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Steve Lacy ‘Bad Habit’ meaning: What is the Grammy-nominated song all about?

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 29: Steve Lacy performs on the Camp Stage during day 2 of Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival 2017 at Exposition Park on October 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Last year, Steve Lacy took the internet by storm with his breakout single “Bad Habit,” which went viral on several social media platforms, particularly TikTok.

More recently, his efforts were rewarded when the album on which the song appeared won the Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album. Many fans have recently inquired about the track’s true meaning.

The singer performed the song, which was also nominated for a Grammy, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, during the awards ceremony. According to the Recording Academy’s official website, some of the star-studded audience members, including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Lizzo, and others, moved to every beat of the song.

Following its release as a single in June 2022, many fans covered the song and used it in various challenges across social media platforms. Since then, many supporters have compared Lacy to Prince and other popular musicians of the 2000s.

According to Bustle, the song is about “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve,” which is also the title of one of Taylor Swift’s songs from her hit album “Midnights.”

Lacy expresses his true feelings about a possible romantic connection in the chorus, but he lacks the courage to confess or even make a move, singing:

“Kinda mad that I didn’t take a stab at it / Thought you were too good for me, my dear / Never gave me time of day, my dear.”

The song was an instant hit with fans, but they had no idea that it was completely different from its demo version. During an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” the R&B singer played a brief clip of the first version, which sounded like an acoustic track.

“Bad Habit” had been in the works for over a year before it was released to the public. During the early stages of the song’s creation, his friend Tyler, the Creator became involved and encouraged him to change the lyrics of the post-chorus.

In a separate interview, the musician offers different advice to those experiencing the same emotions as him in the song, saying:

“When it comes to shooting your shot, that’s a good question, but I’d say just do whatever feels good to you.”