite song by Stormzy. I can't get it out of my head.

@Insectosaurus12

This whole song is centered around Ghetts, it's a really great tribute.

@I.AM.SHADOW

The new music that Stormzy is coming out with is freaking amazing

@Apman99

J Hus verse in every song is legendary

@steadyfoundations9327

he aint got a verse on this tune ?

@xerva6626

J Hus absolutely destroyed this track! 🔥

@andbrismith

Ghetts kills it

@michelledobson9998

yes yes jeeeee stormy is killing it loving the whole album

@siblingwars1

Best song on the album

@jackrubyification

jake.greggs spot on but if I be truthful ghetts 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

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