Bad Vibes (song)

"Bad Vibes" is a song by Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Starr, featuring fellow Nigerian artist Seyi Vibez. It was released on 10 May 2024 through Mavin Records as an advance single from Starr's second studio album, The Year I Turned 21 (2024), following her debut album 19 & Dangerous (2021). Written by Starr, Vibez, Ajayi Olusegun Michael, and Mason "Maesu" Tanner, the song was produced by Mystro Sugar with additional production by Ikenna Ohaeri and mixing by Johnny Drille.^[1]

Starr recorded "Bad Vibes" during the album's sessions and described writing it while "angry" and "antsy" in the studio after drinking too much coffee.^[2] Musically, the song blends Afrobeats with amapiano-influenced rhythms. Lyrically, it explores themes of resilience, self-assurance, and spiritual grounding, delivered through a mix of English, Nigerian Pidgin, and Yoruba.^[3]

Upon release, "Bad Vibes" received positive reviews from critics, who praised its confident tone, relaxed delivery, and the chemistry between the two artists. The song debuted at number two on Nigeria's TurnTable Top 100 and later peaked within the top ten of the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart and the U.S. Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart. It was certified platinum in Nigeria and ranked among Apple Music Nigeria's most-streamed songs of 2024. The accompanying music video, directed by Bushboy Machiavelli, further reinforced the song's themes through bold fashion styling and minimalist performance imagery, contributing to its commercial and cultural impact.^[4]

Starr recorded "Bad Vibes" during the sessions for her second studio album, The Year I Turned 21 (2024), her follow-up to 19 & Dangerous (2021). She told Billboard that the album reflected a period of personal and artistic transition as she moved into her early twenties.^[5] Speaking during a radio interview on The Beat 99.9 FM, she said collaborations on the project were driven primarily by sound, with her team handling business considerations. Starr said she had listened to Seyi Vibez for a long time before reaching out. After choosing a track she felt suited his style, she sent it to Vibez, who returned his verse soon after.^[6] Starr later shared a social media video reacting to his submission and stating that the album was "80% done."^[7]

In the same interview, she addressed the inclusion of both Seyi Vibez and Asake on the album, saying it was not intended as a statement about fanbase rivalries.^[6] "Bad Vibes" was written by Starr herself alongside Seyi Vibez, Ajayi Olusegun Michael, and Mason "Maesu" Tanner. The song was produced by Mystro Sugar, with additional production by Ikenna Ohaeri, and mixed by Johnny Drille. It was released on 10 May 2024 as a single through Mavin Records ahead of the release of The Year I Turned 21 and appears as the tenth song on the album's official track listing.^[1]

"Bad Vibes" is an Afrobeats song with rhythmic elements drawn from amapiano.^[8] Running for two minutes and forty-eight seconds, the track is set in the key of C♯ minor in ⁴
₄ common time at approximately 96 beats per minute, with a perceived double-time feel around 190–192 BPM.^[9] It follows an intro–verse–refrain–chorus–verse–chorus–bridge–chorus–outro structure.^[3]

The harmonic framework revolves around a repeating chord progression of C♯ minor, B, A, and F♯. The arrangement opens with layered textures of sustained synth-like strings and percussive accents, introducing guitar phrases before additional six-string layers appear as the piece develops, supporting the groove without dominating the mix.^[10] A piano line reinforces the melodic contour during the choruses, where a choir provides gospel-inflected backing vocals behind Starr.^[11][10] Bass synths and 808-style sub-bass patterns drive the low end, while drum programming remains relatively sparse, relying on kick, snare, hi-hats, and hand percussion such as congas and castanet-like clicks, with occasional fills and risers marking transitions between sections.^[10] During the bridge, Starr adopts a rap-adjacent delivery as the drums momentarily drop out, emphasizing each self-assured line. Vibez handles the second verse and outro.^[3]

Lyrically, the single blends English, Nigerian Pidgin, and Yoruba, juxtaposing themes of resilience, self-assurance, and spiritual reflection against its upbeat instrumentation. The refrain incorporates an idiom, "Igi gogoro ma gun mi loju, mi o fọ," which she translated as meaning "Don't poke me in my eye... I don't break. I'm good." Discussing the lyrical content, Starr stated that converting such expressions into English diminishes their impact, explaining that Vibez was sought as a collaborator because he would understand the artistic intent: "we sound amazing together."^[12]

