Jackson Wang GBAD Meaning and Review Featuring 88Rising

A Cross-Cultural Remix That Hits Different

Jackson Wang’s "GBAD (Number_i Remix)" is a masterclass in genre fusion, bridging East Asian pop sensibilities with gritty R&B and slick hip-hop stylings. The original track already showcased Jackson's signature charisma and introspective lyricism, but this remix elevates it with the help of 88rising’s smooth touch and the raw energy of J-pop trio Number_i. What could’ve been a simple remix turns into a full-on reinvention, balancing vibe and message in a track that’s as chill as it is defiant.

Funky Basslines and Laid-Back Cool

The production is the standout here,  a buttery blend of funk-laced basslines, mellow keys, and rhythmic percussion that oozes cool. There’s a groove that keeps you nodding along, but it’s never overpowering. Instead, it supports the verses and lets each artist’s voice shine. Jackson’s vocals float with a melodic nonchalance, while Number_i injects a rapid-fire Japanese verse that adds urgency and edge. 88rising’s flair comes through in the textured layering and soulful vibe, giving the whole track a late-night cruising feel.

An Anthem for the Bold

Lyrically, "GBAD" is cheeky but reflective. The repeated mantra,  “Just gotta be a dick sometimes”,  sounds crass on the surface, but it speaks to the reality of needing to be assertive in a world that often tries to take advantage of kindness. Jackson’s first verse touches on the disillusionment of chasing artistic dreams in an industry that doesn’t always value heart, while the third verse brings swagger and confidence as he brushes off haters and reaffirms his path. It’s unapologetic in a way that feels earned rather than cocky.

Number_i Steals the Spotlight

Number_i’s contribution adds a fresh layer, switching up the language and rhythm in a way that feels bold but natural. Their verse, delivered in Japanese, punches through the laid-back instrumental with sharp cadence and lyrical pride. They reinforce the track’s defiance with lines about rising to the top, silencing critics, and using rap as a transformative outlet. It’s this global cross-pollination of sounds and languages that gives the remix its unique identity ,  one that’s distinctly modern and culturally fluid.

Final Thoughts: Vibe with Purpose

This version of "GBAD" is a vibe-heavy anthem for anyone trying to stay real in a world full of fake smiles and double standards. It’s laid-back without being lazy, confident without arrogance, and most of all, honest. Jackson Wang, 88rising, and Number_i have cooked up a remix that isn’t just a rework,  it’s a whole new wave.

Listen to GBAD By Jackson Wang Featuring 88Rising remixed by Number_i

Jackson Wang GBAD Lyrics Meaning Explained

The meaning of GBAD by Jackson Wang with 88Rising and Number_i is a defiant declaration of self-worth and unapologetic resilience in the face of judgment, rejection, and societal pressure. Blending bold introspection with brash energy, the track centers around the idea that life—while inherently beautiful—often requires a certain hardness or edge to navigate its challenges. Through multilingual verses and sharp lyrical contrasts, the song explores how staying true to oneself sometimes means embracing a tougher persona, especially when vulnerability is dismissed or misunderstood. Whether confronting haters, societal expectations, or internal doubts, GBAD delivers a message that being “a dick sometimes” isn’t about cruelty, but survival.

Intro + Chorus

The opening line “Incoming” sets the tone like an alert—something bold is about to arrive. The chorus, repeated several times throughout the track—“Life is great / Just gotta be a dick sometimes / You only live once”—functions as both an anthem and a defense mechanism. It suggests that while life is overall a gift, survival or success in it occasionally requires being assertive, blunt, or even antagonistic. The recurring phrase “gotta be a dick sometimes” is less about malice and more about standing firm in a chaotic or unfair world. It reflects a worldview where kindness is ideal but toughness is essential.

Verse 1

This verse begins with a moment of serenity—“Life is great when peace comes to your heart / A ride to find a place for your soul to park”—portraying inner peace as a destination, something earned after long emotional travel. However, this ideal quickly contrasts with a harsher reality: “the game got no room for art,” implying that the current cultural or social climate no longer values creativity or authenticity. The line “players can't tell black, white apart” plays on both racial ambiguity and moral confusion—blurring right from wrong, or authenticity from fakery. The artist admits trying to fit in: “I even tried to change myself to another man,” but concludes that “Devils never want to understand,” emphasizing that sometimes conformity or kindness won’t win over systemic cruelty or closed minds.

Chorus

Returning with familiar lines, the chorus acts like a mantra, reinforcing the song’s central message: that life’s beauty doesn't negate the necessity of being hard-edged. “You only live once” adds urgency and justification to this attitude shift.

