The song was created on the first day of Dreamville's sessions for the compilation album.[3]Bas wrote on Instagram about his initial reaction to the song when he arrived in Atlanta:
"I had just landed from South Africa and went straight to the studio. Soon as I walked into the A-room, JID was starting this song, first verse and hook, and I was like '[save me a verse please]. That was literally the first verse I recorded when I got to Atlanta after a 17 hour flight, J. Cole was tucked off with T-Minus finishing "Middle Child" and popped his head in [the room] like 'yes, I need parts.' My brother Johnny Venus, who has my vote for camp MVP, well I don't want to give it away but he came in and managed to make the song his. A big assist from our host city's own Young Nudy."[4]
In February, Dreamville gave a live preview of the song after the All Star game – which J. Cole was the halftime show performer, during the free concert in Charlotte.[5] In May, JID also gave fans a snippet of the single during his set at Miami's Rolling Loud Festival.[6]
Under the EP 1-888-88-DREAM, the single was released with "Got Me" on June 12. The EP's title is referencing the "1-888-88-DREAM" phone number that Cole used to announce the original Revenge of the Dreamers in 2014.[7] Dreamville representatives used hotline phone number to talk to fans and also play some exclusive tracks from the label's compilation album.[8]
The official music video of the song was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, and was uploaded on YouTube on October 22, 2019.[9]
Critical reception
Complex named "Down Bad" as one of the best songs of the week, calling it a "rowdy, kick-in-the-door anthem ready-made for summer mischief"[10] and said the artists pack a ridiculous amount of energy into less than three minutes, beginning with a "tragically short verse" from Young Nudy and closing things with a "rapid-fire verse" from EarthGang's Johnny Venus.[10]