"Bad Vibes" received positive reviews from music critics. Writing for OkayAfrica, Dennis Ade Peter called it "a resonant anthem" that "melds undiminished confidence, spiritually-backed assurance, and shades of introspection."^[13] Style Rave's Collins Badewa deemed it "a powerful declaration–a lively anthem for those who stand strong against negativity," and commended the "energetic and melodious tune" for showcasing "the great synergy between the two artists."^[14]

In her review for Euphoria, Nmesoma Okechukwu lauded the song as another example of Starr's ability to deliver "confidence-boosting anthems," and declared: "I'm starting to think no one does [them] like Starr does."^[15] Melony Akpoghene of The Bounce described it as "a buoyant anthem for swatting away negativity," and stated that both artists navigate the vocals "with a confident yet relaxed demeanor, exuding a sense of assuredness that can only come from being thoroughly at ease with the material."^[16] The Guardian's Kadish Morris regarded it as "the kind of airy carefree Afrobeats song Starr is known for."^[17]

Reviewing the parent album for The Native, Blossom Maduafokwa wrote that the song "skillfully rides the demarcation between the widely consumable and the authentic Ayra."^[18] Boutayna Chokrane from Pitchfork found the song's meaning layered, with what "initially sounds like a flex" becoming existential as Starr's words "settle into the gospel-tinged choir."^[11] Afrocritik's Hope Ibiale felt that the track "picks up the braggadocio attitude" established earlier on the album, and opined that "both artistes find the perfect spots to shine on the song's eclectic production."^[19] Robin Murray of Clash believed that Vibez is "perfect for the song, adding a different type of energy."^[20] Billboard's Heran Mamo and Dan Rys thought that the song has "something extremely smooth and calming" about its production despite the title, and mentioned that Vibez "shows off a gentler side of himself" as the duo "croon about deflecting the negativity life throws a person's way."^[21] Writing for We Plug Good Music, Shirley Reynozo commented that the song hears Starr "doubling down on her commitment to protect her energy from negativity."^[22]

"Bad Vibes" debuted at number two on the Official Nigeria Top 100 for the week of 10–16 May 2024, becoming Starr's thirteenth top-ten entry on the chart and extending her record as the female artist with the most top-ten entries in the chart's history.^[23] The song ranked at number 24 on Apple Music Nigeria's Top Songs of 2024 list. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number six on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart, spending thirteen weeks on the chart from 25 May to 17 August 2024.^[24] In the United States, the song reached number nine on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs. On 5 January 2025, "Bad Vibes" was certified platinum in Nigeria by the TurnTable Certification System.^[25]

The music video for "Bad Vibes" was directed by Bushboy Machiavelli and released on 11 May 2024.^[4]

It opens with Starr surrounded by a group of women, sporting shaved heads and conrows, dark wraparound sunglasses, matching black dresses, and knee-high boots, set against a warm amber backdrop. The visual then transitions through several distinct settings: a graffiti-covered room featuring a pink neon "No Bad Vibes" sign where Starr dances alone in a black crop top and metallic low rise mini skirt; a sleek scene with a red convertible sports car against a dark teal backdrop, with Starr wearing a fringed halter top and asymmetrical black lace skirt; and an abandoned, graffiti-tagged tiled room where Seyi Vibez begins to deliver his verse while talking on a cordless phone. The walls of his setting feature spray-painted phrases including "Commas", "Catch Me Where the Money's At," "Sabi Girl," and "NAHAM", referencing both his and Starr's previous songs and persona. Additional scenes include an inverted shot of Starr in a white and blue striped top against a clean white background, and a nighttime sequence filmed on cobblestones where she performs choreographed routines alongside dancers clad in white crop tops, white shorts, and pink fluffy boots, with vintage cars illuminated by hazy blue lighting in the background.

The music video has accumulated over 11 million views on YouTube as of December 2025.^[26]

Credits adapted from Tidal.

• Ayra Starr – lead vocals, songwriting
• Seyi Vibez – featured vocals, songwriting
• Ajayi Olusegun Michael – songwriting
• Mason "Maesu" Tanner – songwriting
• Mystro Sugar – production, choir vocals
• Johnny Drille – mixing
• Chris Gehringer – mastering
• YandereJan – choir vocals
• Basil Michael Nnamdi – choir vocals

• Billboard Year-End U.S. Afrobeats Songs of 2024