Verse 2 (Japanese verse)

This section brings a powerful switch in language and energy. The opening line “えーっとそうだまずはこんにちは” translates loosely to “Um, right, first of all, hello,” beginning conversationally before launching into confidence. Lines like “止まる暇はないケタ違い” (“no time to stop, we’re on another level”) and “外野黙るシステム” (“a system that silences the sideline critics”) express dominance and drive. The verse calls out past doubters: “あの時あの日の軽々しく笑ってる皆言う無理” (“those who once casually laughed now say it was impossible”), showing how criticism has fueled progress. Phrases like “俺らが首位を占める” (“we occupy the top spot”) and “Rapして変身 上がるステージ” (“rapping transforms me, elevates the stage”) portray success as self-created and resilient. The ending plays with traditional Japanese phrases and metaphor—“妬めば妬むほど 俺に金棒” (“the more they envy, the more I gain power”)—fusing cultural pride with rap bravado.

Chorus

Its repetition again reinforces that despite cultural shifts or personal struggles, a hardened approach is still warranted. It’s a coping mechanism and a survival skill in both Western and Eastern contexts, underlined by the bilingual structure of the track.

Verse 3

Here, the tone turns colder and more introspective. “New phone, who this? / New car, who this?” implies disconnection from the past and perhaps people who no longer serve the artist’s path. The line “Don’t fuck about mood, don’t mean to be rude / But can you read between the lines?” asks for understanding beyond surface impressions—it’s a demand for nuance. There’s paranoia and distrust in “I gotta watch the ones I keep around me / All them eyes still lowkey doubt me,” expressing the loneliness of success. Despite recognition, rumors still fly: “I see the things they say about me,” and the rhetorical question “Did I come this far for nothing?” hits at the heart of imposter syndrome. The admission “Feels like I'm still missing something” pulls back the curtain to reveal the emotional void behind outward success.

Chorus + Outro

The final chorus returns triumphantly but also ironically—the call to be “a dick” now comes fully packaged in resignation, self-defense, and swagger. The outro’s spontaneous “Oh, shit (Haha) / That’s a vibe, that’s a vibe, yo” wraps it up in a shrugging, celebratory tone. It acknowledges the contradiction of the track, life is great, but surviving it, especially while staying real, often requires stepping out of the nice-guy role.

Jackson Wang GBAD Lyrics

[Intro]

Incoming

[Chorus]

Life is great (You son of a, )

Just gotta be a dick sometimes

You only live once

But gotta be a dick sometimes

Life is great

Just gotta be a dick sometimes

You only live once

But gotta be a dick sometimes

[Verse 1]

Life is great when peace comes to your heart

A ride to find a place for your soul to park

But now it's hard, the game got no room for art

Watch the line 'cause the players can't tell black, white apart

Spent time for talks, hope the shit would blend

I even tried to change myself to another man, mm

Things never land according to plan

Devils never want to understand

[Chorus]

Life is great

Just gotta be a dick sometimes

You only live once

But gotta be a dick sometimes

Life is great

Just gotta be a dick sometimes

You only live once

But gotta be a dick sometimes

[Verse 2]

えーっとそうだまずはこんにちは

俺らの言ったとおり

止まる暇はないケタ違い

外野黙るシステム

あの時あの日の軽々しく笑ってる皆言う無理

すれ違うあなたへ

聞こえてっか hater, my hater

足掬うが 落とす母数

救うが音と進める

俺らが首位を占める

届くのが Number_i

Mighty な売人が ILY になる前に

超行儀いいんじゃ埋まんないページ

Rap して変身 上がるステージ

妬めば妬むほど 俺に金棒

なら誰もかれもみんな

[Chorus]

Life is great

Just gotta be a dick sometimes

You only live once

Just gotta be a dick sometimes

[Verse 3]

New phone, who this?

New car, who this?

I got the AU seven-fifty wrapped around my wrist

Don't fuck about mood, don't mean to be rude

But can you read between the lines?

I gotta watch the ones I keep around me

All them eyes still lowkey doubt me

I see the things they say about me

I guess I'm still the topic of discussion

Did I come this far for nothing?

Feels like I'm still missing something, ah

[Chorus]

(Life is great)

Life is great (Oh)

Just gotta be a dick sometimes

You only live once

Just gotta be a dick sometimes

Life is great

Just gotta be a dick sometimes

You only live once

Just gotta be a (,dick sometimes!)

[Outro]

Oh, shit (Haha)

That's a vibe, that's a vibe, yo

Some type, some typa-